Begun in 1324, the basilica of Santa Maria del Mar took just 54 years to build with much of the local population helping at some point or another. At the time, the church was situated on the seashore (hence the name “St. Mary of the Sea”). Its magnificence was intended to symbolize the naval supremacy of the Kingdom of Aragon. Specifically, the church was built to commemorate the recent conquest of Sardinia. It is truly the most beautiful church in the city, with its awe inspiring spaciousness with lofty aisles, which are half as broad as the central nave and studded with shallow chapels between the buttresses.

Santa Maria del Mar was gutted by fire during the civil war, which cleared out almost all the ornate fittings accumulated over time, leaving only the bare brickwork and the stained glass windows. Ironically, this event has created this great cathedral-like space, accentuating the incredible vaulted ceilings.

The main entrance overlooks Plaça de Santa Maria del Mar where you can sit outside on the terrace and admire the facade and watch the world go by.

People still get married here at weekends and from time to time there are orchestral evenings playing Mozart or Wagner that really does wonders with the ambiance and acoustics of the great space. If you really want to get into the fascinating history of Santa Maria del Mar, pick up a copy of ‘Cathedral of the Sea’ by Idelfonso Falcones; a riveting Medieval drama set around the epic construction of Santa Maria del Mar.