This is such a beautiful cathedral and has so much history. It is a Roman Catholic Church known for…read moreits gothic architecture. Also a fun fact is that scenes from Game of Thrones was shot here. It's a must see when visiting Girona!

This is the Roman Catholic cathedral in Girona Catalonia Spain and the seat of the Roman Catholic…read moreDiocese of Girona. I'm far from a history buff but tourists from all over flock to see this preserved old church and for 7.50€ you can tour the interior although the mere gothic-like exterior architecture is a facinating view. There are an exhausting amount of wide cement steps leading to the top expansive entrance. Today, many tour groups cluttered near the top discussing the history of this beautiful church with a deep significance to the village of Girona.

Vic's Cathedral spans the period from the 10th to the 20th centuries, and is one of the city's most…read moreimportant monuments. History At first sight, the imposing façade suggests that this is yet another late 18th century classical work, and indeed the main part of the church dates from a comprehensive rebuilding to designs by the architect Josep Moretó i Codina, completed in 1803. But its history dates back to the 6th century, when a cathedral was first recorded in Vic, albeit probably on another site. This was destroyed in the Moorish invasion in the 8th century, but a new cathedral in the lower part of the city was built a century later when Wilfrid the Hairy reconquered the area from the Moors. The present cathedral was begun late in the 10th century and consecrated in 1038 by Bishop Oliba, in the Romanesque style. From this period, the impressive bell tower, the intimate crypt and lower part of the cloister survive. The crypt was walled up in the 15th century and only rediscovered in the 1940s. The upper part of the cloister was rebuilt in the late Gothic style in the 14th century, and other Gothic elements include the Chapter House and Chapel of the Holy Spirit. However, the 18th Century rebuilding now dominates the complex, albeit it with some altar pieces and other artworks from the earlier church. The church From the square in front of the west end, the cathedral presents an entirely classical appearance, in an elegant if rather spare Baroque. To the north, adjacent to the new Episcopal museum, is the original 12th century detached bell tower, which rises 46m with seven floors, each separated by Romanesque blank arcading a typically Catalan arrangement. There are two round-arched openings in the third floor, a linked pair of openings separated with a column at the fourth, and the fifth and sixth have three linked openings, separated by columns. The upper storey has simple crude pillars supporting a pyramidal cap. Inside, the spacious nave is dominated by an arcade of three bays of vast, black square Corinthian columns, with chapels off each bay of the aisles. The scale is impressive, although the style makes it rather ponderous. The nave leads to a crossing and an apsidal chancel with a generous ambulatory. For the most part, the chapels are not especially interesting, but the nave is in any case dominated by a 20th Century decorative theme by the Catalan painter Josep Maria Sert. Sert's work was destroyed by a fire during the Civil War, but he was commissioned to repaint the murals which cover most of the nave walls from 1939 to 1945. The theme is Redemption, covering the Fall, Crucifixion, Ascension and the martyrdom of several saints. The figures are muscular and dramatic, although the dark, subdued palette rather reinforces the heaviness of the interior. For a small fee, you can visit the Treasury, crypt and cloister. The crypt is a wonderfully intimate space in many ways the nicest pat of the Cathedral - and survives from the original 11th century cathedral, and includes 10th century Moorish capitals. The cloister is on two levels; the lower part (inaccessible to visitors) has the plain rounded arches of the original 12th century cathedral, but the upper level is a confident example of 14th century Decorated Gothic, with delicate capitals incorporated into the tracery on various Biblical themes. Practicalities There is limited parking nearby, but the Cathedral is only a 10 minute walk from the bus and train stations. There are lots of steps to the main entrance, although the main part of the cathedral is level inside (more steps to the crypt and cloister). A short guide is available (in different languages) from the entrance to the ambulatory, where you pay the fee for the crypt and cloister.

