Located close to Las Ramblas in the heart of the city, the Barcelona Cathedral is a magnificent 13th century Gothic style structure, which today, draws visitors from all over to observe and take part in its traditional mass services. Named after Saint Eulalia, Barcelona’s patron saint, the cathedral is familiarly known as ‘Le Seu’. Though still in the city’s Gothic Quarter, the façade has changed, renovated in the 1800s with arches and carvings from the neo-gothic style.
When you arrive, you’ll notice crowds of people gathering in the square in front of the cathedral. Come here on Sunday and you may get to see women performing the traditional Catalan ‘sardana’ dance.
Step inside and you’ll uncover decorations dating back centuries beneath its grand vaulted ceilings. The interior was built between 1298 and 1448, and the time taken shows in the elaborate detail. Look out for the choir stalls which are rich in Catalan decoration. The sculpted canopies, commemorative shields and the painted relief are all gems in their own right. A decorated sarcophagus meanwhile holds the remains of Saint Eulalia in a crypt beneath the high altar.
Out in the cloister or courtyard meanwhile, there’s a beautiful fountain and thirteen geese roaming happily. Come at Easter and you’ll see the ‘dancing egg’ ritual in which an eggshell is placed on top of the fountain to ‘dance’ for the Corpus Christi celebration.
Beneath the cloister’s gallery, you’ll find a museum housing works of art dating back to the 11th century, including its monstrance, a bejewelled receptacle used in Catholic ceremonies for the Eucharist host. Head up to the roof of the cathedral to enjoy the panoramic views on offer across the entire city.
Open daily with special opening times for Catholic holidays, the cathedral can be reached easily by bus or metro. You can attend mass free of charge, but to see the choir stalls, explore the museum or go up to the rooftop you’ll be charged a small fee.
