CIUDAD RODRIGO, DIOCESI di. — A city of Spain, in the province of Salamanca and a suffragan diocese of Valladolid. It borders the diocese of Salamanca to the north and east, that of Coria to the south, and Guarda and Braganza (Portugal) to the west, extending over an area of 4,259 sq. km, with a population of 140,000 inhabitants, all Catholic, 106 parishes, and 130 priests (1948). Its patron is St Isidoro of Seville.
The present diocese was erected in the 12th century through the agency of King Ferdinando II of León, shortly after the expulsion of the Saracens from the city. Since the see of Caliabria (Portugal) was united to this new see, the bishops of C. R. also took the title of Caliabrenses. The erection, carried out solely by royal authority, was initially opposed by the bishops of Salamanca, until an agreement was reached between the two dioceses and ratified by Alexander III in 1175. The first bishop of the diocese was a Benedictine named Pietro, who died in 1184; but little is known either of him or of his successors up to the 14th century. In the 15th century it was governed by two celebrated prelates, founders of the hospice of the Spaniards in Rome: Alfonso de Palenzuela O. F. M. and his successor Alfonso de Paradinas. After the intruded bishop Pietro Alcántara (1835), the diocese was governed by an apostolic administrator, until in 1851, following the concordat between Spain and the Holy See, it was united with that of Salamanca, with which it remained for some time, until recourse was had to an apostolic administrator with episcopal character, who still governs II.
Among the monuments, the cathedral is particularly noteworthy. Founded by Ferdinando II, King of León, and built between 1170 and 1230, it is a national monument in Romanesque style, with three naves and three apses and Romanesque portals; the tympanum of the main door is richly historiated. Also noteworthy are the churches of S. Agostino and Cerralbo. Notable sanctuaries are those of Jesus Nazareno in S. Felice de los Gallegos, with an image attributed to Gregorio Hernández (feast on 3 May); of the Santo Cristo de la Laguna near Aldehuela; of the Virgin de la Peña de Francia (feast on 8 Sept.); and of the S.ma Vergine de los Caballeros in Villavieja de Yeltes.