Santa Maria del Mar, Barcelona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Santa Maria del Mar |
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| Basílica de Santa Maria del Mar | |
The west end of the church
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 Santa Maria del Mar
Location in Barcelona
Santa Maria del Mar
Location in Spain
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| 41°23′01″N 2°10′55″E / 41.38361°N 2.18194°E | |
| Location | Barcelona |
| Country | Spain |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Mary |
| Consecrated | 1384 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Bien de Interés Cultural |
| Architectural type | Catalan Gothic |
| Years built | 1329–1384 |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Barcelona |
The Santa Maria del Mar (meaning "Saint Mary of the Sea") is a beautiful church in the Ribera area of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It was built between 1329 and 1383. This was a time when Catalonia was very important for sea trade. The church is a great example of Catalan Gothic style. It is known for its simple and unified look, which is rare for such a large old building.
Contents
History of Santa Maria del Mar
The first time a church called Santa Maria by the Sea was mentioned was in the year 998. The building you see today started thanks to Bernat Llull, a church leader. What makes Santa Maria del Mar special is that everyday people, not just rich nobles, helped build it.
Building the Church
Work on the church began on March 25, 1329. King Alfonso IV of Aragon laid the first stone. You can still see a special tablet on the front of the church that remembers this day. The main architects were Berenguer de Montagut and Ramon Despuig. All the craftspeople and workers from the Ribera area helped with the building.
By 1350, the main walls, small chapels, and outside parts were finished. In 1379, a fire caused some damage to the ongoing work. Finally, on November 3, 1383, the very last stone was put in place. The church was officially opened on August 15, 1384.
Later Changes and Events
In 1428, a big earthquake hit Catalonia. It damaged the church and broke the large round window on the front. A new, fancy rose window was finished by 1459. The colorful glass for it was added a year later.
In 1936, a big fire caused a lot of damage inside the church. Many of its beautiful decorations, statues, and the main altar were destroyed. Even though the fire burned for 11 days, the church itself survived. A small chapel next to the main altar was added in the 1800s.
Outside the Church
From the outside, Santa Maria del Mar looks very strong and solid. It is surrounded by the narrow streets of the Ribera district. This makes it hard to see the whole church at once. You can get the best views from the Fossar de les Moreres and the Plaça de Santa Maria. These used to be old burial grounds.
The front of the church, facing the Plaça de Santa Maria, has a large rose window. Statues of Saint Peter and Saint Paul stand on either side of the main door. Above the door, a carving shows the Savior with Mary and Saint John. The tower on the left side was finished in 1496. The tower on the right side was not completed until 1902.
Inside the Church
When you step inside, the church feels very bright and open. It has three long sections, called aisles, that form one big space. There are no walls or separate areas between the main part of the church and the altar area.
The ceiling has simple, curved arches. These arches are held up by tall, thin, eight-sided columns. Lots of natural light comes in through the tall windows high up on the walls.
After the fire in 1936, most of the statues and decorations inside were lost. This makes the interior look simpler than other big Gothic churches in Barcelona. However, some beautiful stained-glass windows from different time periods have survived.
Unique Design Features
The columns inside Santa Maria del Mar are spaced very far apart. They are about 43 feet (13 meters) from the center of one to the center of the next. This is the widest spacing of columns in any Gothic church in Europe. This wide spacing helps make the interior feel so open and spacious.
Measurements and Proportions
According to art experts, the builders of Santa Maria del Mar used a special measurement called the medieval foot. One medieval foot was about 33 centimeters (or about 13 inches).
Using this measurement, the small chapels on the sides are 10 feet deep. The side aisles are twice as wide, at 20 feet. The main central aisle is four times as wide, measuring 40 feet. This means the total width of the church is 100 medieval feet. Interestingly, the highest point of the church is also 100 medieval feet tall!
Images for kids
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The west end of the church
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The bright and open interior of the church.
See also
In Spanish: Basílica de Santa María del Mar para niños
