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Exterior of Santa Maria del Mar. Photo
Jorge Orte Tudela.
Spacious Gothic nave, looking east. Photo
Jorge Orte Tudela.
Vaulted ceiling and stained glass window. Photos by Jorge Orte Tudela.
Interactive satellite map of Santa Maria del Mar. For a larger view,
see our Barcelona Map or Google Earth download.
The church of Santa Maria del Mar in Barcelona is a beautiful Catalan-Gothic church dating from the 1320s.
History
Santa Maria del Mar was built during the reign of King Jaume II, who also oversaw construction of Barcelona's cathedral. Begun in 1324, Santa Maria del Mar took only five years to complete.
At the time, the church was situated on the seashore (hence the name "St. Mary of the Sea"). Its magnificence was intended to symbolize the naval supremacy of the Kingdom of Aragon. More specifically, the church was built to commemorate the recent conquest of Sardinia.
What to See
The church is a splendid example of Catalan-Gothic architecture, with a huge interior, octagonal towers, large bare surfaces, rib vaults and soaring vertical lines.
The interior was burned out in 1936 during the Spanish Civil War, but the lack of furnishings only enhances the architecture's beauty and simplicity.
Quick Facts
| Names: | Santa Maria del Mar; Església de Santa Maria del Mar; St. Mary of the Sea |
| Type of site: | Parish church |
| Faith: | Roman Catholic |
| Status: | Active |
| Dates: | 1324-29 |
| Architecture: | Catalan Gothic |
| Location: | At the bottom of c/ de Montcada, Barri Gotic, Barcelona, Spain |
| Hours: | Daily 9-1:30pm and 4:30-8pm |
| Services: | Choral mass on Sundays at 1pm |
| Cost: | Free |
Article Sources
- The Rough Guide to Spain 11 (April 2004).
- Esglesia de Santa Maria del Mar - archiseek
- Santa Maria del Mar - Barcelona City Council
