[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Secci\u00f3n” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” width_last_edited=”off|desktop” max_width_last_edited=”off|desktop” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_padding=”0px|||||” custom_padding_tablet=”|60px||60px|false|true” custom_padding_phone=”|40px||40px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Over the centuries, <\/span>Barcelona <\/span><\/b>has been, and continues to be, one of the most sought-after locations in Spain for <\/span>writers and film directors<\/span><\/b>. Many of them have set their works in emblematic places in Barcelona, where the plot that has sprung from their imagination unfolds.\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Some of the most relevant places are the <\/span>Sagrada Familia<\/span><\/b>, among other works by the renowned <\/span>Antoni Gaud\u00ed<\/span><\/b>; Las <\/span>Ramblas<\/span><\/b>; etc.; but one of the most outstanding in <\/span>Spanish literature<\/span><\/b> is the <\/span>Basilica of Santa Mar\u00eda del Mar<\/span><\/b>, known as ‘<\/span>Cathedral of the Sea<\/span><\/b>‘, thanks to the author<\/span> Ildefonso Falcones<\/span><\/b>. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We recommend you to discover, in depth, this great architectural treasure. You have at your disposal <\/span>Shuttle2Sun<\/span><\/a>‘s <\/span>shared transfer services<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>private transfer services<\/span><\/a>, low-cost and sustainable, to Barcelona, from<\/span> Barcelona airport, Barcelona port, Reus airport, Girona airport and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station<\/span><\/b>. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ make_equal=”on” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||30px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”0px|60px|30px|60px|false|true” custom_padding_phone=”|40px||40px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px|false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n To understand the work of Ildefonso Falcones, it is necessary to dive a little into the history of the <\/span>temple<\/span><\/b>, as well as its prominence in <\/span>La Ribera district<\/span><\/b>. The Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar in Barcelona is also known as the <\/span>cathedral of La Ribera<\/span><\/b>, and now you will understand why. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n During the 14th century, Barcelona experienced an exponential growth in its population and, consequently, also in its surface area. This was due to the expansion of the <\/span>Crown of Aragon<\/span><\/b> towards the sea, making the present-day city of Barcelona <\/span>one of the most important ports<\/span><\/b> in this part of the <\/span>Mediterranean <\/span><\/b>Sea. <\/span><\/p>\n The increase in <\/span>maritime activity <\/span><\/b>led to an increase in the population dedicated to this activity, converting the area closest to the port into <\/span>La Ribera neighbourhood<\/span><\/a>. In this place, we would find, especially, fishermen, sailors and traders, among others.\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The demographic growth of this district of Barcelona encouraged the need for a larger church than the existing one, known as <\/span>Santa Maria de les Arenes<\/span><\/b>, in Romanesque style. This is why, thanks to ecclesiastical support, it was decided to build the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar, starting in 1329, a beautiful project that would highlight the great <\/span>wealth of the district<\/span><\/b>.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.shuttle2sun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/CATEDRAL-DEL-MAR-1.png” alt=”Cathedral of the Sea Barcelona Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar” title_text=”Cathedral of the Sea Barcelona Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_padding=”0px|||||” custom_padding_tablet=”|60px||60px|false|true” custom_padding_phone=”|40px||40px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n After only 54 years, the new church already had an enviable Gothic majesty. It was built under the direction of the master builders <\/span>Berenguer de Montagut <\/span><\/b>and <\/span>Ramon Despuig<\/span><\/b>, with the free collaboration of many <\/span>construction <\/span><\/b>workers and residents of the neighbourhood. Its construction was completed in 1384 and, due to the short construction time, it is the only church whose structure and elements are in <\/span>pure Catalan Gothic style<\/span><\/b>. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you want to know more about the different places of worship you can find in Barcelona, don’t miss our post “<\/span>10 churches to visit in Barcelona<\/span><\/a>“.\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Get to <\/span>Barcelona <\/span>with <\/span>Shuttle2Sun<\/span><\/a>‘s low-cost and sustainable <\/span>shared transfer services<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>private transfer services<\/span><\/a>, available from <\/span>Barcelona Airport, Barcelona Port, Reus Airport, Girona Airport and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station<\/span><\/b>.