| Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia | |
|---|---|
| |
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Province | Archdiocese of Barcelona |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Cathedral |
| Leadership | Juan Jose Omella |
| Year consecrated | 1339 |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain |
| Geographic coordinates | 41°23′02″N 2°10′35″E / 41.38389°N 2.17639°E |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Gothic, Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1298 |
| Completed | 1420 ; façade and central tower, 1913 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 90 metres (300 ft) |
| Width | 40 metres (130 ft) |
| Height (max) | 53 metres (174 ft) (2 towers) |
| Website | |
| www.catedralbcn.org | |
The Cathedral of Santa Eulalia is the Gothic cathedral of Barcelona. The cathedral was constructed from the 13th to the 15th century. There was a Visigothic church there before. The Gothic-like façade is from the 19th century.
The cathedral is dedicated to Eulalia of Barcelona, co-patron saint of Barcelona. According to Catholic tradition, Eulalia was a young virgin who suffered martyrdom during Roman times in Barcelona. The body of Saint Eulalia is entombed in the cathedral's crypt.
One side chapel is dedicated to "Christ of Lepanto", and contains a cross from a ship that fought at the Battle of Lepanto (1571). The body of the cross is shifted to the right. Catalan legend says that the body swerved to avoid getting hit by a cannonball.
The cathedral has a secluded Gothic cloister where thirteen white geese are kept (it is said that Eulalia was 13 when she was murdered).
