This beautiful church features the only pure style of Catalan Gothic architecture. Constructed with money donated by merchants and shipbuilders, work was begun in 1329 and completed 55 years later. Contrast this with the efforts building the better known Barcelona Cathedral, funded by wealthy families, begun in 1298, and not finished until 500 years later.
My morning flight arrival allowed time to begin exploring some of the city. Easily done by walking in the old "barrio" area. And so, I discovered this beautiful gem, the Santa Maria, only blocks from my Hotel Colon. It had been damaged severely by fire during the Spanish Civil war, yet now has been reconstructed and yields a sense of space and simplicity.
For a few Euros, a late afternoon guided tour climbed up the narrow circling staircase to the rooftop, where we saw the bell tower and overlooked the city skyline. The Spires on the Barcelona Cathedral (left) rise above everything else.
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