July 27: Santa Maria del Mar

Santa Maria del Mar is an excellent example of the (externally) stout, relatively severe Catalan Gothic style, constructed in the 14th century.

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The northern portal: fairly simple, but not without fine ornamentation. The statue in the tympanum must be a more modern addition.

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A lovely long array of votive candles.

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Just the windows.

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The apse vault, with sky pinholes.

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Some awesomely vivid glass colors.

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Impression of apse windows.

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A most glossy of pews.

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The dusky organ.

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A self-reportedly modern window. I particularly like the trefoils and quatrefoils at the top.

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A broader view toward the apse.

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Suddenly, an exquisite polychromatic glow.

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The rose window.

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These strongly remind me of tile patterns.

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An evanescent modern vestibule on one of the sides.

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Chiaroscuro at the main portal at the south end.

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Above the rose window, a whole constellation of pinholes.

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The shadow-carved door.

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Wow! That's... hypnotizing. This is just across Plaça Santa Maria from the front of the church.

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On the exterior of the main portal, there's a gap at the peak of the archivolts! I don't recall noticing that before.

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The portal in its full splendor.