Editing Barcelona Cathedral

{{Short description|Gothic cathedral and seat of the Archbishop of Barcelona, Spain}}
{{Distinguish|text=Gaudi's [[Sagrada Família]], or [[Santa Maria del Mar, Barcelona]]}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox church
| name                   = Barcelona Cathedral
| fullname               = Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia
| other name             = {{Plainlist|
* {{langx|ca|Basilica Catedral Metropolitana de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia}}
* {{langx|es|Basílica Catedral Metropolitana de la Santa Cruz y Santa Eulalia}}
}}
| image                  = Barcelona Cathedral Saint Eulalia.jpg
| caption                = West façade in 2019.
| coordinates            = {{coord|41|23|02|N|2|10|35|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| location               = [[Barcelona]]
| country                = Spain
| denomination           = [[Catholic Church|Catholic]]
| address                = Pla de la Seu
| website                = {{URL|catedralbcn.org/en}}

| former name            = 
| bull date              = 
| status                 = [[Metropolitan bishop|Metropolitan Cathedral]] [[Minor basilica|Basilica]]
| dedication             = The [[Feast of the Cross|Holy Cross]] and Saint [[Eulalia of Barcelona]]
| dedicated date         = 18 November 1058{{#tag:ref|Consecration of the Romanesque cathedral. The latter, Gothic building was never formally consecrated, as it was considered a "significant extension" but not a new cathedral.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://esglesia.barcelona/actualitat/962-aniversari-de-la-dedicacio-de-la-catedral-de-barcelona/ |title=962 aniversari de la Dedicació de la Catedral de Barcelona |date=2020-11-19 |access-date=2021-06-15 |language=Catalan |trans-title=962th Anniversary of the Dedication of Barcelona Cathedral |website = Església Arxidiocesana de Barcelona}}</ref>|name=BCN|group=lower-alpha}}

| functional status      = 
| heritage designation   = 
| designated date        = 
| previous cathedrals    = 
| architect              = Jaume Fabre (first known)
| architectural type     = 
| style                  = [[Catalan Gothic]], [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival]]
| years built            = 
| groundbreaking         = 1 May 1298
| completed date         = 1913 (west façade and dome)

| capacity               = 
| length                 = {{convert|93|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| length nave            = 
| length choir           = 
| width                  = {{convert|40|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| width nave             = <!-- {{convert| }} -->
| width transepts        = 
| height                 = <!-- {{convert| }} -->
| height nave            = {{convert|28|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| height choir           = 
| diameter               = <!-- {{convert| }} -->
| other dimensions       = 
| floor count            = 
| floor area             = <!-- {{convert| }} -->
| dome quantity          = 
| dome height outer      = {{convert|70|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| dome height inner      = {{convert|41|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| dome dia outer         = <!-- {{convert| }} -->
| dome dia inner         = <!-- {{convert| }} -->
| tower quantity         = 
| tower height           = {{convert|54|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| spire quantity         = 
| spire height           = <!-- {{convert| }} -->
| materials              = 
| bells                  = <!-- or | bells hung = -->
| bell weight            = <!-- {{long ton|0| }} -->

| parish                 = 
| benefice               = 
| deanery                = 
| archdeaconry           = 
| episcopalarea          = 
| archdiocese            = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Barcelona|Barcelona]]
| metropolis             = 
| diocese                = 
| diocese start          = 
| province               = 
| presbytery             = 
| synod                  = 
| circuit                = 
| district               = 
| division               = 
| subdivision            = 

| archbishop             = [[Juan José Omella]]
| auxiliary bishop       = Javier Vilanova Pellisa, David Abadías Aurín
| chancellor             = <!-- cathedrals only -->
| canonchancellor        = <!-- cathedrals only -->
| logo                   = Escut Catedral de Barcelona.svg
| embedded               = 
{{designation list 
| embed                 = yes
| designation1          = <!-- WHS -->
| designation1_partof   = 
| designation1_date     = <!-- XXXX {{small|(Xth [[World Heritage Committee|session]])}} -->
| designation1_criteria = <!-- c{{UNESCO WHS type|(iii), (iv)}}(iii), (iv) -->
| designation1_number   = <!-- [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/XXX XXX] -->
| designation2          = Spain
| designation2_type     = Non-movable
| designation2_criteria = Monument
| designation2_date     = 2 November 1929
| designation2_number   = RI-51-0000338
}}
}}
The '''Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia''' ({{langx|ca|Catedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia}}), also known as '''Barcelona Cathedral''', is the seat of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Barcelona|Archbishop of Barcelona]] in [[Catalonia]], [[Spain]]. The cathedral was constructed from the thirteenth to fifteenth centuries, with the principal work done in the fourteenth century. The [[cloister]], which encloses the Well of the Geese ''(Font de les Oques)'', was completed in 1448.<ref name="catedralbcn.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.catedralbcn.org/ |title=Home |website=catedralbcn.org}}</ref> In the late nineteenth century, the [[Gothic Revival architecture|neo-Gothic]] façade was constructed over the nondescript exterior that was common to Catalan churches.<ref>Edward Steese, "The Great Churches of Catalonia" ''Parnassus'' '''7'''.3 (March, 1935:9-12) p. 9.</ref>

