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Santa Maria del Mar (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈsantə məˈɾi.ə ðəl ˈmaɾ], "Saint Mary of the Sea") is a church in the Ribera district of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, built between 1329 and 1383 at the height of Principality of Catalonia's maritime and mercantile preeminence. It is an outstanding example of Catalan Gothic, with a purity and unity of style that is very unusual in large medieval buildings.
The first mention of a church of Santa Maria by the Sea dates from 998. The construction of the present building was promoted by the canon Bernat Llull, who was appointed Archdean of Santa Maria in 1324. One of the distinctive features of Santa Maria del Mar was its backing by the common people, as opposed to the nobility. Construction work started on 25 March 1329, when the foundation stone was laid by king Alfonso IV of Aragon as commemorated by a tablet in Latin and Catalan on the façade that faces the Fossar de les Moreres. The architects in charge were Berenguer de Montagut (designer of the building) and Ramon Despuig, and during the construction all the guilds of the Ribera quarter were involved. The walls, the side chapels and the façades were finished by 1350. In 1379 there was a fire that damaged important parts of the works. Finally, on 3 November 1383 the last stone was laid and on 15 August 1384 the church was consecrated.
A very nice Gothic style church in the heart of Barcelona, not too far from the Cathedral of Barcelona. Very interesting art and stained glass to view, well worth a look inside. Every where there is something unique and beautiful to see.
G DuvallDec 28, 2017
Very grand, old church built in the neo gothic era. Most of the basilica is cavernous and open. There is a very nice chapel at the front of the church. If you can, pay for the one hour tour where they explain various things about how the church was built and you get to climb up one of the towers and go outside about ten stories up. Once on the roof of the church, you will see several panoramic views of the gothic quarter. Well worth the price.
Rick MorelliFeb 5, 2018
Excellent old church. Beautiful ceiling. Interesting plain altar
Brian NewmanFeb 16, 2018
Santa MarÃa del Mar is one of the most iconic buildings of Catalan gothic style in Barcelona. It's a beautiful church that you can admire from the inside and the outside. Whenever there is mass, the entrance to the temple is free. Otherwise, you must pay a small fee to enter.
Joy CasasDec 19, 2017
Impressive church, located in the born neighborhood. Once you get in, it really surprises the how huge it seems, which you cannot really realize when you are outside. I learned Gaudi inspired in Santa Maria to design Sagrada Familia, which was pretty astonishing. Free before 1pm and after 5.30pm, a real must if you are in Barcelona!
Martin BarbagliaJan 18, 2018
Absolutely gorgeous church. The rooftop tour is totally worth the 8 euros. Our guide spoke English really well and the tour group was small. At the top of the church you can see almost all of Barcelona. Santa Maria Del Mar represents one of the best kept examples of Catalan gothic architecture and is a must see while in Barcelona.
Rebecca VenturaMar 23, 2018
Very beautiful. The high ceilings and stained glass windows give you a great authentic, religious feeling. The neighborhood right to the North, El Born, has great bars and food. It's amazing how close other buildings are built to the basilica.
Stephen MaddenApr 13, 2018
14th Century Gothic style Church in the heart of the Old Town. Guided tour for 8€ is well worth it to get to climb to the outdoor roof terrace. Amazing views of the city of Barcelona. Plenty of intimate chapels to contemplate the immensity of the interior spaces.
Mark AuchinclossMay 1, 2018
I enjoyed the cool peaceful atmosphere. The stained glass is very bright and beautiful. Soaring columns and ceiling are inspiring. Certainly worth a short visit.
Roger CarlApr 26, 2018
Absolutely beautiful church inside and out! We arrived a little before they were closing it down for the day but you were able to go in and view the beauty of the church.
Dylan LoweMay 4, 2018
A nice Cathedral to take a break during your busy day going around "El Borne". Always be respectful, walk inside and look to the many details that you have in it. If you are lucky maybe they have some musician or chorus playing in. However, most of the time is really quiet and peaceful. So, enjoy the silence :). If this review helped you in your journey please share it and thump it up :). Thanks!
Em CMay 17, 2018
Another great and peaceful place in Barcelona. Me and my wife entered inside after long and tiring walking day in Barcelona and it was perfect relax after all. The church is very nice and also very cozy. I highly recommend to visit this place.
Giorgi SharikadzeMay 19, 2018
Beautiful and welcoming. It was very hot and many ladies showed up with skirts above knees, shoulders uncovered and casual beach sandals. Nobody was turned away. Beautiful ceiling, pillars, stained glass windows and lots of pews. The front of the church is cordoned off. A wedding was taking place.
