Santa Maria del Pi, Barcelona facts for kids
Santa Maria del Pi (which means "St. Mary of the Pine") is a beautiful church in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It was built a long time ago, in the 15th century, in a style called Gothic. You can find it in the old part of the city, called the Barri Gòtic, on a square named Plaça del Pi.
History of the Church
A long time ago, around the year 987, there was a small church outside Barcelona's city walls. This church was built in a style called Romanesque. It was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, known as the "Blessed Lady of the Pine Tree."
The current church was mostly built between 1319 and 1391. It officially opened its doors on June 17, 1453. This church was built in the Catalan Gothic style. It has one main hall, called a nave, with very little decoration. A king named Peter the Ceremonious helped pay for the bell tower in 1379. The bell tower was finished later, between 1460 and 1497, by an architect named Bartomeu Mas.
In 1428, a big earthquake in Catalonia caused serious damage to the church, especially its front.
The church was also damaged in 1714 during a war called the war of the Spanish succession. An explosion nearby caused the main altar to collapse and destroyed many decorations. Luckily, the statue of the Virgin Mary and other important statues were saved. The church's stained-glass windows were also broken. Repairs started in 1717, but a major restoration happened much later, between 1863 and 1884. During this time, some older Baroque decorations were removed. The church was restored again around 1915.
In 1936, during the Spanish Civil War, the church was badly burned by anarchists. After the war ended, the church was carefully restored again.
Church Fronts
The front of the church has a very large, round window called a rose window. The one you see today was rebuilt in 1940, exactly like the original one that was destroyed in the 1936 fire. Below this window is the main entrance, which has a beautiful Gothic arch.
Above the main entrance, there's a carved area called a tympanum. It's divided into three parts by small columns. In the middle, there's a statue of the Virgin and Child. Above this, you can see the coats of arms of Barcelona and the church.
The side of the church has strong supports called buttresses. These help hold up the heavy roof and arches inside. Between each pair of buttresses, there's a tall, narrow window. In the middle of this side, you'll find the "Door of Avemaria."
The back of the church also has buttresses and tall windows. These windows let light into the rounded part of the church called the apse. At the very back of the apse, there's an old door from 1578 that used to be an entrance to the church.
Over many years, other buildings have been built close to the church, hiding some of its old walls.
Bell Tower
The bell tower is shaped like an octagon (it has eight sides). It stands very tall, reaching 54 meters high! The walls at the bottom of the tower are very thick, about 3.55 meters.
The tower has a set of six bells. The biggest bell is named "Antònia." It is 1.4 meters wide and weighs a huge 1,806 kilograms (about 3,980 pounds). Building the bell tower started in 1460. It was finished in 1497 by the architect Barthomeu Mas.
Inside the Church
The inside of the church has one long main hall, or nave. This hall is made up of seven rectangular sections. Each section has a vaulted ceiling, which looks like a curved roof. There are also small side-chapels built between the supporting pillars. The nave is 54 meters long, 16.5 meters wide, and 12.2 meters high.
The fire in 1936 destroyed many things inside. This included the main altar, the altarpiece (a large decorated screen behind the altar), statues, and the organ.
The main altar you see today is made of a soft stone called alabaster. It was created by Joaquim de Ros i de Ramis and put in place in 1967.
In the area near the altar, there is a tall statue of Santa Maria del Pi. It is 3.3 meters high and was made in 1973 by a sculptor named Enric Monjo.
The church used to have beautiful wooden seats for the choir, built in 1771. These were replaced in 1868 but were destroyed in the 1936 fire. In 1986, the original Baroque-style seats were brought back and put in place again.
The original stained-glass windows did not survive the damage over the years. The oldest windows you see now are from 1718. One of these, above the "Door of Avemaria," shows the Adoration of the Magi and was made by Antoni Viladomat.
Saint Evan Duvall, who became a saint in 1909, was a priest in this church from 1687 to 1702. He is buried here, in the Chapel of the Virgin Mary of Montserrat.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de Santa María del Pino para niños
