Date of publication 17/08/2017
The hidden myths and legends of Barcelona
The history of Barcelona and the many artists who have lived here mean that this city has many hidden treasures, legends, myths, and monuments full of curiosities. Come with us to discover them all on a journey through the Gothic Quarter, the Eixample, and beyond!
Cathedral of Santa Eulalia
Barcelona still holds many secrets waiting to be uncovered. Its rich history and artistic spirit have filled the city’s streets and monuments with fascinating curiosities and legends. One of them tells of the sculptures on the façade of the Cathedral of Santa Eulalia, which are believed to have been carved in the Middle Ages and later buried at the foot of the church.
City of dragons
The dragon is one of the most iconic symbols of the city. That’s why a stroll through the Eixample, El Raval, or Las Ramblas turns into a safari in search of this mythical creature’s many forms. So when you leave your hotel in Barcelona and find yourself standing before buildings like Casa Lleó Morera, Casa Bruno Cuadros, or the famous Casa Batlló, look closely for its scales and artistic depictions.
Gaudí’s Big Dipper
The theory is rather bold and was proposed by Esteban Martín and Andreu Carranza in their book La Clave Gaudí. The authors claim that Gaudí’s fascination with this constellation was so profound that he tried to align the seven buildings he designed in Barcelona to form a kind of Big Dipper on Earth. This connection is not only based on geography but also on the symbolism woven into each of his masterpieces.
The ghosts of San Justo and San Pastor
According to popular belief, beneath this church lies a network of tunnels and early Christian catacombs, said to originate from a well where the first followers of Christ in the city were buried.
Submarines everywhere
One could say that this vessel is the dragon of the 20th and 21st centuries, as its unmistakable silhouette serves as an attraction in parks, a statue in many roundabouts, and a monument throughout the city. One popular legend tells that a charismatic sailor from Barcelona, Pep Barceló, returned from Atlantis aboard the Ictíneo, the submarine designed by Narcís Monturiol, to marry María la Néta. Other accounts suggest it is simply Barcelona’s tribute to Monturiol, one of the pioneers of submarine navigation in Spain.
The cryptogram of the Sagrada Família
This grid of 16 numbers —which add up to 33 in any direction— has long been a magnet for all kinds of theories, including the idea that it was Gaudí’s tribute to Freemasonry. This numerological mystery is yet another symbolic element that Josep Maria Subirachs incorporated into his contribution to the temple.
A labyrinth to lose — or find — love
The Horta Labyrinth is not just one of Barcelona’s most enchanting gardens. Like many 19th-century landscapes, it was designed with the playful intention of encouraging young couples to lose their way among the sculpted cypress trees, gradually drawing closer to one another. At its center stands a statue of Eros, the god of love, presiding over this maze of romance and discovery.
The (Greek?) origins of the city
For many years, it was believed that these four classical columns belonged to a temple dedicated to Hercules, linking the city’s founding to an ancient Greek colony. However, modern archaeological research has attributed the ruins to a Roman construction from old Barcino, dedicated to Emperor Augustus. And while the true origin of the city remains a mystery, after this journey through its curiosities, Barcelona will hold far fewer secrets from you.