Maya FleischerJul 7, 2018
Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar is really beautiful. It's not always open to the public, we were lucky that on our second trip in the evening it was open and we walked inside. Really beautiful. It's in the Bourn district - where you will find local artisans and their designs for sale and great restaurants.
Patrick ÉmondJun 27, 2018
A wonderfully calm place to rest and recover after walking around Barcelona for a few hours. Occasionally closed. Catch an organ recital or service if you can. Amazing architecture for a building more than 800 years old. Read the book about it, Cathedral of the Sea by Falcones.
Carl HawkingsJun 27, 2018
Lovely visit. Purchased tickets and selected time slot about two weeks before our visit. Rooftops are definitely worth it but more strenuous than expected. My 68 year old grandmother ended up staying downstairs exploring the basilica while I went to the top. Such and amazing view and our guide was filled with knowledge and history about Barcelona.
Jenna HinesJul 25, 2018
Nice building, the animals in the outdoor section of the cathedral are very nice. There are many different chambers aligning the walls dedicated to different figures in history. There is an almost underground chapel which is accessed by steps. The stained glass windows are very carefully and skilfully decorated, and look very well. The inside of the church is constructed using bare bricks, which doesn't sound particularly pleasent to the eye, but surprisingly has an extremely nice effect. The cathedral is located in the centre of the city of Barcelona, Spain's most highly industrialised city, but is located in the older Gothic quarter of the city. Unfortunately, there are many pick-pockets, so mind your belongings. It is overall a lovely and extremely impressive building and I would highly recommend it.
Fionn Keating Mac DermottAug 9, 2018
Beautiful church. The tickets are really cheap like 5 euros each and if you add 3 euros you can go to the rooftop, but if you come at 17:00 the entrance is free. There's guides at specific times with different languages. Going to the rooftop means going up loads of stairs which are spiral and you might feel claustrophobic so, keep that in mind. Overall the view upstairs is beautiful as you can see the the whole of Barcelona.
Andrea WhitesideJul 21, 2018
A very nice Gothic style church in the heart of Barcelona, not too far from the Cathedral of Barcelona. Very interesting art and stained glass to view, well worth a look inside. Every where there is something unique and beautiful to see.
G DuvallDec 28, 2017
Very grand, old church built in the neo gothic era. Most of the basilica is cavernous and open. There is a very nice chapel at the front of the church. If you can, pay for the one hour tour where they explain various things about how the church was built and you get to climb up one of the towers and go outside about ten stories up. Once on the roof of the church, you will see several panoramic views of the gothic quarter. Well worth the price.
Rick MorelliFeb 5, 2018
Excellent old church. Beautiful ceiling. Interesting plain altar
Brian NewmanFeb 16, 2018
Santa MarÃa del Mar is one of the most iconic buildings of Catalan gothic style in Barcelona. It's a beautiful church that you can admire from the inside and the outside. Whenever there is mass, the entrance to the temple is free. Otherwise, you must pay a small fee to enter.
Joy CasasDec 19, 2017
Impressive church, located in the born neighborhood. Once you get in, it really surprises the how huge it seems, which you cannot really realize when you are outside. I learned Gaudi inspired in Santa Maria to design Sagrada Familia, which was pretty astonishing. Free before 1pm and after 5.30pm, a real must if you are in Barcelona!
Martin BarbagliaJan 18, 2018
Absolutely gorgeous church. The rooftop tour is totally worth the 8 euros. Our guide spoke English really well and the tour group was small. At the top of the church you can see almost all of Barcelona. Santa Maria Del Mar represents one of the best kept examples of Catalan gothic architecture and is a must see while in Barcelona.
Rebecca VenturaMar 23, 2018
Very beautiful. The high ceilings and stained glass windows give you a great authentic, religious feeling. The neighborhood right to the North, El Born, has great bars and food. It's amazing how close other buildings are built to the basilica.
Stephen MaddenApr 13, 2018
14th Century Gothic style Church in the heart of the Old Town. Guided tour for 8€ is well worth it to get to climb to the outdoor roof terrace. Amazing views of the city of Barcelona. Plenty of intimate chapels to contemplate the immensity of the interior spaces.
Mark AuchinclossMay 1, 2018
I enjoyed the cool peaceful atmosphere. The stained glass is very bright and beautiful. Soaring columns and ceiling are inspiring. Certainly worth a short visit.
