Cathedral

Look in front of you, the imposing Cathedral of Barcelona, also known as the Cathedral of Saint Cross and Saint Eulalia. It is one of the main symbols of the city and a jewel of Catalan Gothic architecture.

Located in the heart of the Gothic Quarter, the cathedral began construction in 1298, and work lasted more than 150 years until funds ran out and it was left unfinished.

You can see a picture on the screen of what it looked like before

The impressive facade you’re looking at may seem ancient, medieval, and distinctly Gothic – but in fact, it was constructed in the late 19th century. A wealthy banker generously donated around 6,000 euros to complete it. So, this is a cathedral that was started in the 13th century and finished in the early 20th century – nearly 600 years in the making.

The cathedral is dedicated to Saint Eulalia, the patron saint of Barcelona. She was a 13-year-old girl who was martyred by the Romans in the 4th century for her Christian faith. She was tortured 13 times, as many tortures as her age, and to honor this, the cloister features a small garden with a pond where 13 geese live. These geese symbolize both her age and the number of tortures she endured.

If you have time, I highly recommend a visit inside the cathedral. While the facade is modern, the interior remains true to its Gothic roots, and you can see the geese in the garden.

If you do not visit the cathedral, continue your visit through the narrow alley to the left of the cathedral