Barcelona, capital of the autonomous community of Catalonia, has been and remains the epicentre of the territory for centuries, a fact that has contributed a great historical and architectural wealth, as well as bringing with it a multiculturalism throughout this time, with ideologies from different parts of the world converging in the same population area.
For these reasons, Barcelona has a wide variety of places of worship, with a total of 465 facilities. Although the most emblematic for visitors are, par excellence, Sagrada Familia, Cathedral of Barcelona and Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar, in this publication we are going to show you 10 lesser-known churches, basilicas and parishes, but with an undeniable charm, that you should not miss if you visit Barcelona.
We suggest you choose the ones that catch your attention and visit Barcelona, making an interesting route through them. In addition, you have at your disposal Shuttle2Sun‘s shared transfer services and private transfer services, low-cost and sustainable, to move to the capital, from Barcelona airport, Barcelona port, Reus airport, Girona airport and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station.
Expiatory Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Not as old as most of Barcelona’s places of worship, the Expiatory Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a jewel with Neo-Byzantine, Modernist and Neo-Gothic influences, which you’ll find at the top of the Tibidabo mountain. Its central tower holds the figure of the Sacred Heart, made of bronze.
It was built in the 20th century, begun by the Barcelona architect Enric Sagnier i Villavecchia, who was well known in Barcelona at the time, and finally finished by his son, Josep Maria Sagnier i Vidal. Other renowned artists also participated in its construction and decoration, such as Frederic Marès, Lluís Bru and Alfons Juyol, among others.
One of the most popular areas for visitors are the upper terraces, from which you can see the whole of Barcelona, as you are at the highest point of the city and enjoy unbeatable views.
Basilica of Santa Maria del Pi
Inside the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, between the squares of Pi and Sant Josep Oriol, you can discover the beauty of the exuberant Basilica of Santa Maria del Pi, which has the largest rose window in Catalonia, which had to be reproduced after its destruction during the Spanish Civil War. The basilica‘s initial construction dates to the 5th century, but its current state is due to a remodelling during the 14th century.
During your visit, you can see its collection of Catalan goldsmith’s work, its exhibition, the crypt, the garden and the octagonal bell tower, which you can climb to enjoy magnificent views of Barcelona.
Basilica dels Sants Màrtirs Sant Just i Pastor
On the other hand, in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, in Plaça Sant Just, you cannot miss the Basilica dels Sants Màrtirs Sant Just i Pastor, built in the 14th century, very unknown to visitors, but which houses an austere and, at the same time, charming Gothic style inside. You can also climb the bell tower, which offers incredible views of the neighbourhood.
Get to Barcelona with Shuttle2Sun‘s shared transfer services and private transfer services, available from Barcelona Airport, Barcelona Port, Reus Airport, Girona Airport and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station.
Monastery of Sant Pau del Camp
One of the oldest churches you’ll find on the streets of Barcelona is the Romanesque church of the monastery of Sant Pau del Camp, dating from around the 10th century. Through the small worship centre, you can access the cloister, which is decorated with beautiful arches of varying size and decoration.
Parish Church of Mare de Déu de Betlem
The Gothic façade of the parish church of Mare de Déu de Betlem will surprise you as you stroll along Barcelona’s Rambla, originally dating from the 15th century, when a chapel dedicated to Saint Mary of Bethlehem was ordered to be built. Later, a church was built on the same site. Even so, the building has suffered several fires over the years and only its façade and the original sides remain.
Church of Santa Anna
Another of the architectural gems you can visit during your stay in Barcelona is the church of Santa Anna, dating from the 12th century, in Romanesque and Gothic styles, where you can enjoy the cloister, one of the most characteristic areas of its facilities. This church is located in Ciutat Vella district, on Carrer de Santa Anna, very close to Plaça Catalunya.
Church of Mare de Déu del Carme
The church of Mare de Déu del Carme is another of the most recent churches, built at the beginning of the 20th century, on Avinguda Diagonal. Its interior is decorated with works of art by the Catalan Lluís Bru, in a neo-Byzantine style that captures the attention of visitors. Its structure is the work of the architects Josep Domènech Estapà and Josep Domènech Mansana, father and son.
Other places of worship not to be missed
In Barcelona you will find other churches that are well worth a visit, such as Basilica de la Purísima Concepción y Asunción de Nuestra Señora, located in L’Eixample. Curiously, it is built from scraps, i.e. it has been remodelled and has the cloister of the Monastery of Junqueras and the bell tower belonging to the church of San Miguel.
On the other hand, we suggest you visit the parish church Castrense de la Ciutadella, which was part of the Ciutadella fortress, as well as the Church of San Felipe Neri, whose Gothic façade still preserves the shrapnel impacts of the Spanish Civil War.
Don’t think twice and discover these churches and basilicas, which will not leave you indifferent. Remember that Shuttle2Sun offers its shared transfer services and private transfer services, low-cost and sustainable, from Barcelona airport, Barcelona port, Reus airport, Girona airport and Camp de Tarragona AVE train station, so you can get to Barcelona, comfortably and without worries.
