CATEDRAL DE LA SANTA CREU I SANTA EULÀLIA

The Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia Cathedral, which houses the Archbishopric of Barcelona, was built on the site of a 4th century Paleochristian temple, the remains of which can be seen in the city's History Museum. Later, a Visigothic church was built here and finally a Romanesque cathedral. In 1298, King James II ordered the construction of the cathedral, one of the oldest monuments in Barcelona. It is dedicated to three saints in particular: St. Helen, whose image can be seen under the dome, St. Lucy, to whom the Romanesque chapel was dedicated and, finally, St. Eulalia, patron saint of the city, whose tomb is located in the crypt. This jewel of Gothic architecture is a mixture of different styles due to the constant modifications that have been made over the centuries. The towers and the dome, for example, were added between 1906 and 1913, on the initiative of the industrialist Manuel Girona, who decided to pay for the work, while respecting the original plans. It is true that although the cloister was completed in 1448, the project for the facade had not been carried out. With three naves, an ambulatory and a transept, you will be surprised by the nine chapels, with magnificent stained glass windows. Among the five doors of the cathedral, the oldest is the door of San Ivo, which has remained the main entrance for 500 years. You will notice the marble altar, consecrated in 1337, whose capitals, from the 6th century, are certainly a legacy from the early Christian temple. Admire for a moment the choir stalls, which received the Knights of the Golden Fleece in 1519, on the initiative of Charles V. You can see the coat of arms painted by Juan de Borgoña for the occasion. The cloister, adjacent to the cathedral, is particularly appreciated. You can get there through the door of the Pietat or the one of Santa Eulàlia. The garden, with its palm trees and fountain, is a true haven of peace where it is good to rest for a moment. You may come across the thirteen geese that symbolize the age of Saint Eulalia when she died. Another anecdote: one of the 21 bells of the cathedral no longer exists. Each of them had a woman's name, but Honorata, a rebel at heart, rang several times to incite the people to revolt under Philip V. The latter, as a symbol of his revenge, melted her down and thus prevented her from ringing the bell..