Locomotoring

After lunching at CalPep, we headed to Santa Maria Del Mar Church in El Born which is only  a block away. Built in the traditional style of gothic churches around 1300s, this one burnt for 10 days during the Spanish Civil War in 1936. It was never restored to its original interior design resulting in a very bare and spacious feel inside, a visit to MNAC’s gothic collection and Barcelona Cathedral can be used for typical gothic church reference. This lightness inside is in complete contrast to the outside, where nearby buildings seem to encroach the church space causing a claustrophobic sensation.

It had just rained hard while we were lunching so we were really lucky that our guide was young and eager. An experienced guide would not have allowed us to go on the rooftop. Views of the red floors of the rooftops in this dense neighborhood washed by fresh rain was picturesque.

The sea is clearly visible from the rooftop which is  a mile or so away now. The original site, outside the 1rst century Roman walls used to be right next to the sea  and hence the name.