Basílica de Santa Maria del Mar
A church of pure Gothic style built by popular initiative
In the heart of the Born district, you will find one of the most perfect examples of Catalan Gothic architecture, notable for its spaciousness and sobriety. The Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar, contrary to what was common in the Middle Ages, was built in just 55 years in a purely Catalan Gothic style, avoiding the compartmentalization of European Gothic and opting for an idea of open space.
Barcelona Bus Turístic, on the Hola Barcelona app
Your app for visiting the city with the Barcelona Bus Turístic: routes, stops and the most iconic places. A comfortable way to carry your tickets too!
A church built by the people, for the people
The Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar in Barcelona was built between 1329 and 1383 by Berenguer de Montagut and Ramon Despuig, who created what is considered the most perfect work of Catalan Gothic style.
The entire population of the Ribera district actively participated in the construction of the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar, contributing either financially or through labor. This contrasts with the construction of the Barcelona Cathedral, which was associated with the monarchy, nobility, and high clergy. The dockworkers of the Ribera, known as bastaixos, played a key role, carrying the massive stones destined for the church from the royal quarry of Montjuïc and the unloading dock. They transported the stones one by one on their backs to the very plaza of the Born. The church honors the bastaixos who helped build it by depicting them in the capitals and in the bronze reliefs of the doors.
A Gothic landmark in the heart of the city
The church consists of three naves of nearly equal height, with sober and tall columns every 15 meters—a space unmatched by any other medieval construction worldwide—resulting in an unparalleled interior spaciousness and lightness among Gothic churches.
The main façade features two towers and two powerful buttresses framing the rose window. Horizontally, you can see two sections marked by moldings and terraces, while on the towers, the horizontal aspect is emphasized by terraces instead of pinnacles or spires.
Inside, the building has three naves with an ambulatory and no transept, showcasing numerous stained glass windows. Beneath the presbytery lies a small crypt housing the chest containing the remains of Saint Cucufate, originating from the now-lost church of Sant Cugat del Rec. This crypt also served as the burial site of Peter the Constable of Portugal, proclaimed Count of Barcelona (Peter IV). In one of the chapels on the Epistle side, his white marble tombstone with a relief of his figure is preserved.
The rose window is particularly noteworthy—it was destroyed during the 1428 earthquake and reconstructed in the mid-15th century in a Franco-Flemish Gothic style, incorporating an impressively realistic naturalism.
How to get to Santa Maria del Mar?
From the Pla de Palau – Parc de la Ciutadella stop on the Red Route of the Barcelona Tourist Bus, you can explore the Born district and discover the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar.
For the curious
- On the sides of the church, you’ll find two doors: the Sombrerers door and the Moreras door, with a commemorative inscription marking the beginning of the construction. Later, another door was opened in the apse—the Born door.
- The basilica organizes rooftop tours, allowing access to the crypt and offering stunning views of Barcelona along with a unique perspective of the temple and the Born district.
