According to the legend, King Jaume I made a promise to the Virgin Mary on the high seas when his ship was wrecked on its way to conquer Mallorca. Since then, the cathedral has been dedicated to the virgin and bears the name „Cathedral of Santa Maria“ - called la Seu by the locals - symbolizing the close relationship between the Church and the noble family of Aragon. The construction, which was built on the foundations of old mosque and the Roman city walls, began in the year 1229 and took a total of 372 years.