BARCELONA: SANTA MARIA DEL MAR

Santa Maria del Mar church is, probably, de most beautiful church in Barcelona. So it's a fantastic choice to begin a set of posts about the Barcelona Gothic Quarter, one of the areas of Barcelona I like the most.

Built in Catalan Gothic style, it was the cathedral of the common people. Besides, as the book The Cathedral of the Sea explains, its construction was possible thanks to the effort of the people of La Ribera Quarter.

Church of Santa Maria del Mar, probably the most impressive gothic church in Barcelona. Located in the district of La Ribera, it was built between 1329 and 1383, at the height of Catalonia's maritime and mercantile preeminence

Facade of Santa Maria del Mar. This church is surrounded and hidden by really nearby buildings, which difficults to obtain an overall impression of this imposing church, whose total width is 33 meters, which is also equal to the maximum height of the building

Rose window of Santa Maria del Mar in Barcelona

Gothic doorway in the main facade of Santa Maria del Mar. Archivolts and the tympanum can be seen clearly

Detail of the archivolts and the tympanum of the gothic doorway in the main facade of Santa Maria del Mar

Inside the church of Santa Maria del Mar is really easy to realize the beauty of this gothic church of Barcelona. It is actually an outstanding example of Catalan Gothic, with a purity and unity of style that are very unusual in large mediaeval buildings



The interior of Santa Maria del Mar church gives an impression of light and spaciousness

Rose Window and ceiling of Santa Maria del Mar gothic church from its apse

Another view of the gothic church of Santa Maria del Mar from its apse 

Apse of Santa Maria del Mar gothic church in Barcelona

A closer view of the altar of Santa Maria del Mar gothic church

Apse and ceiling of Santa Maria del Mar gothic church in Barcelona

A closer view of the Apse of Santa Maria del Mar gothic church in Barcelona

Stained glass window of Santa Maria del Mar in Barcelona

  

From the Fossar de les Moreres, one of the former cemeteries which existed next to Santa Maria del Mar, we can get a nice image of the buttresses of the side facade, ended with an slender bell tower

The apse of Santa Maria del Mar is in the beginning of the Born boulevard, where there are a lot of pubs. The Born is always a really lively quarter

Another detail of the archivolts, the lintel and the tympanum of the door at the rear of Santa Maria del Mar

If you like catalan gothic style, you would be interested in visiting the following religious buildings in Barcelona:

• Santa Maria del Pi church
• Pedralbes monastery
• Barcelona Cathedral
• Santa Anna church
• Sant Just i Pastor church
• Sant Pere de les Puelles church

In the old city of Barcelona you can also visit other beautiful places:

• Plaça del Rei
• Sant Felip Neri Square and Church
• Plaça Reial
• Barcino Roman City
• El Portal de L'Angel
• La Rambla
• El Raval
• Call Jueu (Jewish Quarter)
• Born-La Ribera district
• Carrer Petritxol

Next, some useful information about this fantastic church:

- Address: Pl. Santa Maria, 1

- Phone: 933 102 390

- Clicking on the next link, a Santa Maria del Mar location map.

- How to get there:

• Metro: L4, stop Jaume I.
• Bus: 17, 19, 40 and 45.
• Barcelona Bus Turístic: stop Pla de Palau.

- Opening time:

• Monday to Saturday: from 9am to 1.30pm and from 4.30pm to 8pm.
• Sunday and public holidays: from 10.30am to 1.30pm and from 4.30pm to 8pm.

Finally, clicking on the next link you will find links to more beautiful and interesting places in Barcelona, among them, more charming places in the Barcelona Gothic Quarter.