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Historic religious complex · Spišské Podhradie, Prešov
Spišská Kapitula
Small walled ecclesiastical town in front of Spiš Castle, seat of the Spiš diocese, with the 13th-century Romanesque Cathedral of St. Martin and a single street of canons’ houses. It is nicknamed the Slovak Vatican.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Spišská Kapitula
Spišská Kapitula is a small walled ecclesiastical town on a hill west of Spišské Podhradie, facing Spiš Castle. It was the seat of the chapter and, from the 18th century, of the Spiš bishopric, which earned it the nickname “the Slovak Vatican.” Today it is a neighborhood of Spišské Podhradie and houses a seminary.
The main building is the Cathedral of St. Martin (Katedrála svätého Martina), late Romanesque, with three naves and two towers, which acquired its present form between 1245 and 1275. At the end of the 15th century the Zápoľský Chapel was added, inspired by the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris. The interior contains a Gothic high altar from 1470–1478, Gothic side altars such as the Adoration of the Magi, and a mural painting from 1317 depicting the coronation of King Charles Robert of Hungary. A 13th-century stone sculpture of a lion, the Leo Albus, is among the oldest of its kind in the country.
To the east of the cathedral, a single street between two gates of the 14th-century walls runs past the canons’ houses, set on narrow plots of Gothic origin. The ensemble can be walked in a few minutes.
The cathedral is an active church, and visits to the interior follow scheduled hours and sometimes require a guide. Spišská Kapitula is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Spiš Castle.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About an hour for the cathedral and the canons’ street.
Best time
During the day, within visiting hours, outside of Masses. In the morning light hits the cathedral façade and the view toward the castle.
How to get there
On foot, about 15 minutes from the center of Spišské Podhradie, up the hill to the west. By car, there is parking next to the walls.
Tip
Before entering, look eastward from the gate in the wall: Spiš Castle appears straight ahead, on the other side of the valley. Check the cathedral’s visiting hours at the entrance.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Spišská Kapitula
Why is Spišská Kapitula called the Slovak Vatican?
Because it is a small walled town entirely ecclesiastical in character, seat of the chapter and the Spiš bishopric, with a cathedral, clergy residences and a seminary.
What to see in the Cathedral of St. Martin in Spišská Kapitula?
13th‑century Romanesque architecture, the Zápoľský Chapel, the Gothic altars and the 1317 painting of the coronation of Charles Robert of Hungary.
Is Spišská Kapitula far from Spiš Castle?
No. It lies about 2 km in a straight line, on the hill opposite, across from Spišské Podhradie.