the earliest cathedral in ourense appears to have been the church dedicated to santa maría la madre. in 550, the suevian king chararic built a second church dedicated to st martin of tours on the site of today's cathedral of the auriense diocese. it was also the time when the arch bridge opposite the cathedral was built over the river, facilitating access to the thermal springs. the cathedral was however repeatedly destroyed over the centuries by the moors and the northmen who invaded the city. today's building was constructed as a romanesque church in the 12th and 13th centuries. construction was supported by bishop lorenzo, who also built the new ourense bridge and the bishop's palace.