Santa Maria del Mar
Basílica de Santa Maria del Mar
The peak of 14th-century Catalan Gothic church architecture, built with funds from the fishermen and porters of El Born, and the real-life setting that inspired the novel Cathedral of the Sea.
Santa Maria del Mar was built in just 54 years, from 1329 to 1383, and is a representative example of Catalan Gothic architecture. It features a wide nave, slender octagonal columns, and a huge rose window, with a clean, light-filled interior. Porters from the port carried the stone for the church without pay, and a relief on the door commemorates them. Entry is free during the day, although a fee applies at certain times. Rooftop tours are also available for about €10–15. The church is in El Born, a 3-minute walk from the Museu Picasso.
Opening hours
10:00–20:00 (midday and some Sunday periods are for Mass only)
Nearby sights
- Museu Picasso
- Gothic Quarter & La Rambla
- Barcelona Cathedral
- Parc de la Ciutadella & Arc de Triomf
- Palau de la Música Catalana
- Columbus Monument & Port Vell
- Palau Güell
- La Boqueria Market