There is a claim that this cathedral dates to the fourth century, but I think that’s kind of playing with numbers. The current structure was likely built on the ruins of something earlier, or greatly expanded it. The real action started in the fourteenth century. Practically yesterday.
Rick Steve’s isn’t too impressed with this cathedral, claiming that it’s unlikely to qualify for the top twenty. No matter, there are some interesting things to see inside.
There are no exterior buttresses to hold up the walls. Rather, the interior is lined with arched chapels that do the job.
A local nobleman and his wife were rewarded in 1545 for supporting church development by having their wooden caskets hung on the wall. Hmm…
The grave of Eulalia, a local thirteen year old girl who displeased the Romans by adopting Christianity. They tortured her comprehensively; thirteen ways according to legend. She got the full treatment, including being rolled around in a barrel with spikes nailed into it. Lord knows what else they came up with. When none of these did the job, they crucified her.
She’s now Saint Eulàlia, Patron of Barcelona.
The chapel that consistently has the most candles is Saint Rita, Patron of Lost Causes.
locals with some money could buy themselves a burial place in the church. Sometimes, they recorded their profession in their stone. This guy might have been a tailor.