Roger CarlApr 26, 2018
Absolutely beautiful church inside and out! We arrived a little before they were closing it down for the day but you were able to go in and view the beauty of the church.
Dylan LoweMay 4, 2018
A nice Cathedral to take a break during your busy day going around "El Borne". Always be respectful, walk inside and look to the many details that you have in it. If you are lucky maybe they have some musician or chorus playing in. However, most of the time is really quiet and peaceful. So, enjoy the silence :). If this review helped you in your journey please share it and thump it up :). Thanks!
Em CMay 17, 2018
Another great and peaceful place in Barcelona. Me and my wife entered inside after long and tiring walking day in Barcelona and it was perfect relax after all. The church is very nice and also very cozy. I highly recommend to visit this place.
Giorgi SharikadzeMay 19, 2018
Beautiful and welcoming. It was very hot and many ladies showed up with skirts above knees, shoulders uncovered and casual beach sandals. Nobody was turned away. Beautiful ceiling, pillars, stained glass windows and lots of pews. The front of the church is cordoned off. A wedding was taking place.
Maya FleischerJul 7, 2018
Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar is really beautiful. It's not always open to the public, we were lucky that on our second trip in the evening it was open and we walked inside. Really beautiful. It's in the Bourn district - where you will find local artisans and their designs for sale and great restaurants.
Patrick ÉmondJun 27, 2018
A wonderfully calm place to rest and recover after walking around Barcelona for a few hours. Occasionally closed. Catch an organ recital or service if you can. Amazing architecture for a building more than 800 years old. Read the book about it, Cathedral of the Sea by Falcones.
Carl HawkingsJun 27, 2018
Lovely visit. Purchased tickets and selected time slot about two weeks before our visit. Rooftops are definitely worth it but more strenuous than expected. My 68 year old grandmother ended up staying downstairs exploring the basilica while I went to the top. Such and amazing view and our guide was filled with knowledge and history about Barcelona.
Jenna HinesJul 25, 2018
Nice building, the animals in the outdoor section of the cathedral are very nice. There are many different chambers aligning the walls dedicated to different figures in history. There is an almost underground chapel which is accessed by steps. The stained glass windows are very carefully and skilfully decorated, and look very well. The inside of the church is constructed using bare bricks, which doesn't sound particularly pleasent to the eye, but surprisingly has an extremely nice effect. The cathedral is located in the centre of the city of Barcelona, Spain's most highly industrialised city, but is located in the older Gothic quarter of the city. Unfortunately, there are many pick-pockets, so mind your belongings. It is overall a lovely and extremely impressive building and I would highly recommend it.
Fionn Keating Mac DermottAug 9, 2018
Beautiful church. The tickets are really cheap like 5 euros each and if you add 3 euros you can go to the rooftop, but if you come at 17:00 the entrance is free. There's guides at specific times with different languages. Going to the rooftop means going up loads of stairs which are spiral and you might feel claustrophobic so, keep that in mind. Overall the view upstairs is beautiful as you can see the the whole of Barcelona.
Andrea WhitesideJul 21, 2018
A very nice Gothic style church in the heart of Barcelona, not too far from the Cathedral of Barcelona. Very interesting art and stained glass to view, well worth a look inside. Every where there is something unique and beautiful to see.
G DuvallDec 28, 2017
Very grand, old church built in the neo gothic era. Most of the basilica is cavernous and open. There is a very nice chapel at the front of the church. If you can, pay for the one hour tour where they explain various things about how the church was built and you get to climb up one of the towers and go outside about ten stories up. Once on the roof of the church, you will see several panoramic views of the gothic quarter. Well worth the price.
Rick MorelliFeb 5, 2018
Excellent old church. Beautiful ceiling. Interesting plain altar
Brian NewmanFeb 16, 2018
Santa MarÃa del Mar is one of the most iconic buildings of Catalan gothic style in Barcelona. It's a beautiful church that you can admire from the inside and the outside. Whenever there is mass, the entrance to the temple is free. Otherwise, you must pay a small fee to enter.
Joy CasasDec 19, 2017
Impressive church, located in the born neighborhood. Once you get in, it really surprises the how huge it seems, which you cannot really realize when you are outside. I learned Gaudi inspired in Santa Maria to design Sagrada Familia, which was pretty astonishing. Free before 1pm and after 5.30pm, a real must if you are in Barcelona!
