BASÍLICA DE SANTA MARÍA DEL MAR
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A masterpiece of Catalan Gothic architecture, this basilica was built in only 55 years by the inhabitants of the Ribera. A record!
A masterpiece of Catalan Gothic, this superb basilica was built between 1329 and 1383 by the architect Berenguer de Montagut and soon became the symbol of the Catalan maritime empire. Dedicated to the patron saint of sailors, it was built "for the people and by the people" according to Ildefonso Falcones' account in his best-selling book The Cathedral of the Sea, which recounts the construction of this monumental basilica through fiction. In contrast to the cathedral of La Seu, which was held by the monarchy and the high clergy, Santa Maria del Mar was mainly financed by the merchants and shipowners of the neighborhood. All the inhabitants of the Ribera participated in its construction, especially the bastaixos, who transported the blocks of stone on their backs, one by one, from the quarry of Montjuïc to the church site. They are depicted on the main door of the basilica.
Santa Maria del Mar was built in record time: 55 years! It is composed of three naves separated by pillars. The great elegance and harmony of the church is due to the simplicity of its decoration. The quality of its acoustics has allowed it to host many concerts. The church lost many of its works of art during a fire in 1936, during the Civil War. On the outside, it has a beautiful main façade with a superb rose window in Flemish Gothic style. The ensemble is framed by two octagonal towers.
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