Santa Maria del Mar – Barcelona’s Cathedral of the Sea

The Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar was built during the 14th century on a site which was once occupied by a Roman Amphitheatre. The church took 55 years to build and is a rare example of pure Catalan Gothic architecture (most churches and cathedrals are a combination of styles). The simplicity of design and almost total lack of adornment give the church an atmosphere of unsurpassed serenity.

During the 14th century, the La Ribera neighbourhood was located by the beach and was home to a mix of sailors, harbour workers, fishermen, craftsmen and merchants. Unlike Barcelona Cathedral, which was being built at the same time and was paid for by the king, the Basilica de Santa Maria del Mar was principally funded by local people. Rich merchants provided the majority of the money whilst sailors and porters (bastaixos) transported tons of stone from the quarries on Montjuïc.

The story of the construction of the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar is told in the novel The Cathedral of the Sea by Ildefonso Falcones. If you haven’t read the book yet, I recommend you try to get hold of a copy because the author really manages to bring the medieval streets of Barcelona to life.

In 1428 the church was shaken by a major earthquake that destroyed the large rose window, which was replaced in 1459 by the one we can see today. In 1909, during a week which became known as the Tragic Week (setmana tragica), the church was set on fire by anarchists protesting against conscription to fight in the Second Rif War. The fire melted most of the stained glass windows and destroyed the original altar and organ as well as a large quantity of historic documents.

Santa Maria del Mar Basilica Rooftop Tour

From May to October, you can take a guided tour of the church and its roof terraces. Although I’m not generally a big fan of tours, I thought that this one was very good value. The tour starts from the ticket desk just inside the west entrance from Plaça de Santa Maria and lasts 45 minutes.

After a short introduction in the nave, most of the tour is spent on the roof, where the guide explains how the church was built, the history of Santa Maria del Mar and the surrounding neighbourhood of La Ribera. Although the tour concentrates on the church itself, our guide was very knowledgeable and was able to answer more general questions about the history of Barcelona and Catalonia. Please note that the roof is reached by climbing a narrow spiral staircase, and there is no lift.

I recommend that you take the tour early in the day, before the crowds arrive and before it gets too hot. We visited at 11 am and there were only three people in our group. The ticket allows you to visit the church again later in the day when the choir is open (from 1 pm to 5 pm). If you like taking photos, it’s worth noting that in the afternoon (when you have to pay to enter), the church is less busy and better illuminated.

Time Needed To Visit

If you take the rooftop tour, then I recommend you allow an hour in total. Forty-five minutes for the tour plus 15 minutes to visit the nave and choir.

If you are visiting without the tour, then 10 to fifteen minutes should be enough time to visit the nave and take a few photos.

Information in English?

Tours are conducted in English, Catalan and Spanish.

Opening Times and Entry Fee

• Mon-Sat 9:30 – 13:00 17:00 – 20:30 FREE entry to the nave only
• Sunday 10:00 – 13:00 17:00 – 20:00 FREE entry to the nave only
• 13:00 – 17:00 Entrance to the nave, choir and crypt €10
• 11:00 – 19:00 Rooftop tour Standard €13, reduced (students OAPs etc.) €11 (Includes access to the nave, choir, crypt and roof terraces)

Santa Maria del Mar rooftop tour with English-speaking guide online price €13.00

Discounts are available for Barcelona Card holders and Barcelona Card Express

Location

Plaça de Santa Maria No. 1 in the La Ribera / El Born neighbourhood of Barcelona

How to Get There

The nearest metro stations are Jaume I and Barceloneta on the yellow line L4

Other Attractions Nearby

• El Fossar de Les Moreres
• El Born
• The Picasso Museum
• The Born Cultural Centre
• The Parc de la Ciutadela Park

Website

Map

Plaça de Santa Maria 1, 08003 Barcelona, Barcelona, España