Church of Santa Maria del Mar

Built in Catalonian Gothic style, this Basilica has been through a lot.

TravelCurious Tip

Look out for the rose window at the church’s west end. A survivor of the 1936 fire, this beautiful stained glass was designed by Pere Joan and Andreu Escuder in 1459 after a 1428 earthquake destroyed the original.

Catalan glory

The first mention of a church on the site of Santa Maria del Mar dates from 998. The area around this small chapel grew into the thriving port district of Barcelona, busy with merchants, fishermen, trading vessels, builders and craftsmen. The majestic building we see today was created by master builder Berenguer de Montagut using stone from the nearby mountain Montjuïc, and completed in 1383, during Catalonia’s prime as a centre of maritime commerce.

While it looks rather imposing from outside, the church’s interior is bright and spacious. In 1936, during the Civil War, a fire blazed inside the church for eleven days and sadly destroyed much of its magnificent decoration, including a Baroque altarpiece. Fortunately, some of the stained glass windows on the top levels were high enough to escape the flames and can still be admired by visitors today.


Sacred circumference

Careful restorations to the church have ensured the retention of its distinctive and elegant Catalonian Gothic style. It follows the ad quadratum ideal of sacred geometry: a high ceiling of intertwining arches is supported by thick octagonal columns, creating a huge space of perfect circumference - 33m wide and 33m high.

In 1965, the remains of the Baroque altar were excavated and replaced; a Roman necropolis was discovered beneath, and was remodelled into a functional crypt in which the relics of St. Cugat del Rec have been held since 2000. Many important saints have worshipped here over the years, and the church remains an important devotional centre for the Catholic faith today, taking an active role in the local community and offering charity to those in need.

Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in Barcelona
El Born
A trendy neighbourhood with interesting bars, restaurants and stylish boutiques.
Barcelona Cathedral
A magnificent Gothic cathedral in the old centre of Barcelona, and the seat of the Archbishop of Spain.
Placa del Rei
Meaning 'Kings Square' this 14th century medieval public square is in the Barri Gòtic of Barcelona.
Picasso Museum
A wonderful collection traces Picasso’s creative genius from his roots in Barcelona.
Fossar de les Moreres
Memorial to the defenders of Barcelona who died in the siege of 1714
Spanish pinchos
A small snack, typically eaten in bars, made of a slice of bread and various toppings above.

Related Tours

Explore El Born District: Private Half-Day Walking Tour

Experience the best of medieval and modern culture in El Born, Barcelona's trendiest and most beautiful neighbourhood on this private walking tour, including tickets for the guided tour of the Palau de la Música, an icon of modernism.

On your private half-day tour. you will: 

  • Discover the highlights of the fashionable and historic district of El Born;
  • Walk through quaint streets like Carrer de L’Argenteria and Carrer Barra de Ferro and pause outside the Picasso Museum;
  • See the stunning 10th Century Gothic Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar (St Mary of the Sea);
  • Stroll along with the Passeig del Born into the heart of the area, and one of the best places for artisanal, designer and boutique shopping;
  • Stop by the designer studios and small workshops along the charming backstreets such as Carrer del Flassaders;
  • Admire Parc de la Ciutadella (the Catalan Parliament) and see the Arc de Triomf;
  • See the El Born Centre de Cultura I Memòria an archaeological museum housed inside a former 19th-century market, and learn all about the history and evolution of this fabulous neighbourhood;
  • Walk by the Convent Sant Agusti and on days it is open enjoy a fantastic stroll through the ever-vibrant Santa Caterina food market;
  • End your tour with a 50' guided visit to the "Palau de la Música Catalana".


El Born, while home to some of the oldest medieval buildings in Barcelona, has become one of the city’s most lively, trendy and popular neighbourhoods. Originally inhabited by fishermen and dockworkers, it was absorbed into the city walls in the 15th century and gradually became desirable to the aristocracy and merchant classes. 

Today, it is a bohemian, artsy, cultural paradise –famous for its great tapas and fashionable bistros, museums, gothic architecture, food markets and music halls! A place where history and modernity blend effortlessly. 

Your private walking tour will take in all the highlights of the art, architecture and vibrant culture of El Born and culminate at the Palau de la Música Catalana. This opera house is one of Barcelona’s most impressive Modernist masterpieces, designed by Catalan architect Lluis Domenech I Montaner. This is where you say goodbye to your guide, who will have arranged your tickets for a guided tour inside the iconic concert hall.
x

Guides

Join the fastest growing community of professional tour guides.

Become a guide

Partners

Use our easy to integrate toolset to include Tours & Attractions in your customer journey.

Become a partner