Barcelona Cathedral facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Barcelona Cathedral
Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia
Basilica Catedral Metropolitana de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia Basílica Catedral Metropolitana de la Santa Cruz y Santa Eulalia
West façade in 2019.
41°23′02″N 2°10′35″E / 41.38389°N 2.17639°E / 41.38389; 2.17639
Location	Barcelona
Country	Spain
Denomination	Catholic
History
Status	Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica
Dedication	Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia
Dedicated	18 November 1058
Architecture
Architect(s)	Jaume Fabre (first known)
Style	Catalan Gothic, Gothic Revival
Groundbreaking	1 May 1298
Completed	1913 (west façade and dome)
Specifications
Length	93 m (305 ft)
Width	40 m (130 ft)
Nave height	28 m (92 ft)
Dome height (outer)	70 m (230 ft)
Dome height (inner)	41 m (135 ft)
Tower height	54 m (177 ft)
Administration
Archdiocese	Barcelona

The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, often called Barcelona Cathedral, is a large Gothic church in Barcelona, Spain. It is the main church for the Archbishop of Barcelona. This amazing building was mostly built between the 13th and 15th centuries. Its beautiful courtyard, called a cloister, was finished in 1448. In the late 1800s, a new front (façade) was added in the neo-Gothic style. This made the cathedral look even more grand.

The cathedral is shaped like a basilica with five long sections, called aisles. The two outer aisles have many small chapels. The back part of the church has nine chapels arranged in a circle. The main altar is raised up, so you can see into the crypt below.

The cathedral is named after Eulalia of Barcelona, one of Barcelona's patron saints. She was a young girl who, according to stories, was martyred during Roman times. One legend says that when she was exposed in the public square, a miraculous snowfall covered her. Her body is now buried in the cathedral's crypt.

Inside the cathedral, you can see the special seats for the choir. These seats have the coats-of-arms of knights from the Order of the Golden Fleece. In 1519, Charles, who would become the Holy Roman Emperor, chose Barcelona for a meeting of this important Order. The city was a big port, making it easy to connect with other parts of his empire. The cathedral was large enough for all the grand ceremonies.

One of the side chapels holds a special cross called the "Holy Christ of Lepanto." People say this cross dates back to the famous Battle of Lepanto in 1571. The cathedral also holds the tombs of several important figures. These include Saint Raymond of Penyafort and Count Ramon Berenguer I.

The cathedral has a quiet Gothic cloister (a covered walkway around a courtyard). Here, you'll find 13 white geese. The number 13 is said to represent Saint Eulalia's age when she was martyred.

A Look at History
The Chapel of Lepanto
How the Cathedral Was Built
- The Gothic Quarter
Fun Traditions
The Cathedral Today
Images for kids
See also

A Look at History

The area where the cathedral stands has a long history. Parts of an early Christian and Visigothic complex from the 4th to 7th centuries have been found. These include a baptistery and a church. It's believed that an early church here was dedicated to the Holy Cross in 599. This church was badly damaged in 985.

In 1046, Count Ramon Berenguer I and Bishop Guislabert started building a Romanesque cathedral on the same spot. This church was finished and dedicated in 1058. It was built over the crypt of the older church.

The current Gothic cathedral began construction on May 1, 1298. James II the Just was the King of Aragon at that time. The church was built from the back towards the front. The main front (façade) was completed in 1417. The cloister was finished in 1448, meaning the whole building took 150 years to build!

In the late 1800s, a man named Miguel Girona i Agrafel offered to pay for the completion of the neo-Gothic façade and the central tower. This work was based on a 15th-century design. His children finished the project in 1913.

The front of the cathedral in 1850, painted by Jenaro Pérez Villaamil.
Work starting on the new front in 1890.
The front with its side towers, around 1900.

The Chapel of Lepanto

The Christ of Lepanto above the tomb of Saint Olegarius.

The Chapel of the Holy Sacrament and of the Holy Christ of Lepanto is a small side chapel. It was first built in 1407. Later, in the 17th century, it was rebuilt to hold the tomb of Saint Olegarius, who was a Bishop of Barcelona.

The "Holy Christ of Lepanto" crucifix is very famous. It is located above the entrance to the chapel. The figure of Jesus on the cross has a curved shape. A popular Catalan legend explains why: The cross was on the front of a ship led by Juan of Austria during the Battle of Lepanto in 1571. When a cannonball flew towards the cross, it leaned out of the way to avoid being hit. It has stayed inclined ever since! Another story says the cross was in the ship's storage area. It moved to cover a large hole, which saved the ship from sinking.

How the Cathedral Was Built

The Barcelona Cathedral shows a special building style called Catalan Gothic. This style is unique to the Barcelona area. Catalan Gothic buildings often have open spaces and wide main sections. Unlike some other Gothic styles, it focuses on balancing the building's size rather than making it super tall.

The Barcelona Cathedral is 93 meters (about 305 feet) long. It is 40 meters (about 131 feet) wide. The central part of the church, called the nave, is 28 meters (about 92 feet) high. Each bell tower reaches 54 meters (about 177 feet) tall. The highest point of the cathedral, at the top of its central dome (cimborio), is 70 meters (about 230 feet) high.

The cathedral has three main sections (naves), a choir area, and a cloister. The side sections are built at different heights to help support the central nave and the dome. Each side section has two chapels. The choir area has 10 pointed arches. Large windows let sunlight into the choir from the cloister. A gallery with windows runs above the chapels, providing soft light. The front of the cathedral has a neo-Gothic design. You can see many sculptures, including gargoyles and other mythical creatures, on the roof.

The Gothic Quarter

The Barcelona Cathedral is in the heart of Barcelona's Gothic Quarter. This area is known for its medieval buildings. From 1927 to 1970, many buildings in the Gothic Quarter were restored. They were given a Gothic style to make the area more attractive. This helped show off Catalan pride.

Many buildings around the cathedral were changed to match its new front. This made the Gothic Quarter a very important and beautiful part of the city. The changes helped Barcelona create a historical image. This image connects the city's past with its tourism today.

Fun Traditions

On the day of Corpus Christi, the cathedral celebrates the tradition of the 'dancing egg'. This is an egg that "dances" on a jet of water from a fountain!

The Cathedral Today

The cathedral has made some changes to welcome the many tourists who visit. The cloister now has a gift shop. The traditional candles that people used to light at shrines have been replaced with electronic ones. To keep the chapels quiet and respectful, cell phones are not allowed in the Chapel of Lepanto and other chapels.