The Catedral de la Santa Creu i Santa Eulàlia is the city’s main church. Built between the 13th and 15th centuries in the heart of the old quarter, it stands out for its 70-metre neo-Gothic façade, its cloister watched over by 13 geese and its more than 200 medieval gargoyles. Inside, the crypt of the patron saint Saint Eulàlia, the distinctive vaulted keystones and the side chapels bring together centuries of history. More than a place of worship, it feels like a labyrinth of symbols.

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Although the neo-Gothic façade draws most of the attention of passers-by, the most surprising details are higher up, where gargoyles in the form of dragons, unicorns and even an elephant watch over the cornices.
Inside, the space unfolds with more than 215 keystones, 29 chapels and a high altar that frames a well-preserved Gothic stained-glass window.
Visitors can also go up to the terraces, where on 3 May at dawn Barcelona is traditionally blessed during the Festa de la Santa Creu, a ceremony that fills the city with flowers and symbolism.
The 13 geese in the cloister are no coincidence. They recall the age of Saint Eulàlia when she was martyred.