The COVID19 pandemic has forced us all to spend more time at home this year. Luckily for me, my home happens to be the amazing city of Barcelona! Therefore, I have decided to take this as an opportunity to write more about the city where I live. I will be sharing my discoveries with you so that you can travel with your minds, for now, and start planning your trip to Barcelona for when things go back to normal, hopefully very soon! 🙂 This post is about the beautiful Barcelona Cathedral.
The Cathedral is locally known as ‘La Seu’, a Catalan word for ‘seat’ referring to the seat of the diocese of Barcelona. However, its full name is Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia. Saint Eulalia is the co-patron saint of Barcelona together with La Mercè.
The interior is a bare and broad space divided into a central nave and two aisles by slim pillars. The Choir, located in the middle of the central nave, dates back to the late 14th century. A broad staircase before the main altar leads you down to the crypt, which hosts the tomb of Saint Eulalia.
The Must See Architecture In Barcelona, Spain
The Chapel of Lepanto was constructed in 1407 as a chapter house or place of meetings. The chapel hosts a mystical and most unusual crucifix known as the Holy Christ of Lepanto.
Fun fact: Legend has it that the crucifix was onboard a royal ship under attack. The crucifix leaned to one side to avoid a cannonball and remained slanted ever since.
When visiting the cathedral, make sure not to miss the adjoining cloister, which is home to 13 geese. The number is not random, as Saint Eulalia is believed to have been 13 when she died. Tall palm trees provide shade and create the impression of a secret garden set back from the busy streets of the Gothic Quarter.
Free Tours In Barcelona, Spain
For panoramic views over the city, you cannot miss a visit to the ‘Azotea’, the roof of the Cathedral. A lift takes you to the top of the building and from there you climb up a few steps and find yourself literally walking on the roof of the church. I think it’s absolutely worth the money!
If you plan to get to the top and check out the roof, I recommend visiting in the late afternoon, before sunset if possible, so you will get amazing shots of the city during the Golden hour.
I recommend getting tickets in advance as the queue and the entrance can be quite daunting. You can get tickets from the official website of the Catedral de Barcelona. A ticket costs €9 and includes access to the roof.
La Sagrada Família Barcelona
And if you want to make the most of your stay in Barcelona, I recommend buying the Barcelona Card. It gives you skip-the-line access to over 25 of Barcelona’s best museums and attractions and includes public transportation for 3, 4, or 5-days. You also get an exclusive guidebook in 6 languages and a free map of Barcelona. If you are only staying for a couple of days, then go for a Barcelona Express Card!
Take the L4 to Jaume I station. Check out the Barcelona metro map. Take the exit Plaça de l’Àngel. Then walk along Carrer de la Tapineria for about 5 minutes and you will arrive at Placita de la Seu, where you will find the main entrance to the Cathedral.
Personally, I find it quite difficult to get a good shot of the Cathedral from the main square, as I take pictures with my phone. But there is a place from where you can get the most amazing views and pictures of the Cathedral.
Korean Female Tourist With A Small Lake And The East Facade Of The Basilica De La Sagrada Familia In Barcelona, Spain.l Editorial Photography
That’s the panoramic terrace of the Hotel Colón, which is right opposite the Cathedral. The entrance is free, you just need to sit down, order a drink, relax and enjoy the view!
In order to visit as many sights as possible during your stay, I recommend you book accommodation in these three districts: Sant Antoni, Eixample and El Born. All three districts are in the city centre and offer good connections to tourist attractions. These are residential districts: locals live here! This means that restaurants are not tourists traps like the ones on La Rambla. I recommend avoiding the Gothic Quarter, especially in summer when it gets very expensive and El Raval, which is definitely not one of the safest neighbourhoods in town.
Tip: the best way to get to the city centre from the airport is to get the Aerobús. The trip takes about 30 minutes depending on traffic. The first stop is at Pl. Espanya and the last is Pl. Catalunya. Buy your ticket in advance online. A single ticket costs €5.90 and a return ticket is €10.20. Free wifi available onboard.
