By Isabella Falero
Hidden within the narrow alleyways of the Gothic Quarter lies buildings that are standing proof of the city's history. Barcelona is home to such ornate pieces of architecture, from the cathedrals and basilicas to the concert halls to the parks to even the way the city is organized.
Antoni Gaudí – the man, the myth, and the legend of Barcelona – runs the streets. His architectural masterpieces are seen in every corner of the place. However, there are other lesser-known beautiful buildings in Barça that are just as jaw-dropping.
Finished in 1384, the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar (also known as the Basilica of St. Mary of the Sea) is the only surviving church in the true, authentic Catalan Gothic style. It stands tall in Plaça de Santa Maria, 1 and is free to visitors of all ages on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Otherwise, it is 5 euros for adults and 2 euros for students.
Let’s travel back in time to see how and why the Basilica of St. Mary of the Sea is the majestic church it is today.
The Basilica’s Design Inspo: Catalan Gothic Style
The Gothic style of architecture is something you probably learned about in school. It originated in the Middle Ages and is most prevalent in Europe between the mid-12th century and the 16th century. Unfortunately for us, America doesn’t really have any buildings in pure Gothic fashion, so seeing something Gothic whilst traveling to Europe seems to be a rite of passage.
In Barcelona, they’re everywhere you turn; there’s even an entire quarter dedicated to it where the main buildings can be found.
How does one tell exactly what building is of Gothic style, you ask? Well on the basic level, most are tall, high buildings, with complex aesthetics, cavernous spaces, and expansive walls.
The Roman Catholic Church took a particular interest in Opus Francigenum, or “French Work,” which later became the more well-known name “Gothic.” This is why most churches in Europe are designed in Gothic-style architecture.
Walking into the Basilica you can see a lack of decoration, a characteristic of Gothic style that contributes to its magnificent demeanor. Everything is simple, giving the church a grandeur serenity. It is the perfect place to meditate and be alone with your thoughts, even if you are not religious.
The exterior is characterized as having predominantly large, flat surfaces and almost void completely of sculptural decoration. St. Mary of the Sea’s exterior is adorned with three main sculptures of disciples and a few other smaller ones.
The church is situated in the center of a plaza, what once was the spot of a Roman Amphitheatre, clearly being the main attraction.
“If you have time, check out the church around dusk,” said Jorgé Urbano, an employee of the Basilica’s quaint gift shop. “The sun casts an incredible glow on the cement bricks and it almost changes the entire atmosphere. A definite must-see.”
It’s the BIG Things: Design Elements that’ll Bring You to Your Knees
The way the church is laid out is very traditional, but imagine your neighborhood church on steroids.
You enter to long red carpet aisle with shorter amber wood pews on either end. The church is gigantic, but it is not covered entirely with seats like most typical churches. The architect clearly wanted it to be an experience as you can walk around the entire church and enjoy the stained glass windows and the saints/virgins shrines.
Iconic Gothic design elements such as lofty pillars line the interior of the basilica, providing the main foundation and contributing to the church’s grandiose vibe.
One of the most common elements in this basilica was its pointed arches, which was a common feature of Gothic-style architecture. The idea behind these distinct arches is that they create an illusion of height; extending the arch upwards is almost like an anti-gravity effect.
Similarly, rib vaults were very prevalent in Gothic style and were widely used in the design of the Basilica. These have dual purposes: to allow for large windows and to distribute proportionally the weight of the church.
Two towers are positioned beautifully on both the west and east ends of the Basilica. These towers can be seen in Barcelona’s skyline and in the mind of the architect, were built to attempt to reach Heaven.
You may have heard of flying buttresses and are wondering why St. Mary of the Sea doesn’t utilize them too much. It is because of the influence of the Catalonians. As this is true Catalan Gothic style, elements of both are seen, and in this case, the flying buttresses were foregone.
A colorful cherry on top completes the Basilica’s already beautifully ornate and simple design: stained glass windows.
Above each shrine and tastefully sprinkled throughout are pure works of art. The glass windows depict various biblical scenes for all to see.
In the olden days, most people were illiterate. These windows acted as mediums of storytelling so that Roman Catholics could preach the word of God to everyone and anyone.
“My favorite window is the main rose window because, from the outside of the church, you can only see the outline of something beautiful,” said Maya Kincaid, a tourist from Scotland who is a self-proclaimed architect nerd. “The true beauty is found inside the church when the colors come to life before your eyes.”
At the time of the cathedral's conception, stained glass windows were made from a combintion of sand and wood ash. The ingredients were heated until they were molten enough to become glass when cooled. The vibrant colors come from powedered metals that were added into the molten mixture before it cooled down.
Berenguer de Montagut’s Legacy
Berenguer de Montagut was St. Mary of the Sea’s chief architect. He lived in the beach neighborhood of Barcelona known as La Ribera.
Prior to the building of this church, there was nowhere for locals of the area to celebrate mass and practice their religion freely. Sailors, harbor workers, fishermen, craftsmen, and merchants were the church’s typical crowd.
Barcelona Cathedral was being built around the exact same time but was commissioned by the king and queen. This cathedral was paid for by the local people, particularly rich merchants who were the financial sources and the sailors and porters who did a lot of the heavy lifting.
Today, the Church is a hotspot for tourists, but also a secret gem for locals to come and unwind.
“The number of tourists I witness come for mass Sunday services is really heart-warming,” said Urbano. “To see that people enjoy the architecture of the Basilica enough to enjoy a celebration within its walls is amazing.”
The church also offers guided tours to see the coveted rooftop, which is only accessed via the tour.
Snatch your tickets online here or visit during the free hours.
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