Basilica of Santa Maria del Pi

Chapter 3/11 · Barcelona

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The Basilica of Santa Maria del Pi is a Catalan Gothic church, declared a site of cultural interest in 1931. It has been documented since the year 987, although the present church was begun in the early 14th century and opened on 17 June 1453. It has a single huge nave: 54 metres long, 15.5 wide and 27 high.

The façade is dominated by the large twelve-armed rose window. The earthquake of 1428 brought it down, and after the fire of 1936 it was rebuilt between 1939 and 1943 by the architect Josep Maria Jujol. The 54-metre octagonal bell tower was completed under master builder Bartomeu Mas, who worked on it from 1460 to 1497.

It is said that the name comes from an image of the Virgin found in the trunk of a pine tree (“pi” in Catalan). According to the historian Antoni de Bofarull, a pine was planted in front of the church in 1568; it grew as tall as the houses and died in 1802. Today the squares of Plaça del Pi and Plaça de Sant Josep Oriol, with their terraces, are among the liveliest spots in the quarter.

We leave by the narrow Carrer de Petritxol, known for its traditional cafés and chocolate shops, continue along Carrer de la Portaferrissa and walk down La Rambla to the entrance of La Boqueria market.

← Plaça de Sant Felip Neri (Saint Philip Neri Square) · La Rambla and La Boqueria Market →