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

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.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Barcelona. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Esglesia de Sant Miquel del Port (Church of St. Michael) on Map

Sight Name: Esglesia de Sant Miquel del Port (Church of St. Michael)
Sight Location: Barcelona, Spain (See walking tours in Barcelona)
Sight Type: Religious

Walking Tours in Barcelona, Spain

Create Your Own Walk in Barcelona

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Picasso's Barcelona Walking Tour

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Pablo Picasso – the great Spanish painter and sculptor – developed his style in Barcelona where he spent the formative years of his life, from the ages of 14 to 23. It is said that when the master spoke nostalgically of home, he actually meant the Catalonian capital, despite having been born in Malaga.

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Barcelona Introduction Walking Tour

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Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.7 Km or 3.5 Miles
La Ribera Walking Tour

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La Ribera is a culturally rich, historic area of Barcelona’s Old Town; somewhat less touristy than the Gothic Quarter (which one should really visit as well) and quite unspoiled, authentic and pretty. Centuries ago, it was a very well-to-do neighborhood inhabited by aristocrats, merchants, wealthy sailors, and Jewish money-lenders. Today, it is regarded as the Soho of Barcelona – a popular...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Montjuic Walking Tour

Montjuic Walking Tour

Montjuic is a hill in Barcelona which offers a variety of great attractions of historic, cultural, and architectural value. Here, you can watch a spectacular water show at the Magic Fountain of Montjuic, visit the place where matadors faced the bulls in the past, and explore the ancient Montjuic Castle with its breathtaking views.

A convenient start point, Placa d'Espanya is the second...  view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
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Barcelona Shopping Walk

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A long-time prime cultural destination, Barcelona is also en route to becoming one of Europe's top shopping spots. Each new day, fashionable designer stores, from well-known international brands to local start-ups, are filling the city streets. If you're a fan of shopping, you're in for a treat when visiting this beautiful city. Here are some of the most popular shopping locations...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Antoni Gaudí's Masterpieces Walking Tour

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Gaudi is admired around the world as one of the most distinctive architects of the 20th century. The unique technique and use of natural forms make his creations stand out from the pack. La Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, Casa Batllo and other masterpieces will certainly take your breath away with their beauty, forms, colors, and overall design. Just make sure to book tickets in advance, since...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.6 Km or 2.9 Miles

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