Description of the attraction
The Church of Santa Maria del Mar ("St. Mary of the Sea") is an old church located in Barcelona, in the historic quarter of La Ribera. This church, which is a true example of a building in the style of pure Catalan Gothic, was erected between 1329 and 1383. This period is characterized for Catalonia by the flourishing of navigation and sea trade. That is why the building of the church was erected with funds from voluntary donations from merchants and shipbuilders, and it was named after the patroness of sailors - St. Mary.
The Church of Santa Maria del Mar is one of the few buildings whose architecture is designed in the same style. The construction of this church began on March 25, 1329. Its main facades, side walls, and beautiful chapels were completed by 1350. But the fire that happened in 1379 caused significant damage to the church building, damaging its main part. The building was restored and its construction was completed by 1383. After a short time, services began to be held in the church of Santa Maria del Mar.
The internal premises of the church have excellent acoustics, which makes it possible to arrange here frequent concerts of organ and symphonic music.
The facades of the church are famous for their magnificent stained glass windows. The famous Western stained glass rose depicts the coronation of the Virgin Mary. The side and central naves are decorated with stained glass windows dating from the 15th and 18th centuries.
The entrance doors are decorated with relief images of the ship unloading episodes. High vaults of the interior, supported by rare columns, give the interior of the building majesty and power.
