Emblem of Barcelona’s Gothic art, the Church of Santa María del Mar is one of the city’s architectural icons. It is one of the oldest monuments in the Catalan capital, and without a doubt one of the city’s tourist attractions, which you have to include in your itineraries and routes to get to know Barcelona.
This Catholic temple has been standing since 1383, and it is often said that it was erected on what was once a Roman amphitheater. Throughout its many centuries of history, it has undergone various reforms and reconstructions, both of its exterior facade and of its interior spaces.
The most important reforms were carried out in 1936, when the church suffered a fire that considerably weakened the structure. The interior of this cathedral is spacious and uncluttered, with divinely decorated stained glass windows. The ceilings are high and in various places the indelible marks left by the years and the fire can be seen.
Currently, it is one of the most important buildings in Catalonia and in all of Spain. It is a very interesting tourist site, it was named a Minor Basilica by Pope Pius XI and it is recognized as a Site of Cultural Interest.
In the Church of Santa María del Mar and in its surroundings you can find great samples of Barcelona’s past, and of all the history that the city has passed through. The cathedral is also the protagonist of the novel La Catedral del Mar by Ildefonso Falcones.
Its austere and imposing appearance makes it stand out from the nearby buildings, and its interiors are full of artistic wonders and peculiar curiosities that fascinate its visitors.
This church keeps the memory of those who built it, since from the first moment it was the inhabitants of Barcelona who worked to build the temple. Financing, works of art, the construction of the internal structure, everything went hand in hand with the people of Barcelona.
Architecturally, it is a masterpiece of the Gothic style, which bears some resemblance to the Notre Dame Cathedral. Its marked Gothic and Catalan design make it a unique structure in all of Spain, which no visitor should miss.
The high season of tourism in Barcelona is during the hot summer months, when the monuments are packed with tourists eager to make the most of their stay in the city, so if large crowds are not your thing, it is recommended that travel during another time of year.
The best months to visit the Church of Santa María del Mar are during the autumn and spring months, when the influx of tourists is considerably lower.
It is important to remember that the experience of visiting the cathedral should include a tour of its external and internal spaces, which is easier to do if the number of people is small. Likewise, it is advisable to visit the basilica early in the morning or in the late afternoon.
Take your visit easy, and let yourself be enchanted by the solemnity, the history and the mysteries of the Santa María del Mar Church, the place where the past and the present meet.
Without a doubt, you have to include the Basilica of Santa María del Mar in the itineraries and tourist routes to get to know Barcelona.
© 2021 All rights reserved TRIP AIM
Made in ❤ TripAim
