Santa Maria del Mar, Barcelona
Exterior of Santa Maria del Mar. Photo
Jorge Orte Tudela.
Spacious Gothic nave, looking east. Photo
Jorge Orte Tudela.
Tall pillars and modern window. Photos
Jorge Orte Tudela.
View of the vault in the east end. Photo
Jorge Orte Tudela.
Ambulatory vault. Photo
J. Salmoral.
Location map and aerial view of Santa Maria del Mar. For a larger interactive view, see our Barcelona Map.
Santa Maria del Mar is a beautiful and important 14th-century church in Barcelona. It is considered the finest and most complete example of Catalan Gothic architecture anywhere.
History
This site was originally occupied by a Roman necropolis (cemetery) that was in use from the 4th to 6th centuries. This was discovered during excavations under the church in the 1960s.
Santa Maria del Mar was built during the reign of King Jaume II, who also oversaw construction of Barcelona's cathedral. Founded to commemorate the recent Catalan conquest of Sardinia, Santa Maria del Mar symbolizes the medieval naval supremacy of the House of Barcelona.
Designed by Berenguer de Montagut and begun in 1324, Santa Maria del Mar ("St. Mary of the Sea") was completed 55 years later. Its name derives from its representation of maritime success, its location on the seashore, and its use by the merchants and sailors of medieval Barcelona.
What to See
The church is a splendid example of Catalan-Gothic architecture, with octagonal towers with flat tops, large bare surfaces, an exceptionally tall interior, rib vaults and soaring vertical lines. The tall columns were a major influence on Gaudi's design of La Sagrada Familia.
Workers carrying stones on their backs are represented on the main doors of the church, in commemoration of the guild members who personally helped to transport the heavy stone from the quarry to their new church.
The interior was burned out by locals in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War, after the Church sided with Franco against the people. Smoke still blackens parts of the vault, but the resulting lack of furnishings only enhances the architecture's simple beauty.
Quick Facts
Site Information |
| Names: | Santa Maria del Mar; Església de Santa Maria del Mar; St. Mary of the Sea |
| Location: | Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain |
| Faith: | Christianity |
| Denomination: | Catholic |
| Dedication: | Virgin Mary |
| Category: | Churches |
| Date: | 1324-79 |
| Architect: | Berenguer de Montagut |
| Architecture: | Gothic |
Visitor Information |
| Coordinates: | 41.383853° N, 2.182031° E (view on Google Maps) |
| Lodging: | View hotels near this location |
| Address: | c/ de Montcada, Barri Gotic, Barcelona, Spain |
| Hours: | Daily 9-1:30pm and 4:30-8pm |
| Cost: | Free |
| Services: | Choral mass on Sundays at 1pm |
Travel Resources
- Barcelona Map - our detailed interactive map of Barcelona, plus hand-picked links to more
- Barcelona Hotels - check availability, maps, photos and reviews, and book at the guaranteed lowest price
- Barcelona Guided Tours - sightseeing tours and activities in Barcelona
- Barcelona Car Rentals - get the lowest rate by comparing multiple car companies at a glance
- Barcelona Flight Search - compare multiple travel sites to find the lowest airfare to Barcelona
Article Sources
Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:
- The Rough Guide to Spain 11 (April 2004).
- Esglesia de Santa Maria del Mar - archiseek
- Santa Maria del Mar - Barcelona City Council
- Santa Maria del Mar Church - Spain Tourism Office
- Rick Steves' Spain 2009, 61-62.
- George Edmund Street and Georgiana Goddard King, Gothic Architecture in Spain, Vol. 2 (1914), 70-74.
More Information
- Ildefonso Falcones, Cathedral of the Sea. A best-selling historical novel set against the backdrop of the construction of Santa Maria del Mar.
Last updated on September 10, 2009.