Set at the confluence of two rivers, this stunning collection of ecclesiastical buildings (actually…read morethe three churches of Sant Pere, Sant Miquel and Santa Maria) comprises one of Spain's best preserved monuments from the Visigothic period (6th to 8th Centuries). With their reddish-gold stone walls and tiled roofs, they also make an exceptionally attractive group of buildings, even to those not wowed by their age, history or churches in general. History The history of such a site is, as you might expect, rather complicated, but essentially, there is some evidence that it was settled before the Roman period, with finds of Iberian pottery. It may have been the site of the Roman town of Municipium Flavium, but the evidence is pretty convincing that it was the site of the later Roman town of Ègara. Here, a Christian settlement developed towards the end of the Roman Empire, and continued through the Visigothic period. In the early 5th century, a baptistery and basilica was built on the site, where the church of Santa Maria now stands, alongside other Roman buildings. This was adapted and extended in the later 5th Century to become a cathedral of the Visigothic Bishopric of Ègara. This flourished until the 8th century, when the Visigothic kingdom declined when invaded by the Moors. Alongside the cathedral, some time between the 6th and 8th Centuries, a small square-plan church (now Sant Miquel) was built, using Roman columns in its construction. This was linked to the cathedral and may have been a mausoleum or funerary church. Slightly further to the west, another church was built between the 6th and 8th centuries, now the site of St Peter. This had a graveyard adjacent, and was probably also linked to the cathedral by a covered passageway. The sanctuaries of both Sant Pere and Santa Maria were rebuilt some time around the 6th to 8th centuries, and their naves rebuilt in the late 11th and early 12th centuries in the Romanesque style: Santa Maria was consecrated in 1112. Thereafter, Santa Maria became a priory and Sant Pere the parish church, until it was moved to Sant Esperit church in the centre of Terrassa in the 16th century. Sant Pere The largest of the three churches, Sant Pere's sanctuary dates from some time before the 8th century, with the nave dating from the 12th. On entering, the church appears spacious but dark: opposite on the north wall are rather pale wall paintings from the 14th century, showing scenes of Christ's Passion and the lives of the Apostles and various saints. On the south wall towards the west end is a fine 15th century altarpiece by Jaume Huguet, depicting the Saints Abdo and Senen, saints of Persian origin venerated locally in Catalonia, and the physician saints Damian and Cosme. The most impressive part is the Sanctuary, which has a mosaic floor from the 10th century, as well as an impressive reredos consisting of two rows of blind arcading, with fresco decoration in the Byzantine style, showing angels, the four evangelists and other persons with haloes. In the north chapel is a well preserved 17th century baroque altarpiece, and in the south transept are modern paintings and mosaics dedicated to the Virgin of Montserrat. At the west end is an impressive 18th century balcony with an impressive organ. Outside, the church is rather plain, with belfries at both ends. Sant Miquel In many ways the most attractive of the three churches, it is the oldest complete building on the site, dating from some time between the 6th to the 8th centuries. The exterior clearly indicates its internal plan, of a Greek cross imposed on a square, with a polygonal apse. Inside, there is a central cupola supported on narrow arches, in turn supported on eight columns with reused Roman or Visigothic capitals, above a large central baptismal pool. There are also signs of Roman tiles having being used in the building of the walls. The apse is decorated with the remains of wall paintings in a primitive Byzantine style, depicting the Theophany, with the twelve apostles and the prophet Ezekiel. Below the apse is a small three-chambered chapel, dedicated to Sant Celoni. The windows throughout are made of thin plates of quartz stone, one attractively decorated to resemble two rows of Romanesque arches. Santa Maria This is the most complex of the churches, and the most rebuilt. Before entering, look outside the west door on the ground to see the well-preserved remains of the mosaic floor from the 5th century basilica. The exterior is remarkable: the west end has symmetrical stepped blind arcades of narrow arches in the Lombardic style, but the eye is drawn to the extraordinary crossing. This consists of a tower with round-arched openings beneath a pyramidal cap almost a campanile - sitting on top of (and slightly off-centre from) an octagonal crossing tower, which supports the dome beneath. Elsewhere are the small, round arched widows typical of Romanesque

After visiting the other must see Catholic Churches in Barcelona this was by far my favorite…read more Built by the people for the people. The remnants of the fires that destroyed most of the original art in the church gives it character. We were not able to go to mass there but we most definitely will next time in town. Beautiful example of Catalonian Gothic and simply majestic and a must see.

Beautiful church. If you go during the day, there is a small fee. In the evening between 6 and 8:30…read morepm ish, it's free but our itinerary was booked. Once inside, there is a door that goes up to the rooftop. It's free and is worth checking out. Spectacular views of the city.

The Cathedral of Barcelona, which is also called the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia,…read morewas built in the Gothic style from 1298 to the 15th century. It is an active church that provides masses, confessions, and other sacraments. It also provides tours for 16 euros and up (as of the time of this review). I understand that some people think that a church should be free to enter, but I also understand that many tourists are not practicing Catholics and that the church needs to bring in revenue to pay its bills. My tour guide took my husband and me to the exterior of this church and explained its architecture and history. We did not pay for an interior tour. It is a lovely church to see.

The cathedral was beautiful and the rooftop views were simply stunning. Definitely worth a visit…read morewhen visiting Barcelona.

Beautiful old church at the top of Cadaques…read more Only one mass per day. Has a Dali painting in one of the alcoves. Fantastic views from the plaza.