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.

Interior

View of the vault in the east end. Photo Jorge Orte Tudela.

Gothic Vault

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
Dedicated to:	Virgin Mary
Location:	Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Category:	Churches
Faith:	Christianity
Denomination:	Catholic
Date:	1324-79
Architect:	Berenguer de Montagut
Architecture:	Gothic

Visitor Information

Coordinates:	41.383853° N, 2.182031° E (view on Google Maps)
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

Note: This information was accurate when published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.

Travel Resources for Barcelona

Barcelona Map - our detailed interactive map of Barcelona, plus hand-picked links to more
Barcelona Guided Tours - book sightseeing tours and activities in Barcelona
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Barcelona Car Rentals - get the lowest rate by comparing multiple car companies at a glance
Barcelona Travel Forum - tips, answers and advice on Barcelona tourism

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.

Article last updated: 09/10/2009.