Sant Maria del Pi

Description:

• This church takes its name from the huge pine tree outside its main entrance. The church, built between the early 14th and late 16th centuries, resides on one of the most charming squares (of the same name) in the Barri Gòtic. There is always something happening on the square (which in effect merges into two other tiny plazas) whether it is an art market (Sun), a local cheese and artisan fair run by food hawkers (Thurs-Sat), street musicians strutting their stuff, or people milling around the plentiful outdoor cafes.

  The church itself is a typical, if not the most complete, example of Catalan Gothic. Its wide, single nave spans nearly two-thirds of the building's length, lending the church its squat appearance. Above the main entrance is a gigantic rose window. Inside it's just as austere, although worth inspecting for the ingenious stone arch that has supported the structure's width for centuries.

• © Frommer's 2012