One of my favorite things about Barcelona was its architecture. And not just Gaudi’s either. The city is filled with gorgeous neighborhoods that show architectural styles from various periods. One that particularly stands out is the Gothic Quarter, where you’ll find the Barcelona Cathedral.
Once you enter the Gothic Quarter, you’ll find a much different vibe from most of the city. Here, the ancient mingles with the present. Gothic-style buildings host modern hotels and restaurants, while street performers gather crowds on the cobblestone courtyards. And the center of it all is the Barcelona Cathedral.
If you’ve done any research on Barcelona, you’ve probably read that the Barcelona Cathedral (formally known as The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia) is one of the most beautiful sites in the city—and that’s true. Although it’s vastly different from La Sagrada Familia’s near-overwhelming splendor, the Barcelona Cathedral is stunning in its own way.
Soaring stone pillars end in ornate archways and painted ceilings; square towers capped in ironwork peaks reach the sky, and alcoves filled with relics line the inner sanctuary and the outside reliquary. It’s a gorgeous example of grandeur from the Gothic period.
We were initially unsure whether to add this cathedral to our list, but I’m so glad we did. And if you’re in Barcelona, you’ll definitely want to add it to yours as well!
What To Know About the Barcelona Cathedral
- A proper dress code is strictly enforced. This is an active place of worship, so if you’re not wearing enough clothing (short dress, uncovered shoulders, etc.), you’ll be asked to put on more clothing. If you need to cover your shoulders, they have shawls available for purchase at the entrance for a few euros. Men are also asked to remove hats when they enter.
- Tickets for the cathedral cost 9 euros per person and can be purchased online. Due to the site’s popularity, you’ll need to choose an arrival time and stick fairly close to that to make sure you can get in.
- The Barcelona Cathedral takes approximately 1 hour to go through (at a very reasonable pace). If you don’t stop too much, you could easily see everything in 30-45 minutes. However, if you plan to take in the relics and enjoy the rooftop views, plan on 1 hour.
- All visitors are expected to keep noise at a respectful level during their visit so people who come to pray and worship are not disturbed.
- The Gothic Quarter is located just off of La Rambla, so it’s pretty easy to find the Barcelona Cathedral by accident if you’re already in the area. However, if you go there intentionally, you’ll want to come out at the Jaume I Metro stop or Via Laietana – Pl Ramon Berenguer bus stop.
What to See at the Barcelona Cathedral
It’s pretty easy to see everything while you’re at the Cathedral, thanks to its open layout. There are only a few main sections, and each one is beautiful in its own way. Here’s a general idea of what to expect…
The Dais
Behind the choir, at the front of the Cathedral, you’ll find the main dais. Even with some scaffolding in the background, it’s a very imposing area. At the back of the platform, a statue of Christ on the cross hangs over a large chair for the priest. Massive stone pillars section of about 3/4 of the dais from the relic alcoves along the walls, ending in stained glass windows at the apex of the cathedral.
Visitors are not allowed up in this area, but you can see everything clearly from the ground level.
The Crypt of Saint Eulalia
Beneath the Dais, the floor opens up into a wide stairway that leads to the crypt of Saint Eulalia. This young saint of Barcelona was killed and tortured for her faith by the Roman Emporer Diocletian at the age of 13. As a tribute to her, the cathedral keeps a flock of 13 geese outside in the cloister to commemorate her death.
The tomb, however, is a fairly large room with carved beams on the rounded ceiling, a few chairs, and an ornate marble sarcophagus held off the floor by a series of pillars. The images carved into the sarcophagus tell the story of Saint Eulalia.
On normal visiting days, guests are only allowed to peek inside through the bars of a metal gate, but it’s worth the quick detour to check it out.
The Relic Alcoves
All around the main sanctuary, gated alcoves hold a variety of relics, paintings, and crypts of significance to the Catholic church. Besides the fact that each one has a story, many of these items are incredibly detailed and exquisitely made. You can spend quite a bit of time here just taking in each item.
Sometimes, the entire alcove is taken up with a single piece of massive art, usually comprised of statues, sculpting, and painting. Many of them looked like they were made from gold, and whether it was real or not, it definitely made them even more impressive.
The Choir
The choir section was one of the most fascinating parts of this visit for me because I’d never seen anything like it–even in all the other Catholic Cathedrals we’ve visited.
In the Barcelona Cathedral, the choir is located within a semi-walled room that looks out toward the dais. (TBH, it was rather cage-like due to all the ironwork around the top of the wall.) Tall-backed chairs with tiny seats line the walls of the room, while wooden benches fill up the space in the middle. One particularly ornate, throne-like chair sits at the front right of the space, and we assumed that this is where the choir director would sit.
Guests can enter this area from the back (near the main entrance), but it’s gated off to access from the dais side.
The Rooftop
I love a good view, so I was very excited to travel up to the Barcelona Cathedral’s roof and see the Gothic sector from above. Turns out, you can see far more than that from the roof, and the nearly 360-degree views of Barcelona extend all the way to the Mediterranean!
You may need to wait in line for a bit to take the elevator to the top, but be sure not to miss it. The rooftop area is pretty unique, and you’ll able to see those impressive Gothic towers up close.
Again, our view was somewhat spoiled by the construction taking place on the central tower, but it was still very beautiful!
The Cloister
The final part of your tower is the Cloister, an outside courtyard framed in by even more relic-holding alcoves. The stonework here is just as fancy as the interior, will tall arches, carvings, and more thick pillars. Under this covered walkway, you’ll find not only the relics but also bathrooms, a small gift shop, and the entrance to a little museum.
The main courtyard is fenced in, but you can easily look over the ironwork to see Eulalia’s 13 geese waddling around, along with some green space and a fountain.
Closing Thoughts on the Barcelona Cathedral
Thanks for stopping by to learn more about the Barcelona Cathedral! I hope this post was helpful for you as you make your plans to explore the city. If so, please drop a note below, and let me know! And if there’s something you’re wondering that I didn’t cover, feel free to leave any questions as well.
Despite being exhausted when we visited here after a long morning touring La Sagrada Familia and Casa Batllo, we enjoyed the tour very much.
If you’re looking for something to do afterward, I recommend grabbing a meal at one of the restaurants around the square so you can watch the activity, then exploring the Gothic Quarter at your leisure.
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Thanks again, and happy travels!
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