Basilica of Santa Maria del Pi

The Basilica of Santa Maria del Pi, located in the heart of the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, is an extraordinary example of Catalan Gothic architecture. Its construction began in the 14th century, precisely in 1319, and was completed in 1391. This parish church owes its name to a legend according to which the image of the Virgin Mary was found in a pine trunk. The building is characterized by a single large nave, measuring 54 meters in length by 16.5 meters in width and 27 meters in height, with a polygonal apse and seven side chapels located between the Gothic buttresses. The sober and massive appearance of the main facade is dominated by a large rose window, originally made in the 14th century but destroyed during the Spanish Civil War in 1936 and subsequently rebuilt between 1939 and 1943 by Josep Maria Jujol. The basilica is renowned for its octagonal bell tower, 54 meters high, which rises on the southern side of the apse. This bell tower, completed in 1497, has a base 3.55 meters thick, giving a sense of strength and solidity. Another distinctive element of the facade is the main door, decorated with a Gothic sculpture of the Virgin and Child, while the tympanum is adorned with busts of Mary and the Apostles. The interior of the basilica is equally impressive, with a main altar designed by Joaquim de Ros i de Ramis in 1967, presided over by a large image of the Virgin Mary, a work by sculptor Enric Monjo from 1973. The current altar replaces various altarpieces that have succeeded over the centuries, including a neo-Gothic altarpiece made by Francisco de Paula del Villar, which was destroyed during the fire of 1936. Among the most notable chapels are that of Sant Josep Oriol, dedicated to the saint who was a priest in this church between 1687 and 1702, and the chapel of the Inmaculada, which originally housed an altarpiece of San Michele painted by Jaume Huguet in the 15th century. Another prominent chapel is that of the Puríssima Sang, which houses a Baroque altarpiece from the 17th century, reconstructed after being destroyed in 1936. The basilica has a rich and complex history. It was severely damaged by the earthquake of 1428, which caused the rose window to collapse and resulted in numerous deaths. It was also hit by bombings during the War of the Spanish Succession in 1714. The church was partially restored between 1863 and 1884 and subsequently between 1915 and 1926, when it was elevated to the rank of minor basilica by Pope Pius XI. During the Spanish Civil War, the church was set on fire and suffered serious damage, leading to the loss of many works of art and the destruction of the rose window. Restoration efforts in the 1950s, led by Josep Maria Jujol, restored the basilica to its former glory. In 1986, a rococo chair from 1771, originally designed by Josep Mas i Dordal, was installed. An interesting anecdote about the basilica concerns its connection with Santa Joaquina de Vedruna, founder of the Institute of the Carmelite Sisters of Charity. Baptized in the church on April 16, 1783, Joaquina was married here on March 24, 1799. This detail highlights the importance of the basilica not only as an architectural monument but also as a place of significant religious and social events. The treasure of the basilica, open to the public since 2011, contains important examples of goldsmithing, including the Lignum Crucis from 1498 and a precious chalice with enamels known as the “Good Chalice,” donated to the basilica in 1431. The museum also exhibits paintings by artists such as Juan Carreño de Miranda and Antonio Viladomat, as well as a collection of shields from the 14th century.