The Most Beautiful Cathedrals in Barcelona
Barcelona is a very rich city historically speaking, apart from the impressive Roman remains that can be found in Via Laietana, the city is home to churches and cathedrals with great architectural beauty.
Like its famous La Sagrada Familia designed by Antoni Gaudi.
There are at least 4 of them. And each cathedral in Barcelona may impress you. Either the mentioned above one or less known Santa Maria del Mar, the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia. You choose the nicest.
The best way to see these works of art is to stay in Barcelona for a few days, to enjoy the surroundings, its parks, people and weather, which all together make the city. Consider Gracia Barcelona's coolest district. And now, let's take a look at some of these wonderful buildings.
1.To start with, and although you may be tired of hearing about it by now if you know anything about Barcelona, is Gaudi's Sagrada Familia (Church of the Holly Familly). This is a church started by the famous architect on 19th March 1882, but it still hasn't been finished. They do estimate that it will be complete during the first third of this century, some guessing its completion will coincide with the 100th year since GaudÃ's death, 2020.
This cathedral is one of the city's symbols. It deserves many synonyms like impressive, breathtaking, magnificent, modern, giant and so on. In two words, La Sagrada is really cool.
The christian symbolism is present throughout the work, which was declared a minor basilica on 7th November, 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI. As there are almost always queues to get in La Sagrada Familia - it's better to come here early.
2.Secondly we come to the church of Santa Maria del Mar, the extraordinary Gothic construction that will make your jaw drop. It was built between 1329 and 1383 by Berenguer de Montagut and Ramon Despuig, and it's an attraction that you cannot miss.
Its interior colorfully lighted by rays of sunlight passing through the stained glass windows
Today, Maria del Mar is one of the most visited destinations in the city thanks largely to the novel by Ildefonso Falcones "The Cathedral of the Sea", which has sold over 1 million copies and has been translated into many languages. You can find it in the Born district.
Btw, there is another place in Europe, Kiev (Kyiv), known for its beautiful churches. Even one of its nicknames is golden-domed.
3.You mustn't miss the distinguished Cathedral of Barcelona either, in its gothic style. It is the seat of of the Archbishop of Barcelona, in Catalonia. The current cathedral was built over the old Romanesque cathedral during the thirtheenth to fiftheenth century.
It has been dedicated to the Holy Cross since the year 599 and was later to Santa Eulalia from 877, the patron saint of the city. If you happen to be in the city for Christmas, you will find a beautiful street market in front of this church.
4.Finally, I'd like to emphasize the Templo Expiatorio del Sagrado Corazo (Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor - Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus) in Tibidabo. This construction is an important symbol for Barcelona and is one of the first things you will see on arrival to Barcelona, either by car or plane.
It was built by the architect Enric Sagnier i Villavecchia and completed by his son Josep Maria Sagnier i Vidal between 1902 and 1961. Right in front of this temple is the Tibidabo amusement park, one of the oldest in Europe.
Read Next