The design is unique and was groundbreaking for the time in which it was build.

The church was built in the 14th Century within only 55 years from master builder Berenguer de Montagut, it was consecrated in 1384. The short construction period led to a very uniform-looking architecture.

The building place of the church of Santa Maria del Mar has been of particular importance since the early Christian period. It is stated that the apostle James had preached there. Therefore, a small chapel was built. In 304 the corpse of the Holy Eulalia was buried. The bones were hidden in the 8th Century by the Moors and found 15 years later. In 1339 they were then transferred into the cathedral.

The beginning of the construction of today's gothic church of Santa Maria del Mar was in 1329 with the laying of the first stone. The church was the only Gothic church, which actually has been completed within one architectural period.

In the Spanish war of succession, the church was partially destroyed in 1714. The damage was repaired just barely. In the Spanish Civil War in 1936 a fire reeked mass devastation. The fire had largely destroyed the interior. A large part of the stained-glass windows had to be reconstructed. In 1990 the renovation and restoration work has been completed.

Our tip: The novel "Cathedral of the Sea" by Ildefonso Falcones, describes the time during the construction of the Santa Maria del Mar very impressive. After you have read this bestselling book, you will see the Gothic quarter with different eyes.

The interior of the of Santa Maria del Mar

Step through the portal into the church. A narrow nave presents itself, which emphasises the hight and length of the basilica. The stained-glass windows let the room flood with subdued colorful light.

Due to the special construsction features of the main nave of Santa Maria del Mar, there are only four narrow, octagonal pillar couples to underpin the 13-meter-wide arch.

There are small chapels around the church, which build a kind of cloister. The apse is surroundet by a delicate circle of abutments, which migrates to a polinominal arch and thereby forms a finish to the top.

The outer side of the church

High piers divide the facade into three sections, which match to the ships. The narrow octagonal and 33 metres high towers end up straight. 
If you walk to the left around the church, you will get to a small place in the Carrer Santa Maria. There is a granite plate which reminds of the invasion of Spaniards in 1714.