What to see in Cathedral of Barcelona Spain

The tall Cathedral of Barcelona, La Seu, was visible over other buildings as we toured along the Gothic quarter in the old parts of the town. With the spire of the Cathedral as guide we could easily find the way to it through the criss cross of old lanes during the Las Ramblas Walk in Barcelona . The facade of Barcelona Cathedral may not be stunningly beautiful but it is definitely impressive. Its history and the legends are equally impressive.

The day and time I visited Cathedral of Barcelona was crowded both outside and inside. Some major activity seemed to be on or may be it was free hour. I couldn’t get in to the interior part of the Cathedral. I took pictures from a side. Surprisingly in spite of people all around there was ‘sweet soothing silence’ inside the cathedral. It is this experience which makes me long to visit cathedrals.

Cathedral Spire Barcelona

Cathedral Spire Barcelona

History of Catedral de la Santa Barcelona

The construction took 150 years from 1298 to 1417. It is a stunning example of Gothic architecture. The present facade that we get to see today was added from 1887 to 1890. The rest of the building dates to between 1298 and 1460.

Today is the seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona. In official records the cathedral is known by the Catalan name – Catedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia, meaning Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulàlia.

There is another entry way into the church called the door of Saint Ivo. It happens to be the oldest door of the church and was once the main entrance to this Cathedral.

old gate to Barcelona Cathedral

Old gate to Barcelona Cathedral

Story of Saint Eulalia

And like the story of Draupadi in Mahabharata whose honor was saved by Lord Krishna, this cathedral too has a story of a 13 year old girl. The cathedral is dedicated to Eulalia of Barcelona, co-patron saint of Barcelona, was a young virgin, Eulàlia.

According to Catholic tradition Eulàlia suffered martyrdom during Roman times in the city. One story says that she was exposed naked in the public square and a miraculous snowfall in mid-spring covered her nudity. The enraged Romans put her into a barrel with knives stuck into it and rolled it down a street (according to tradition, the one now called Baixada de Santa Eulalia). The body of Saint Eulalia is entombed in the cathedral’s crypt.

Cathedral of Barcelona Spain

Cathedral of Barcelona Spain

Facade of Barcelona Cathedral

Facade of Barcelona Cathedral La Seu

Facade details of Barcelona Cathedral

Highlights of Cathedral of Barcelona

  • There is a secluded Gothic cloister where 13 white geese are kept. The number explained by the assertion that Eulalia was 13 when she was martyred.
  • The windows have beautiful stain glass paintings.
  • Small chapels inside has ornate beautiful contents.
  • This cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona
  • I couldn’t stop gazing up, the roof lined with gargoyles, featuring a wide range of animals, both domestic and mythical.
  • L’ou com balla – The custom of the dancing ice cream. The monastery fountain in the cloister is always decorated with flowers on Corpus Christi. The custom, dating back to 1636, consists of making an egg dance on the water.
roof lined with gargoyles

Roof lined with gargoyles

interesting gargoyles

Interesting gargoyles

La Seu Cathedral Interior

This is one of the few churches in Barcelona that was spared by the anarchists in the civil war. Most of its ornamentation is  thus intact. One of the cloister chapels commemorates 930 priests, monks and nuns martyred during the civil war.

Barcelona Cathedral, Catedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia, is one of the four famous cathedrals of Barcelona, other three are: The Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor, Santa Maria Del Mar, and the La Sagrada Familia Basilica, which is unfinished.

Cathedral Ceiling Barcelona

Cathedral Ceiling Barcelona

Cathedral Interior

Cathedral Interior

The main crucifixion figure above the altar is Sant Crist de Lepant. I had noticed the slight bent in the figure but didn’t realise the story behind the tilt.  It is said Don Juan’s flagship bore it into battle at Lepanto and that the figure acquired its odd stance by dodging an incoming cannonball. This clear pic. is from wiki commons, the author is Mutari 12:15, 23 September 2007 (UTC).

Altar image

The wooden coffins are of Count Ramon Berenguer-I and his wife Almodis, founders of the 11th century Romanesque predecessor to the present cathedral.

Walk on to see a 1433 marble baptismal font. It is said six native North Americans brought to Europe by Columbus after his first voyage to the Americas were bathed in holy water here.

See the exquisitely sculpted late 14th-century timber choir stalls in the middle of the central nave.

The coats of arms on the stalls belong to members of the Barcelona chapter of the Order of the Golden Fleece

Stained glass window

Stained glass window Barcelona Cathedral

Take the time to look at the artisanship up close – the fine image of Virgin Mary and Child depicted on the pulpit.

The crypt contains the 14th century tomb of Santa Eulàlia, one of Barcelona’s two patron saints, known as Laia. The reliefs on the alabaster sarcophagus, recount some of her tortures.

Visit the cathedral’s roof and tower by taking the lift €3.

Two very precious statues: one representing Santa Eulàlia and another equally precious monstrance made of solid gold.

Dome of cathedral

Dome of Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia in Barcelona, Spain

Tips to visit Cathedral of Barcelona

  • This place is holy and dress code is observed here very strictly. Shoulders and knees have to be covered.
  • There are some hours in the day when entry is free. In fact several sites in Barcelona have such ‘happy hours’. If you plan properly you can visit the sites free and save Euros.
Altar in Cathedral of Barcelona

Altar in Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia in Barcelona, Spain

Cathedral of Barcelona Timings:

Mon to Fri: 8 to 19.30hrs
Sat – Sun: 8 to 20hrs.
Happy Hours: Free to enter:
Mon to Sat before 12.45 PM, Sun before 1.45 PM
and every day after 5.15 PM.

We were there in the evening. There are some parts of the Catedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia you have to pay for entry. If you miss on the free timings, it can cost 9 Euros for Cathedral visit and 15 Euros for Cathedral, museum and other sights in the cathedral.

Conclusion

Barcelona cathedral is a stunning example of Gothic architecture, its interior speaks volumes of history of Barcelona. Though not the most famous, Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia counts as a must visit point in your trip to Barcelona. Time your itinerary to get to the cathedral during the free hours.

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