Santa Maria Del Mar

One of Vicki's most recent reads--thank you, Jane--was Ildefonso Falcone's Cathedral of the Sea, set in 14th century Barcelona, concerning, in part, the building of the Church of Santa Maria del Mar. So we had to go see it. And I am glad we did, because it is a fascinating structure, younger than some of the greater Gothics, mid-14th century, but built entirely within the span of 50 years, under the same architect, one Montagut de Berenguer, and replete with Christian numerology. Santa Maria del Mar contrasts emphatically with Barcelona's great Modernisme structures, but warrants attention just as much as they. According to our guidebooks, it is the best example of Catalan Gothic. Plus, admission is free.

West facade; I should note that the curious
feature at the bottom, just left of center, is
nothing spiritual, but rather just

The work of the ubiquitous Bubble Guy, whom we last saw
in Venice; I've got to learn how to do this...

Stern to bow look; a medium-sized Gothic (Mediterranean
or Catalan Gothic, to be precise) church, said to be the best
of them

One of those relatively unadorned, un-
plastered churches I like, where you can
see every stone, every detail of how it fits
together and what holds all that stone so
high up there; and for so many centuries

Over the apse; numerology time: Mary's
number is 8, and so every dimension in the
structure here is 8 or some multiple of 8: the
pillars are all octagonal, there are 16 of them,
they are 16 m high, then branch out in
the vaulting 16 m, to the ceiling, 32 m; etc.
And you thought it was all about lateral and
downward forces and buttressing and such!

Some serious restorative work going on above the apse;
here's a guy hoisting

These puppies up into the heights for further finishing and
placement

Nice rose window

Altar, with Mary, Baby J, and, appropriately, a caravelle at
her feet, seeking protection from the "restless wave"