Esglesia de Sant Miquel del Port (Church of St. Michael), Barcelona

Take a moment to admire the baroque architecture of this church, which features a modern (1992) rendition of the winged Archangel Michael on its façade, depicted as a muscular figure with a sword and chain, along with sculptures of Saint Elm and Saint Mary of Cervelló, revered as guardians of the Catalan fishing fleet. Under the guidance of architect Damià Ribes, construction of Saint Michael's in Barceloneta commenced in 1753 and concluded in 1755, making it one of the neighborhood's earliest completed structures.

Strict instructions to maintain the height of Barceloneta for the purpose of firing La Ciutadella’s cannon led to the church initially lacking a bell tower and having only a small cupola, which was later replaced by a new one added by Elies Rogent in 1853. Noteworthy are the metopes: small gilded bas-relief sculptures located around the interior cornice and repeated on the exterior of the façade. These 74 sculptures are inscribed with Latin phrases, each symbolizing different attributes of Saint Michael. For example, an image of a boat accompanied by the Latin phrase "iam in tuto" ("finally safe") represents the saint's protection against the dangers of the sea.

Adjacent to the church, at No. 41, you'll find a house adorned with seven bands of floral sgraffiti. A plaque commemorating Fernando de Lesseps, the engineer who constructed the Suez Canal and served as the French consul in Barcelona, can also be seen on the house.

Tip:
In the church square, make sure to observe the Barcelona coat of arms on the fountain and visit Can Ganassa, a notable tapas bar located on the east side.