Cathedral
is one of the few things that come up to mind when you hear about Barcelona.
How can you not visit Barcelona Cathedral when in Spain? For starters, please
make sure that you are not mixing up the Barcelona Cathedral with its more
famous counterpart, the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia, which is the most
fascinating and unique church in Europe. Paying a visit to the Cathedral of the
Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia offers you a better understanding of the history
of Barcelona.
Let's
walk you through some intriguing aspects and historical facts about one of the
best places to visit in Spain.
Barcelona Cathdral or Sagrada Familia?
Let's
answer what the Cathedral in Barcelona is called?
As
we have tried clearing it up earlier, many people make a mistake here. So,
don't worry. The architectural magic and saw-like structure seen on every
postcard is Antoni Gaudi's Sagrada Familia. And, to be noted, the Sagrada
Familia is not a cathedral (bishop's seat) at all.
With
all its glories, it is a minor basilica.
So,
let's move to the Barcelona Cathedral now.
Barcelona Cathedral- Facts and History
Barcelona
Cathedral is a giant Gothic Revival Church. Its construction was started in
1298. In 1420, the building got completed. However, the central tower and
façade were constructed in 1913, later on. Barcelona Cathedral is highly famous
for mythical animals such as its gargoyles and some other geese. The Cathedral
measures 53 meters by height (174 feet) and 90 meters by length (300 feet).
This Cathedral is dedicated to the Eulalia of Barcelona (Barcelona's co-patron
saint)
What
to See at the Barcelona Cathedral
The Façade
The
façade of the Cathedral of Barcelona is among the most notables of the city.
How can you miss the stunning façade when you walk through the Cathedral
square?
You
will be drawn to the central door and the significant Gothic arch upside. A
stone sculpture of the holy Christ attracts all the attention on the entrance,
whereas twelve apostles cover both the sides of the doors. You will see eight
stained glass windows and seventy-five figures that run across the span from
Renaissance to the Modernist in fine.
Also,
you will see two side-towers (built from 1896 to 1898) edging the church's dome
that is crowned with the statue of Saint Helen.
The
Door of Saint Ivo (when in the main square, on the left side of the church) was
the church's main entrance for above 500 years. It was built using the marble
from Montjuic. The inscriptions here mark that the construction was started in
1298.
Interior
The
interior of the grand Cathedral is as catchy as the mighty exterior. In the
Barcelona Cathedral, you will see the chapels and monuments dedicated to more
than one hundred and forty saints.
Alongside
the prominently represented Virgin Mary, you will see that vast attention had
been paid to Santa Eulalia, a native girl martyred there during the Roman
times, who then became the city's co-patron saint. Facing the main alter, you
will see the Crypt of Santa Eulalia.
The
choir is the most impactful feature of the interior. One of the best instances
of the Catalan Gothic sculpture can be seen in its stalls. The wooden pulpit
that Pedro Canglada carved in 1403 is a sight.
The
Chapter Hall Museum once was a soup kitchen devoted to the poor people. These
days, it is home to some fantastic items, such as the baptismal font of the
primary eleventh-century Gothic Cathedral.
Lepanto's
Chapel is embellished with beautiful paintings that honor Santa Eulalia and pay
regards to an essential naval war in which the Holy League Overcame the Ottoman
Empire. At this place, the visitors and devotees can make prayers in silence.
The Cloister
This
organized inner courtyard is thought to be the most prominent part of the
Barcelona Cathedral. You enter the cloister from a white marble door that is
thought to be leftover from the original Romanesque Cathedral constructed in
the mid12th century.
This
rectangular cloister consisting of four galleries exhibits pillars showing
scenes from the Old Testament, whereas the vault keystones depict scenes from
the New Testament.
Magnolias,
an orange tree, and palm trees, as well as a central fountain, fill up the
central garden. Also, there is a pond at this site where thirteen white geese
live, as a representation of thirteen years of the life of the Santa Eulalia.
The Roof
A
must-go-to place in the Cathedral of Barcelona is the roof, with the help of an
elevator. From the rooftop of the Cathedral of Barcelona, you can see a
spectacular view of 360 degrees of the whole glorious city. You can also have a
closer glance at the legendary gargoyles and the bell tower from the top of the
Cathedral. In summer and spring, the fresh air that you get from here is also a
great relief. So, you don't need to spend money on the city's most visited
rooftop restaurants and bars.
You
can access the roof from one of the chapels present on the left side of the
church; go after the signs that are there to help you out.
In
the above article, we hope that we have covered up all the structural and
historical features that make the Barcelona Cathedral such a huge tourist
attraction. There is one more thing about the visit that you need to pay
special heed to. The dress code should not be compromised in the Barcelona
Cathedral. Inside the Cathedral, you ought to wear some traditional clothes.
Make sure that you enter the great Cathedral in the skirts/shorts/dresses up to
the knee length and cover the shoulders. If you anyhow happen to be there in a
prohibited dress code, don't worry. You can buy appropriate shawls that are
sold there to resolve this issue that unaware tourists face. Also, keep one
more thing in your mind that you have to remove any headwear or cap to get into
the Barcelona Cathedral.