Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
*
Temple Expiatori del
Top 10 Catalan
Saints & Virgins
!
Sant Jordi
Sagrat Cor
Mount Tibidabo is an appropriate
perch for this huge, over-the-top
Neo-Gothic church, topped with
a gold Christ with outstretched
arms. The name Tibidabo takes
its meaning from the words, “I
shall give you” (
tibi dabo),
uttered
by the Devil in his temptation of
Christ. Zealously serving the
devoted, the priest here per-
forms the Eucharist throughout
the day.
d
Tibidabo • Map B1 • Open
10:30am-7:30pm daily
Catalonia's patron saint is
Saint George, whose dragon-
slaying prowess is depicted
all over the city.
@
Virgin Mercè
She became the female
patron saint of Barcelona in
1637. The most raucous
festival in town is the Festes
de La Mercè
(see p64).
£
Virgin of Montserrat
Catalonia's famous “Black
Virgin” is the city's patron virgin.
$
Santa Eulàlia
(
Capella de Sant Jordi
Inside the Palau de la
Generalitat
(see p71)
is this fine
15th-century chapel, dedicated to
Catalonia's patron saint.
d
Pl Sant
Jaume • Map M4 • Guided tours 10:30am-
1:30pm 2nd & 4th Sun of month
Santa Eulàlia, Barcelona's
first female patron saint, was
martyred by the Romans
when they took the city.
%
Santa Elena
Legend has it that Saint
Helena converted to Christian-
ity after discovering Christ's
cross in Jerusalem in 346 AD.
^
Santa Llúcia
)
Església de Betlem
La Rambla was once dotted
with religious buildings, most
built in the 17th and 18th
centuries when the Catholic
Church was flush with money.
This
església
remains one of
the most important functioning
churches from this period.
d
C/
Xuclà 2 • Map L3 • Open 8am-1:30pm
& 5:30-8pm daily • DA
The saint of eyes and
vision is celebrated on 13
December, when the blind
come to worship at the
Santa Llúcia chapel in the
cathedral
(see pp14-15).
&
Sant Cristòfol
Though officially stripped
of his sainthood as there was
little evidence he existed,
Saint Christopher was once
the patron saint of travellers.
*
Sant Antoni de Padua
On 13 June, those seek-
ing a husband or wife pray
to the patron saint of love.
(
Santa Rita
Deliverer of the impossible,
Santa Rita is prayed to by
those searching for miracles.
)
Sant Joan
The night of Saint John
(see p64)
is celebrated with
giant bonfires and fireworks.
Gothic nave, Capella de Santa Àgata
39
