Located in one of Barcelona's most emblematic neighborhoods, the Barri Gòticnot far from La Rambla, the Cathedral Sainte-Croix or Santa Creu is one of the Catalan capital's landmark monuments.
Why visit this particular cathedral?
This is a monument whosehistory, l'architecture and the religious dimension have a particularly important place.
Inspiration GothicIt blends in perfectly with the spirit of the neighborhood, and many connoisseurs consider it to be a "masterpiece" in its own right. of rarely equalled conceptual beauty ".
I highly recommend a visit to the Cathedral!
Holy Cross Cathedral: useful information
Opening hours free of charge
- Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 12.45 p.m. - 5.45 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.
- Saturday 8 a.m. to 12.45 p.m. - 5.15 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Sundays and public holidays 8 a.m. to 1.45 p.m. - 5.15 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Opening hours for paying visitors
- Admission charge visit the temple, cloister, choir, terraces, chapter house museum
- Monday to Friday from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m.
- Sundays and public holidays from 2 to 5 p.m.
- Closing Sightseeing tours are closed on January 1, Easter and December 25.
Rates
- 7 € single entry
- 3 € for access to the choir if admission is free
- 3 € for access to terraces if admission is free
- Discounts are available for groups and children under 10.
Contact
Phone : (+34) 933 428 262
How to get to Holy Cross Cathedral
Address Pla de la Seu (08002) Barcelona
How to get there :
- Metro Line 3 (green) and Line 4 (yellow)
- Bus : 17, 19, 40, 45, 100 V15, V17 and N8
The history of Barcelona's Holy Cross Cathedral
Built on the same site as two ancient religious sites, an early Christian basilica (3rd-6th century AD) and a Romano Visigothic church (8th century AD), the remains of which were totally destroyed by the Arab invasion, the construction of the Sainte-Croix cathedral will have taken over 150 years.
Dedicated to Saint Eulalia (patron saint of Barcelona), its construction took 3 stages:
- From 1298 to 1460 Construction of the building.
The major works were initiated during the reign of Jaime II de Aragón, known as "The Just", and completed during the reign of Aragón Alfonso V. - In 1870 The facade has been added thanks to donor Manuel Girona Agrafel.
- In 1913 installation of the lantern and spire by order of the same preceptor's sons
In the history of the cathedral, and of Barcelona in general, it's important to point out that it's one of the only monuments that has withstood to the destructive movement of the anarchists during the civil war of the 30s.
Holy Cross Cathedral is a monument that has survived the political events and sometimes dark periods of Spanish history.
The architecture of the monument
As mentioned above, the monument's architecture features several styles because it was built several eras. Nevertheless, one guiding principle is put forward: the Gothic style.
The cathedral is composed of :
Interior :
Three naves, including a central one, an apse and an ambulatory. Pillars, arches and vaults create a very special atmosphere, infused with light and structure. Extraordinary beauty! Around the main nave, 28 chapels feature medieval paintings.
The chapels :
There are 28 of them, one of which contains the famous "Christ of Lepanto" crucifix.
You can also admire 15th-century stalls and an altarpiece by Bernat Martorell.
In one of them, you can see the tombs of the Count and Countess of Barcelona.
Legend has it that the first American Indians were ceremonialized in the cathedral's baptismal font.
The main chapels Capilla de Santa Lucía, Capilla del Santísimo y del Santo Cristo de Lepanto.
The choir :
Centrally positioned, as its name suggests, it is finely carved from wood. Bishop Ramon D'Escales was the initiator of this masterpiece, which is as impressive for its rich ornamentation as for its beauty of execution. But it was Father Sanglada who did all the work.
Here you can admire the coats of arms of the Knights of the Golden Fleece, which encircle the heart of the cathedral.
The crypt :
Located behind the choir, it contains the impressive sarcophagus of Saint Eulalie. She was a virgin martyr, tortured by Roman pagans in the 4th century, and made a saint for the miracles she performed after her death. The scenes that marked her life can be seen on her tomb.
The cloister :
The centerpiece of the visit, it's an unusual and very pleasant place. Built in the 15th century and situated to the right of the choir, it's a very soothing place. Fruit trees come to life, and flowers and plants adorn the grounds. It's also brightly lit, and you'll never tire of admiring the chapels that surround the cloister on three sides, as well as the fountains in the choir. Anecdotally, 13 geese roam the cloister in memory of Saint Eulalie, who was 13 when she was martyred.
The museum :
Adjacent to the cloister, it can be visited from 1pm to 4:30pm (included in the entrance ticket). Various paintings can be admired.
Terraces :
As you might imagine, they offer a breathtaking view of Barcelona from a height of around 50 metres above ground level.
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