Barcelona Cathedral

Barcelona Cathedral, officially the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, is a Gothic cathedral located in the Barri Gòtic (Gothic Quarter) of Barcelona. Major construction of the present Gothic structure took place between the 13th and 15th centuries, with the cathedral serving as the seat of the city’s archdiocese.

The richly carved choir and the cloister, which contains a small garden and a traditional gaggle of 13 white geese associated with Saint Eulalia. The cathedral also offers rooftop terraces that provide views across the Gothic Quarter and toward other city landmarks.

The façade that most visitors see today was finished in the 19th century as part of a restoration and completion campaign, while the core Gothic fabric remains medieval. It continues to function as both a working cathedral and a major heritage attraction.

The cathedral sits in central Barcelona’s Barri Gòtic, within walking distance of Plaça Sant Jaume and La Rambla, in Catalonia’s largest city.

• Construction periods: Main Gothic construction dates from the 13th to 15th centuries, while the present principal façade was completed in the 19th century.
• Ecclesiastical status: Serves as the seat of the Archdiocese of Barcelona and is officially the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia.

What to See #

• Cloister and geese: The cloister around the cathedral choir contains a small garden and is noted for a gaggle of 13 white geese traditionally kept there, associated with the martyr Saint Eulalia.
• Rooftop viewpoints: Rooftop terraces and buttresses offer elevated viewpoints over the Barri Gòtic and toward La Rambla and Montjuïc.