Tuesday 25 January 2011

Santa Maria del Mar

Santa Maria del Mar is a church on the Ribera district of Barcelona. The church was built between 1329 and 1383. It’s an example of Catalan Gothic edification.

The architecs were Berenguer de Montagut and Ramón Despuig.The north-west tower was started in 1496, but it wasn’t finished until 1902.

This church has two belfries because Santa Maria del Pi, another important church in Barcelona, had the tallest belfry in Spain.

Between Santa Maria del Mar and Santa Maria del Pi there was a big rivalry. Santa Maria del Mar was exclusive for the people of the port and the Barceloneta because they were the people that built this church with their money or their work. However, Santa Maria del Pi was a church for the rich people.

The interior gives an impression of light an spaciouness.This site was originally occupied by a Roman necropolis (cemetery) that was in use from the 4th to 6th centuries. This was discovered during excavations under the church in the 1960s.

“La Catedral del Mar ” in English “The Cathedral of the Sea“ is a book by the Spanish writer Idelfonso Falcones and deals with the church of Santa Maria del Mar and the population of Barcelona during its construction in the XIV century.

2 comments:

Iván Torrubia said...

It's very wonderful and big the Cathedral...

Pauett said...

I love your job *_* because my uncles was married here and I like the story very much ;).