Its form is a pseudo-[[basilica]], vaulted over five aisles, the outer two divided into chapels. The [[transept]] is truncated. The east end is a [[Apse|chevet]] of nine radiating chapels connected by an [[ambulatory]]. The [[Altar|high altar]] is raised, allowing a clear view into the crypt.

The cathedral is dedicated to the Holy Cross and [[Eulalia of Barcelona]], co-patron saint of Barcelona, a young [[virgin (title)|virgin martyr]] who, according to Catholic tradition, suffered martyrdom during Roman times in the city. One story says that she was exposed naked in the public square and a miraculous snowfall in mid-spring covered her nudity. The enraged Romans put her into a barrel with knives stuck into it and rolled it down a street (according to tradition, the one now called ''Baixada de Santa Eulàlia''). The [[relic]]s of Saint Eulalia are entombed in the cathedral's crypt.

The [[choir (architecture)|choir stalls]] retain the coats-of-arms of the knights of the [[Order of the Golden Fleece]]. In his first trip into Spain, [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]], selected Barcelona as the site of a [[Chapter (religion)|chapter]] of his order. The king had arrived for his investiture as [[Counts of Barcelona|Count of Barcelona]], and the city, as a Mediterranean port, offered the closest communication with other far-flung [[House of Habsburg|Habsburg]] dominions, while the large proportions of the cathedral would accommodate required grand ceremonies. In 1518 the Order's herald, Thomas Isaac, and its treasurer, Jean Micault, were commissioned to prepare the sanctuary for the first sitting of the chapter in 1519. [[Juan de Borgonya]] executed the painted decoration of the sanctuary.

The side Chapel of the Holy Sacrament and of the Holy Christ of Lepanto contains a cross said to date from the time of the [[Battle of Lepanto|Battle of Lepanto (1571)]].<ref name="cathreg">{{cite web |url= http://www.nationalcatholicreporter.org/todaystake/tt041904.htm |title=To build a cathedral is immense, crazy work  |first=Margot |last=Patterson  |publisher=[[National Catholic Register]] |date=2004-04-01 |access-date=2007-01-12 }}</ref>

In addition to Saints Eulalia and [[Olegarius]], the cathedral contains the tombs of Saint [[Raymond of Penyafort]], Count [[Ramon Berenguer I]] and his third wife [[Almodis de la Marche]], and bishops [[Berenguer de Palou II]], [[Salvador Casañas y Pagés]], and [[Arnau de Gurb]], who is buried in the Chapel of Santa Llúcia, which he had constructed.

The cathedral has a secluded Gothic [[cloister]] where 13 white [[goose|geese]] are kept, the number explained by the assertion that Eulalia was 13 when she was martyred.<ref name="cathreg"/>

==History==
Parts of an early Christian and Visigothic episcopal complex including the baptistery (fourth century), a basilical hall (fifth century), a cross shaped church (sixth-seventh century) and bishop's palace (sixth-seventh century) are displayed in [[Barcelona City History Museum]] archaeological underground.  Reportedly, this [[Visigoths|Visigothic]] chapel was dedicated to [[James, son of Zebedee|Saint James]], and was the [[proprietary church]] of the [[List of Viscounts of Barcelona|Viscounts of Barcelona]].<ref name="ReferenceA">F. Carreras Candi ''La Ciutat de Barcelona''</ref>  However, in a document from the Second Council of Barcelona in 599, it states that the cathedral was dedicated to the Holy Cross.<ref name="catedralbcn.org"/> This church was severely damaged by al-Mansur ([[Almanzor]]) during his attack on Barcelona in 985.

In 1046, Count [[Ramon Berenguer I]] and his wife [[Almodis de la Marche|Almodis]], together with [[Bishop of Barcelona|Bishop]] Guislabert, began construction of a Romanesque cathedral at the site; it was consecrated in November 1058.<ref name="catedralbcn.org"/> The cathedral was constructed over the [[crypt]] of the former church.  It has been reported that a Viscount of Barcelona, Mir Geribert, sold the site to Bishop Guislebert in 1058,<ref name="ReferenceA"/> though however, this date does not coincide with the reported start of construction.

