With its ornately carved roof and a Norman nave, St. Davids Cathedral, Cathedral Close (tel. 01437/721885; www.stdavidscathedral.org.uk), is a magnificent example of medieval religious architecture. Its reliquary contains what are supposed to be the bones of St. David. The nave, a product of 3 centuries of craftsmanship, is a place of medieval beauty. The choir stalls, from the late 15th century, have witty, even light-hearted misericord carvings (those on the hinged seats in the stalls). Visitors are welcome at the cathedral, open Monday through Saturday from 8am to 6pm, Sunday from 12:45 to 5:45pm. Donations are accepted to help with the upkeep of the building.
Associated with the cathedral, the ruins of Bishop's Palace, Cathedral Close (tel. 01437/720517), stands across the meadow and river, with the gatehouse, battlements and curtain walls showing how even such a place needed fortification in medieval days. An outstanding sight is the elegant arcaded parapet that runs along both main walls. You can visit the palace ruins; note especially the fine piscina at the east end of the chapel's south wall. The site is open March and April daily from 9:30am to 5pm; May through September daily from 9:30am to 6pm; and October through February Monday through Saturday from 9:30am to 4pm and Sunday from noon to 2pm. Admission is £2 ($3.20) for adults or £1 ($1.60) for children.
The cathedral is no longer Roman Catholic, nor is it Church of England. It is a member of the Church of Wales. When St. David was canonized in the 12th century, the pope declared that two pilgrimages to St. Davids were worth one to Rome, and three pilgrimages equaled one to Jerusalem. You can make such a pilgrimage today; although the pope's promise may not have been honored since the days of Henry VIII, we can promise you an interesting and educational tour of St. Davids peninsula.
Porth Clais, at the mouth of the River Alun about 1.6km (1 mile) south from St. Davids, was the seaport used by travelers to Ireland and elsewhere for centuries before and after the birth of Christ, and then by pilgrims making their way to St. Davids. In medieval days it became a coal port, and lime kilns were used to reduce limestone to slaked lime for use on fields, in building, and for household purposes. The restored lime kilns can be seen.
A little eastward around the bay on a headland is St. Non's Chapel, now in ruins, supposedly built on the spot where St. David was born. It is dedicated to his mother. St. Non's Well is there also, reportedly in full flow. Its waters were said to have healing properties in the past. The site can be viewed 24 hours a day without charge.
