The Cathedral Of Barcelona, ​​a Magnificent Building

Brief history of the cathedral of Barcelona

The Cathedral of Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia in Barcelona is one of the most significant constructions of Catalan Gothic architecture. It was erected in the heart of the Gothic Quarter, on top of an ancient early Christian basilica and a mosque.

Initially, construction began in the Romanesque style, but in the end it was completed in the Gothic style, which is the predominant style. The person in charge of building the new cathedral was the Count of Berenguer, who undertook the rebuilding that was consecrated in 1058.

Although admiring the spectacular facade of the Barcelona Cathedral will amaze you, its interior will do it even more. Internally it has monumental and harmonious dimensions and a decoration with a mixture of medieval, Renaissance and Baroque styles.

The five access doors, the cloister with the white geese of Santa Eulàlia, l’ou com balla or the two hundred gargoyles that observe from the roof are some of the peculiarities of this magnificent building that will amaze you.

Points of interest in the cathedral of Barcelona

Crypt of Santa Eulàlia

Santa Eulàlia is the patron saint of the cathedral and co-patron of the city. Tradition says that 

Its crypt is located under the main altar. The ancient tomb of Santa Eulàlia, from the fourteenth century, is preserved there. There is also the Gothic polychrome alabaster sarcophagus where the remains of the saint rest.

Choir stalls

The choir is one of the most valuable corners of the Barcelona Cathedral, it is a magnificent carved wooden stalls dating from the 14th and 15th centuries. On the backs of the stalls you can see the shields of the Order of the Golden Fleece from the 16th century.

Also noteworthy is the pulpit, a work made between 1394 and 1499 by Pedro Çanglada and Matías Bonafé, with the collaboration of Antonio Claperós and John Lambert, and the high canopies in the shape of pinnacles that are the work of the artists Kassel and Michael Lochner and date from the year 1499.

Terrace

From the terrace you can have views of the two bell towers, the two lateral pinnacles, the dome crowned by the Holy Cross supported by the image of Santa Elena, the cloister and the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona. To get there you can take an elevator.

Cathedral Museum

This museum is located in a Gothic room that was a meeting place for the cathedral chapter. It currently shows the most valuable pieces and works of art that are no longer the object of worship. Among the works on display are the Pietà by Bartolomé Bermejo and La Glorificación de Sant Oleguer and Santa Eulàlia .

Since 2007, the cathedral museum has incorporated the Sant Sever section, until then closed to the public. Today it is reserved for exhibitions of baroque and contemporary art.

Cloister

The Gothic cloister of the Barcelona Cathedral is one of its most striking corners, it is an oasis of peace decorated with palm trees, magnolias, orange trees and a fountain dating from the mid-15th century . Also there you can see some particular inhabitants, thirteen geese, which roam at ease in a large pond.

You can also see a fountain with a small statue of Sant Jordi killing the dragon. Here visitors choose to toss coins to make a wish and dip their hands in the water with the belief that it brings good luck.

The legends of the thirteen geese of the cathedral of Barcelona

Meeting thirteen geese in the cathedral may seem strange, but this responds to a couple of legends. The first says that when the construction of the cathedral began, the guardian of the works lived accompanied by some geese. One day, thieves broke into the construction site and the geese began to squawk, preventing the robbery. They say that in this way the geese earned the honor of being able to be permanently in this place.

The second legend says that there are thirteen occasions, due to the thirteen martyrdoms to which Saint Eulàlia was subjected for refusing to renounce the Christian faith in Roman times. Little Eulàlia was thirteen years old and thirteen martyrdoms were applied to her, one for each year of life.

You cannot miss the majestic cathedral of Barcelona, ​​nowadays the guardian and guide of the city of Barcelona.