The present Gothic cathedral was begun on the foundations of the previous churches on 1 May 1298; [[James II the Just]] was [[King of Aragon]] at the time, and Bernat Pelegrí was Bishop of Barcelona. The church was built from the east end towards the west end, with a simple west façade completed in 1417.  The cloister was completed in 1448, making the total duration of construction 150 years.  In the late nineteenth century, {{ill|Miguel Girona i Agrafel|es|Manuel Girona y Agrafel}} offered to complete the neo-Gothic façade and central tower as inspired by the original fifteenth-century design prepared by master Carlí and rearranged and drawn by the architect {{ill|Josep Oriol Mestres|ca|Josep Oriol Mestres i Esplugas}}. This work was completed in 1913 by Girona's children.<ref name="catedralbcn.org"/>

<gallery class="center">
File:Cathedral of Barcelona 1850 Villaamil.jpg|The façade in year 1850 by [[Jenaro Pérez Villaamil]], published in the work ''España artística y monumental''
File:Catedral-1890.jpg|The reform of the façade at the commencement of the build in 1890
File:Catedral-1900.jpg|The façade with the lateral towers, around 1900
</gallery>

==Chapel of Lepanto==
[[File:Barcelona-Catedral-Capitular-055.jpg|thumb|left|upright|100px|Christ of Lepanto over the tomb of Saint Olegarius in the cathedral's chapterhouse]]
The Chapel of the Holy Sacrament and of the Holy Christ of Lepanto is a small side chapel constructed by Arnau Bargués in 1407, as the chapterhouse. It was rebuilt in the seventeenth century to house the tomb of San [[Olegarius]], [[Bishop of Barcelona]], and [[Archbishop of Tarragona]].

The "Holy Christ of Lepanto" crucifix, is located on the upper part of the chapel entrance's front façade. The curved shape of the body, of Our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross, is explained by a Catalan legend which holds that the cross was carried on the [[prow]] of the [[galley]] captained by [[Juan of Austria]], half-brother of Spanish [[Philip II of Spain]] during the [[Battle of Lepanto]] in 1571. When a cannonball flew toward the cross, it leaned out of the way in order to avoid being hit, and has been inclined ever since.<ref>This is said to have inspired the Habsburg forces to victory.[https://books.google.com/books?id=SDVYAAAAcAAJ&dq=Chapel+of+lepanto&pg=PA47 O'Shea, Henry. ''A Guide to Spain'', London, Spottiswoode and Co., 1865]</ref> The Habsburgs were said to have regarded this as an encouraging omen.

A separate story says that the cross was in the ship's hold and that the figure moved to cover a large hole that would have sunk the ship.<ref name=cathb>[http://www.catedralbcn.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32&Itemid=85&lang=en "Holy Christ of Lepanto", Catedral de Barcelona]</ref>

== Architecture ==
The architectural design of the Barcelona Cathedral consist of the regional style of [[Catalan Gothic]]. [[Catalan Gothic]] construction is confined to the Barcelona area and its influences.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Building |url=https://catedralbcn.org/en/the-cathedral/building/ |access-date=2023-12-02 |website=Catedral de Barcelona |language=en-US}}</ref> Catalan Gothic constructing consist of diaphanous areas and large spanning naves. Catalan Gothic does not seek to create towering buildings but to balance the dimensions of the structure.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Roca Fabregat |first1=P. |last2=Pellegrini |first2=L. |last3=Onate Ibanez de Navarra |first3=E. |last4=Hanganu |first4=D.A. |date=1998 |title=Analysis of the structure of Gothic cathedral: Application to Barcelona Cathedral |url= |journal=Upcommons.upc.edu}}</ref> The Barcelona Cathedral is 93 meters (305.1 feet) long, 40 meters (131.2 feet) wide, and 28 meters (91.8 feet) high at the central nave. Each bell tower of the cathedral is 54 meters (177.1 feet) in height. The tallest point of the cathedral reaches 70 meters (229.6 feet) tall at the peak of the cimborio.<ref name=":0" /> The cathedral consist of three [[nave]]s, one [[Choir (architecture)|choir]], and a [[cloister]]. The nave carries through the plan to the choir and the isle naves are at disproportioned heights to structurally support the central nave and the cimborio. Each aisle has two chapels in each section. The choir consist of 10 [[ogive]] (pointed) arches whereas ribbed arches were placed in the nave.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Barcelona Cathedral |url=https://www.oxfordartonline.com/groveart/display/10.1093/gao/9781884446054.001.0001/oao-9781884446054-e-90000369760 |access-date=2023-12-02 |website=Grove Art Online |date=2003 |language=en |doi=10.1093/oao/9781884446054.013.90000369760 |last1=Sarewitz |first1=E. B. |isbn=978-1-884446-05-4 }}</ref> Large windows are placed opening to the cloister to provide sunlight to the choir. A windowed gallery runs atop the chapels in the aisle of the nave to provide indirect light. The facade is consistent with neo-Gothic design elements. Ornament of the cathedral facade is known for sculptural gargoyles on the roof along with many other animals and mythical creatures.