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n One of the writers who was attracted by the charm of this basilica was <\/span>Ildefonso Falcones<\/span><\/b>, who christened the temple <\/span>“The Cathedral of the Sea”<\/span><\/b>, the same name as his trilogy, which refers to the seaside neighbourhood of La Ribera.\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Ildefonso Mar\u00eda Falcones de Sierra, a Spanish lawyer and writer, wrote his first novel, the first volume of the famous trilogy, in 2006, which quickly became a <\/span>literary success<\/span><\/b> in Spain and, in a short time, spread to <\/span>more than 30 countries<\/span><\/b>.\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Falcones sets his <\/span>first work<\/span><\/a> in the Middle Ages, during the construction of the new church in Barcelona, his hometown. He puts himself in the shoes of young <\/span>Arnau Estanyol<\/span><\/b>, a serf who flees the abuses of his feudal lord, to live in Barcelona, where the basilica becomes a key element in the life of the protagonist.\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Following the great success of his novel, a <\/span>TV series<\/span><\/b><\/a> based on his book was broadcast in 2018, starring Spaniards <\/span>Aitor de Luna<\/span><\/b>, <\/span>Michelle Jenner<\/span><\/b> and <\/span>Daniel Grao<\/span><\/b>.\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_padding=”0px|||||” custom_padding_tablet=”|60px||60px|false|true” custom_padding_phone=”|40px||40px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.shuttle2sun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/CATEDRAL-DEL-MAR-2.png” alt=”Barrio de la Ribera Barcelona literature Ildefonso Falcones” title_text=”Barrio de la Ribera Barcelona literature Ildefonso Falcones” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Among the many curiosities of this magnificent basilica, it is worth mentioning that the place where it is located, previously housed a <\/span>Roman amphitheatre<\/span><\/b>, as well as a <\/span>Roman necropolis<\/span><\/b>, during the 4th and 6th centuries. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you want to enjoy a different <\/span>panoramic view<\/span><\/b> of the city, you can’t miss going up to its terraces.<\/span><\/p>\n To do so, you will have to climb the stairs inside the <\/span>twin bell towers<\/span><\/b> on either side of the temple’s fa\u00e7ade.\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n On the other hand, the exuberant <\/span>rose window<\/span><\/b> that we see today on its fa\u00e7ade is a reconstruction of the original one, which was destroyed during the <\/span>strongest earthquake ever felt in Catalonia,<\/span><\/b> in 1428, which caused the collapse of numerous buildings in the city and the rest of the Catalan territory.<\/span><\/p>\n This <\/span>earthquake<\/span><\/a> left other marks on the construction, causing the <\/span>cracks <\/span><\/b>to open and close, especially in summer, with the thermal oscillations, as well as probably causing the existing inclination of the two exterior towers. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Likewise, if you visit the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar, we encourage you to look for a very striking element in its <\/span>stained-glass windows<\/span><\/b>: the bad<\/strong><\/span>ge<\/strong> of Futbol Club Barcelona<\/span><\/b>, one of the most important national and international football teams. Will you find it? <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_padding=”0px|||||” custom_padding_tablet=”|60px||60px|false|true” custom_padding_phone=”|40px||40px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” min_height=”181.8px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”3px||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Barcelona has been featured in numerous literary works, such as <\/span>“Painter of Souls”<\/span><\/b>, also by <\/span>Ildefonso Falcones<\/span><\/b>; <\/span>“The Cemetery of Forgotten Books”<\/span><\/b>, by <\/span>Carlos Ruiz Zaf\u00f3n<\/span><\/b>; <\/span>“Nada”<\/span><\/b>, by <\/span>Carmen Laforet<\/span><\/b>; and <\/span>“City of Wonders”<\/span><\/b>, by <\/span>Eduardo Mendoza<\/span><\/b>, among many others.\u00a0 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you are a lover of literature, don’t think twice and dive into the past of the <\/span>Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar in Barcelona<\/span><\/b>, travel to Barcelona and experience its history first hand! Remember that with the <\/span>shared transfer services<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>private transfer services<\/span><\/a>How the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar was built \u00a0<\/h2>\n
Ildefonso Falcones and his Cathedral of the Sea \u00a0<\/h2>\n
More curiosities of the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar \u00a0<\/h2>\n
Barcelona, in Spanish and universal literature \u00a0<\/h2>\n