My Escapes Spain Barcelona Exploring Gaudí's Sprawling Surreal Barcelona Barri Gòtic and the Santa Eulàlia [...]

Barri Gòtic and the Santa Eulàlia Cathedral of Barcelona

Oh yes, Barcelona has a Gothic Quarter too and it's enormous.
It's an intriguing neighbourhood with a complex street network to get lost in while looking for attractions, shopping or eating in its restaurants.
You can explore the Barri Gòtic for an entire day and even for longer.
Let's dig together and see what's in there, shall we?

The rambling got me lost just a short while after entering the Gothic Quarter.

I didn't just visit the Gothic Quarter once, I returned repeatedly - only to get "tangled up" again and again. There really is a lot to see and souvenir shops, as well as restaurants and great bars can be found in an incredibly high number.

The Barcelona Cathedral (Santa Eulàlia Cathedral)

Its full name is Catedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia in Catalan and Catedral de la Santa Cruz y Santa Eulàlia in Spanish.

The full English is would be: Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulàlia.

Quite long, huh... or simply "Barcelona Cathedral" or "Santa Eulàlia Cathedral".

Saint Eulàlia is actually Barcelona's patron saint. Hence, the name...

Actually - some local people call the Cathedral: "La Seu" (in Catalonian language).

The constructions of the building lasted from 1298 to 1450, when it was opened.

The Neo-gothic facade was added in the 19th century only.

Gargoyles (they're my favourites) representing a variety of creatures - both real and imaginary ones, can be observed on the Cathedral's walls.

The building's height is 93 m and its width 40 m. Even by continental standards, it's huge!

As of late late autumn 2013, the entry between 8 AM and 12:45 PM is free, but between 5:15 PM and 8 PM it's 5 EUR per person.

This visit of mine had taken place in 2008 and, my entry had left my wallet lighter by 13 EUR!

It cost me 7 EUR to enter the Cathedral and an additional 5 EUR for the elevator.

It's interesting to use the elevator - it will take you all the way to the top of the old Cathedral.
You'll be able to admire the views over Barcelona. The Gothic Quarter is most visible, but you can see quite far away, literally: all around.
Though, I estimate this elevation could be around 50 m at most - from the ground's level. It's not the best viewpoint for admiring Barcelona's cityscape. This is not the very top, not the tower, just the roof of the building.

For better views of Barcelona, you should climb to the towers of the Sagrada Família, visit Mount Tibidabo or the Montjuic Fortress.

All of them give you different viewing angles from higher ground. I think the best one would still be the Sagrada Família's tall towers, but the viewing angles are narrow, it gets crowded and you just can't see all around.

An unusual attraction of the Barcelona Cathedral is the inner yard...

It has a pool in which colourful fish and turtles and white geese live. Rather strange to find a "small zoo" behind the walls of a Gothic cathedral, isn't it?

Wandering in the Barri Gòtic

Unless you have a map, you will face difficulties in getting oriented in the large Gothic Quarter. I should have brought or bought a map of it, instead - I let myself be guided by my traveler instinct.
In case you are unable to find a map of it, then pin the main attractions you want to visit on a Google Map, print that out or upload it to your smart phone or tablet. It will help you find your way.

Several churches in the Gothic Quarter can be visited for free and are indeed worth seeing inside.

Top attractions here would include: the Plaça Sant Jaume, the Santa Maria del Pi Church, the Portal de l'Àngel Street, the beautiful old Els Quatre Gats Restaurant (whose means "The Four Cats" Restaurant), the Plaça Reial.

Of course, there's a Picasso Museum deep in the Gothic Quarter. Which I could not visit this time - I had to leave it (postpone it) for my 3rd trip to Barcelona in 2010. Lines are long, it can take 2 hours standing in a long line until you can enter...

By the way: I adored the Quatre Gats Restaurant: it's established inside an 1896 building called Casa Martí. The entrance is lovely, inside it's special as well.
Although it has this strong medieval look outside, it's much newer... barely more than 100 years old, anyway... built in 1897.

If you're curious, here's their website.

Comments

comments powered by Disqus