Plasencia Cathedral consists of two buildings: the old (Catedral Vieja), dedicated to Saint Paul, and the new (Catedral Nueva). Construction began in the 13th-century in a mostly Romanesque style. The 15th-century new church was built in Gothic architectural style with high ceilings. The main retablo was built in the 17th-century, carved by Gregorio Fernández and painted by Francisco Ricci. The choirs are delicately carved. The old church now houses the Cathedral museum.
The Old Cathedral is an example of a transitional building from Romanesque to Gothic architectural styles. To the Romanesque style belong the fustis and capitals of its columns, while to the Gothic style belong its arches and windows, discovered in one of the most recent restorations. Its three naves were covered from the 18th century by a thick mantle of lime, which only after decaying has allowed observers to admire the slenderness of a solemn cathedral.
References:The Church of St Donatus name refers to Donatus of Zadar, who began construction on this church in the 9th century and ended it on the northeastern part of the Roman forum. It is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia.
The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.
The circular church, formerly domed, is 27 m high and is characterised by simplicity and technical primitivism.