A historical place

     

The fascinating history of the Basílica de Santa Maria del Mar dates back to the Fourth and Fifth century A.D, when it constituted an early christian necropolis (in 1977 tombs from both centuries were found below its soil), which in fact may have been the place where Santa Eulalia was buried, dying as martyr for the Christendom.

The first documents that appeared about a so called Santa Maria del Mar were written on the year 1104  A.D but under the name of Santa Maria de les Arenas. It supposedly received this name - as many recent investigations have confirmed- because it was formerly a Roman theatre which was build with sand. It belonged to the Roman antique city of Barcino (BC), which later gave its name to the city of Barcelona. 

The Basilica as we know it today was finally constructed along the 14th century. It was situated in the  old neighbourhood of "La Ribera" and formerly known as Vilanova del Mar, located nearby the port and therefore surrounded by the workers of the corresponding guilds - fishermen, merchants-as well as the noble families of Carrer Montcada, but specially it was built thanks to the "bastaixos",  in charge of transporting the stones that would later constitute the chapel from the port ( Montjuic) to its location. It was meant to be a place of cult belonging to the popular classes, since all the other churches built, like the Cathedral were basically dedicate to the nobility.

Barcelona at was time was experiencing the construction of many Gothic, buildings most of them designed by Berenguer de Montagut and Ramon Despuig. Its exterior construction represents a "sober" structure and the horizontals characteristic of the style (which makes it look like a castle)  whereas its interior portrays the tall height which denotes the Gothic as well as the infinity of orthogonal columns that. unite the domes and sustain them.

During its long history it has undergone a serious of tragedies which have affected the Basílica in different ways: The Black Death transformed the chapel in the major religious infrastructure where people gathered to pray and ask for their salvation. In 1378 it suffered a fire that resulted in the reconstruction of some of the areas under the command of Guillem Metge. In 1428 it suffered major damage due to an earthquake of magnitude 6.7  that destroyed one of the major "rosetones" which was as well rebuilt on 1459 and has survived until the present time. Two more fires during revolutionary periods also damaged partially the church: in 1714, Guerra de Successió and in 1936 during  the Spanish Civil War- on this latter one the church burned for almost a week and therefore caused the loss of many of the ancient features such as the altar. Its reconstruction started on the late 60's and was funded by Barcelona's Football Club, which is resembled on one of its rose glass windows where the symbol of the club is portrayed.

 Since then, The Basílica of Santa María del Mar has remained as it currently is, receiving each day hundreds of visitors attracted for many reasons mentioned in this paper.

Curiosities:

Fossar de les Moreres: Located on the outside eastern part of the Basilica, it is a square which remembers those who died during the siege of the city on 1714 The War of Succession.

Architecture: Its openness allows the visitors and believers to view with no obstacles the magnificence of the interior of the church, which is flooded with light thanks to the rose windows that surround it.

Novel: It is widely known thanks to the book written by Idelfonso Falcones called La Catedral del Mar, which is to be soon adapted to a series too, as well as another author's works (Carlos Ruíz Zafón).

References: 

Barcelonaturisme.com. (2018). The Fossar de les Moreres - Visit Barcelona. [online] Available at: http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/en/page/1216/the-fossar-de-les-moreres.html [Accessed 5 Jun. 2018].

 Ciències Socials en Xarxa (Sapiens.cat). (2018). L’església de Santa Maria del Mar de Barcelona- Sapiens.cat. [online] Available at: http://blogs.sapiens.cat/socialsenxarxa/2012/01/11/l’esglesia-de-santa-maria-del-mar-de-barcelona/ [Accessed 8 Jun. 2018].

Creando Realidades. (2018). 🌾 6 curiosidades del Fossar de les Moreres 🌾 - Creando Realidades. [online] Available at: http://www.crealidades.com/curiosidades-fossar-de-les-moreres/ [Accessed 5 Jun. 2018].

Haguet, G. (2018). Historia de la basílica de Santa María del Mar. National Geographic España. [online] Available at: http://www.nationalgeographic.com.es/historia/grandes-reportajes/historia-basilica-catedral-gotica-santa-maria-mar_12794/1 [Accessed 8 Jun. 2018].

Permanyer, L. (2011). Una investigación demuestra que donde ahora se alza Santa Maria del Mar había un anfiteatro romano. La Vanguardia. [online] Available at: http://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20110320/54129945314/una-investigacion-demuestra-que-donde-ahora-se-alza-santa-maria-del-mar-habia-un-anfiteatro-romano.html [Accessed 5 Jun. 2018].