Barcelona: Get Lost In Gaudí
Francesca is an Italian traveller, content creator and foodie based in Milan. She believes that life is too short to speak one language and stay in one place. She inspires people to travel and helps them to plan their trips.Heading to Barcelona this year and interested in the city's deep connection to the Catholic faith? Or just looking for somewhere to chat to the big man upstairs? Check out our guide to the best churches in Barcelona, and see which best suits you!
La Sagrada Familia isn't just one of the best churches in Barcelona - it's one of the most unique and eye-catching buildings on Earth. Designed by renowned Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí and only nearing completion 120+ years after work began, it's one of the most prominent jewels in Barcelona's crown.
Each element, from the spires to the interior façades, was meticulously designed around themes of Christianity. Every inch holds meaning. There's nothing quite like it in any other place on the planet, making it an absolute must-visit for anyone visiting the city, Christian or otherwise.
Best Churches In Barcelona Guide
To make the most of your visit, and to uncover all the church's secrets, take a guided tour and get the low down from a learned guide. This is the way.
A 14th-century gem, the Santa Maria del Pi is named after a large pine tree that faced the church during construction. Widely considered one of the best churches in Barcelona, it mimics the Catalan Gothic style of Basilica de Santa María del Mar, with its less extravagant design and large, beautiful windows.
In fact, the Santa Maria del Pi contains one of the world's largest rose windows, which is a magnificent sight to behold! Beyond the church's undeniable beauty and calm praying space, you'll find a small museum and treasury, which claims to contain a piece from Christ's crown of thorns. Whether that is the case or not has yet to be determined, but why not go and see for yourself?
Of The Best Things To Do In Barcelona
Built back in the 1300s, the Basilica de Santa María del Mar is a testament to the beauty of the Catalan Gothic style. And what a style it is, with simple symmetry accentuating harmony. Its massive, stunning windows bathe the interior with light, which perfectly contrasts the weighty and somewhat daunting exterior design. A calm, quiet space in comparison to the loud, awe-inspiring Sagrada Familia, it's the perfect place to visit if you're not one for crowds.
Sitting atop Barcelona's Tibidabo Mountain, the tallest hill in the city, you'll find the Templo Expiatorio del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús. One of the more recent creations on this list, having been built between 1902 and 1961 by father and son Enric and Josep Sagnier, it's no less beautiful and deserving of a visit.
With elements of Neo-Byzantine, Neo-Romanesque, and Neo-Gothic elements, it's a wonderful and unique mix you won't find anywhere else. On the outside, you'll admire its intricate spires and the statue of Jesus that looks out over the city. On the inside, gaze up at its massive dome.
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Arguably Barcelona's second most recognizable church, the Catedral de Barcelona is one of the city's largest tourist attractions. Standing tall in the city's delightful Gothic Quarter, only something as unique and alien as the Sagrada Familia can overshadow its beauty. You can even ascend to the top of the cathedral and look over the district from up on high.
Built over the course of 150 years, you can see the different eras and styles within its design. Make sure to visit the crypt of Saint Eulalia, a prominent Christian martyr and the namesake for the church's alternative name, the Cathedral of Santa Eulalia.
Tucked away from Barcelona's tourist-heavy center, you'll find the Reial Monestir de Santa Maria de Pedralbes. Another of the city's 14-century creations, its simple design was ordained by the king at the time, Jaume II.
La Sagrada Familia In Barcelona
Its Catalan Gothic trappings mimic the other churches on this list built during the same period. However, what Reial Monestir de Santa Maria de Pedralbes does boast is beautiful gardens surrounding the entire building.
In the free-spirited district of El Raval, you'll find the oldest church in the entire city. Built over 1200 years ago, the Sant Pau del Camp started life as a Benedictine monastery, but has since become a place of worship for many in Barcelona.
Given its age, it's the only church of its kind in the city, and has been restored multiple times. Having witnessed civil war,
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