Martin BarbagliaJan 18, 2018
Absolutely gorgeous church. The rooftop tour is totally worth the 8 euros. Our guide spoke English really well and the tour group was small. At the top of the church you can see almost all of Barcelona. Santa Maria Del Mar represents one of the best kept examples of Catalan gothic architecture and is a must see while in Barcelona.
Rebecca VenturaMar 23, 2018
Very beautiful. The high ceilings and stained glass windows give you a great authentic, religious feeling. The neighborhood right to the North, El Born, has great bars and food. It's amazing how close other buildings are built to the basilica.
Stephen MaddenApr 13, 2018
14th Century Gothic style Church in the heart of the Old Town. Guided tour for 8€ is well worth it to get to climb to the outdoor roof terrace. Amazing views of the city of Barcelona. Plenty of intimate chapels to contemplate the immensity of the interior spaces.
Mark AuchinclossMay 1, 2018
I enjoyed the cool peaceful atmosphere. The stained glass is very bright and beautiful. Soaring columns and ceiling are inspiring. Certainly worth a short visit.
Roger CarlApr 26, 2018
Absolutely beautiful church inside and out! We arrived a little before they were closing it down for the day but you were able to go in and view the beauty of the church.
Dylan LoweMay 4, 2018
A nice Cathedral to take a break during your busy day going around "El Borne". Always be respectful, walk inside and look to the many details that you have in it. If you are lucky maybe they have some musician or chorus playing in. However, most of the time is really quiet and peaceful. So, enjoy the silence :). If this review helped you in your journey please share it and thump it up :). Thanks!
Em CMay 17, 2018
Another great and peaceful place in Barcelona. Me and my wife entered inside after long and tiring walking day in Barcelona and it was perfect relax after all. The church is very nice and also very cozy. I highly recommend to visit this place.
Giorgi SharikadzeMay 19, 2018
Beautiful and welcoming. It was very hot and many ladies showed up with skirts above knees, shoulders uncovered and casual beach sandals. Nobody was turned away. Beautiful ceiling, pillars, stained glass windows and lots of pews. The front of the church is cordoned off. A wedding was taking place.
Maya FleischerJul 7, 2018
Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar is really beautiful. It's not always open to the public, we were lucky that on our second trip in the evening it was open and we walked inside. Really beautiful. It's in the Bourn district - where you will find local artisans and their designs for sale and great restaurants.
Patrick ÉmondJun 27, 2018
A wonderfully calm place to rest and recover after walking around Barcelona for a few hours. Occasionally closed. Catch an organ recital or service if you can. Amazing architecture for a building more than 800 years old. Read the book about it, Cathedral of the Sea by Falcones.
Carl HawkingsJun 27, 2018
Lovely visit. Purchased tickets and selected time slot about two weeks before our visit. Rooftops are definitely worth it but more strenuous than expected. My 68 year old grandmother ended up staying downstairs exploring the basilica while I went to the top. Such and amazing view and our guide was filled with knowledge and history about Barcelona.
Jenna HinesJul 25, 2018
Nice building, the animals in the outdoor section of the cathedral are very nice. There are many different chambers aligning the walls dedicated to different figures in history. There is an almost underground chapel which is accessed by steps. The stained glass windows are very carefully and skilfully decorated, and look very well. The inside of the church is constructed using bare bricks, which doesn't sound particularly pleasent to the eye, but surprisingly has an extremely nice effect. The cathedral is located in the centre of the city of Barcelona, Spain's most highly industrialised city, but is located in the older Gothic quarter of the city. Unfortunately, there are many pick-pockets, so mind your belongings. It is overall a lovely and extremely impressive building and I would highly recommend it.
Fionn Keating Mac DermottAug 9, 2018
Beautiful church. The tickets are really cheap like 5 euros each and if you add 3 euros you can go to the rooftop, but if you come at 17:00 the entrance is free. There's guides at specific times with different languages. Going to the rooftop means going up loads of stairs which are spiral and you might feel claustrophobic so, keep that in mind. Overall the view upstairs is beautiful as you can see the the whole of Barcelona.
Andrea WhitesideJul 21, 2018
| Monday | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 5:00 – 8:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 5:00 – 8:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 5:00 – 8:30 PM |
| Thursday | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 5:00 – 8:30 PM |
| Friday | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 5:00 – 8:30 PM |
| Saturday | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 5:00 – 8:30 PM |
| Sunday | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 – 8:00 PM |
Wander is a travel search engine that allows you to find the perfect travel destination that fits your budget and preferences.