The Cathedral of the Incarnation is the episcopal see of the diocese of Almería. The building, with the structure of a fortress, has a transitional architecture between late Gothic and Renaissance, as well as later Baroque and Neoclassical features.

It is one of the most important and valuable artistic manifestations of an architectural and cultural nature in Andalusia and, therefore, in Spain, as it is the only cathedral with the nature of a fortress erected in the 16th century.

The construction of the cathedral began by order of Fray Diego Fernández de Villalán, bishop of Almería, after the earthquake of 1522, which destroyed the previous temple (built on the site of the Great Mosque, where the current church of San Juan is located) along with a large part of the city.

The new cathedral was presumably designed by Diego de Siloé, in the late Gothic style, with a fortress-like design to serve as a defence against attacks by pirates and Moorish rebels, with battlements, towers and buttresses, as well as lower walls to better withstand artillery impacts, and a flat roof on which cannons could be mounted.

The church was completed in 1564, with Renaissance elements introduced into the construction by Juan de Orea.

During the Baroque period, work was mainly aimed at reinforcing the church's defensive armour. The largest, in 1620, in the face of a wave of attacks by Algerian pirates, in which the church was equipped with new weapons, muskets and arquebuses. In 1625 and 1635, new purchases of weapons and renewal of the tower's defensive material were organised in response to new situations of tension. However, these purchases were never completed, due to the relaxation of the situation.

The Neoclassical period included the cloister, the current altar and the tabernacle, designed by Ventura Rodríguez.

During the Spanish Civil War it was used as a refuge for the protection of the civilian population during the air raids on the city.

The square is located in the northern part, just where the main door of the cathedral is. Since its creation in the mid-16th century after the demolition of several houses from the Muslim period, it has been the scene of markets, the cathedral's own activities, Inquisition ceremonies and a meeting point for festivals, shows, demonstrations and pronouncements.