=== Gothic Quarter ===
The Barcelona Cathedral is located in the cathedral neighborhood in the [[Gothic Quarter, Barcelona|Gothic quarter]] of Barcelona. As a showing of Catalonian nationalism the mediaeval buildings of the Gothic quarter were restored from 1927 to 1970. Over 40 structures were remodeled in the gothic style to upgrade the area that became one of the most attractive part of the city. The 'Catalan house' was the building that shaped the rest of the Gothic quarter. Directly behind the cathedral, many buildings during the restoration of the neighborhood were demolished or renovated to harmonizes after the Catalan House. Rebuilding the gothic quarter around the rebuilt facade of the Barcelona Cathedral and the Catalan house gave the opportunity to embellish the city with its most important buildings. The transformation of the cathedral neighborhood gives Barcelona an historic image that creates a relationship between heritage and tourism.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gant |first=Agustín Cócola |date=2014-01-02 |title=The invention of the Barcelona Gothic Quarter |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1743873X.2013.815760 |journal=Journal of Heritage Tourism |language=en |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=18–34 |doi=10.1080/1743873X.2013.815760 |issn=1743-873X}}</ref>

== Traditions ==
* The tradition of the '[[dancing egg]]' (supported by the jet of a fountain) is maintained on the day of [[Corpus Christi (feast)|Corpus Christi]] at the cathedral.

== Present day ==
The cathedral has been updated in response to an increasing number of tourists. The cloister now contains a gift shop, the traditional candles normally lit at the shrines of saints have been replaced with electronic candles, and cellular phones have been banned from the Chapel of Lepanto and other chapels.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.catedralbcn.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=24&Itemid=1&lang=en|title=Catedral de Barcelona|last=Administrator|website=www.catedralbcn.org|access-date=2016-07-22}}</ref>

== Images ==
<gallery mode="packed">
Image:Santaeulaliabarcelona224.jpg|Cathedral plan
File:Altar mayor de la Catedral de Barcelona.JPG|Illustration of the main altar (1839)
File:Barcelone - Cathédrale - Portail principal.jpg|Main portal
Image:Porta claustre catedral de Barcelona.jpg|Door in the [[cloister]]
Barcelona Cathedral Interior - Altarpiece of our Lady of the Rosebush - Agusti Pujol 1617-1629.jpg|Chapel of Lady of the Rosebush
Barcelona Cathedral Interior - Crypt of Santa Eulalia.jpg|Saint Eulalia's crypt
Barcelona Cathedral - The fountain of the cloister.jpg|Cloister
Image:cathedralgeesebarcelona.JPG|Geese in the cloister
Barcelona Cathedral Interior - carved choir stalls.jpg|Choir seats at the cathedral
Image:Creatity.com st eulalia fontain.jpg|The fountain in the atrium
Image:Garden06390019.JPG|the Cathedral garden
Image:Cathedral of Santa Eulalia - gargoyle 01.jpg|Gargoyle
Barcelona Cathedral Interior - Capella de Sant Ramon de Penyafort.jpg|Tomb of Saint Raymond of Penyafort
Image:Catalunya en Miniatura-Catedral de Barcelona.JPG|Scale model of the cathedral, at the [[Catalunya en Miniatura]] park
Image:Barcelona, Cathedral and Palau del Lloctinent.jpg|Bell tower with stair turret above the door of Saint Ivo
File:Barcelona Cathedral (original).jpg|Barcelona Cathedral at night
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Catholic Church in Spain]]
*[[List of Gothic Cathedrals in Europe]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons}}
*[http://www.catedralbcn.org/index.php?lang=en Official site]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110222023956/http://www.barcelona-tourist-information.info/saint-eulalia.html Legends of Saint Eulalia. Martyrdom, Burial in Cathedral Crypt, Why it always rains during Barcelona Festival]

{{Barcelona landmarks}}
{{Cathedrals in Spain}}
{{Subject bar |portal1= Architecture |portal2= Catholicism |portal3= Spain}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:14th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Spain]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1417]]
[[Category:Churches completed in the 1410s]]
[[Category:Gothic architecture in Barcelona]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic cathedrals in Catalonia]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Barcelona]]
[[Category:Ciutat Vella]]
[[Category:Basilica churches in Spain]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic churches in Barcelona]]
[[Category:Burial sites of the House of Barcelona]]