The Cathedral of Barcelona can be found in the
Medieval Gothic Quarter of
Barcelona (or Barri Gòtic). It is best reached by taking line 3 of the metro and getting off at the Jaume I stop. The cathedral is open to the public, but visiting hours vary throughout the cathedral complex and depend on that day's mass schedule. It is advisable to call or visit the cathedral the morning you wish to visit and confirm that day's timings.
The full name of the Cathedral of Barcelona is Cathedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulalia. It is dedicated to the patron saint of Barcelona, Eulalia. The extant gothic cathedral is built on the site of two former cathedrals, a Visigoth basilica built in the 4th century and destroyed in the 10th, and a Roman cathedral built in the middle of the 11th century. The chapel adjacent to the Roman cathedral was preserved in the current gothic design.
Construction began on the Cathedral of Barcelona in 1298, but it was not fully completed until 1913. In between, civil wars and the black plague impeded construction.
The completed structure is 93 meters long and 40 meters wide. The central spire soars to 70 meters and its flanking clock towers are both 50 meters. The carving on the choir is a major draw to the cathedral, as is the sarcophagus of Saint Eulalia, housed in the crypt.
In addition to the cathedral itself, the cathedral square is full of street performers, vendors, and cafés.
