Monday, August 28, 2023

Barcelona Gothic Quarter and Cathedral

We made our own walking tour of the Gothic District in Barcelona, Spain. The streets are narrow and compact, occasionally leading on to plazas or courtyards with a place (or several) to eat and maybe even a nice fountain.

A spot for some tables

A nice fountain

A bit of tiling on the wall!

The area dates back past the Gothic times, with bits of the walls from the Romans. Back then Barcelona was known as Barcino, so not a big change like other places.

A bit of Roman walls

The star of the area is the Cathedral of Barcelona. Construction of this building started in 1298 but took about 150 years to complete.

Entrance to the Cathedral of Barcelona

Gothic towers overlooking the plaza

Row of saints overlooking the door

The inside is spacious but not highly decorated. the nave contains a choir, the main altar, and stairs down to the crypt.

Nave

Stair to the top of the choir

The choir stalls

Above the main altar

The main altar

Stairs to the crypt

Altar in the crypt

Many side altars are along both aisles of the church.

Altar for Our Lady of the Rosary

Saint Mark's Altar (I think)

Like many other European cathedrals, this one has a cloister and a chapter house. The cloister has a fountain and a large set of geese. The thirteen geese represent the age of Saint Eulalia when she was martyred in 303 during the reign of Roman Emperor Diocletian. She's a popular local saint!

Cloister

Fountain

The geese

All accounted for!

The chapter house has many historical objects, the most important of which is the Golden Throne of King Martin the Humane. He was the last Catalan king, having no offspring. He dedicated his throne to Jesus Christ, saying only He could occupy it after Martin's death. Our guidebook says that Hitler, in his mania to get religious and occult objects, wanted to seize this from Spain but it was safely stored in Paris (!). No pictures were allowed in the chapter house, sadly.

Visitors are allowed to go up on the roof and enjoy the views of Barcelona.

Flying Buttress and Bell Tower

The main tower

View to Montjuic, with the white Olympic Tower and MNAC

Sagrada Familia, still under construction

Montjuic with castle on top!

Nearby rooftops

View to the port

The city council and other government buildings sit in a plaza right near the Cathedral.

Flying the Catalan flag

A more "ecumenical" display of patriotism

Columns from the first century temple to Caesar Augustus were found walled up in a medieval building a hundred years ago. They are now on display.

Pillars of Augustus

On the edge of the quarter is a statue to Ramon Berenguer III, a local count from the 1100s. He fought to reunite the area under Christian rule and freed many Christian slaves in Muslim-controlled Tarragon.

Ramon Berenguer

Some random decoration my wife pointed out

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