Gargoyles, Geese and The Catedral de la Santa Cruz

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The Cathedral de la Santa Cruz (or the Cathedral of the Holy Cross to non Spanish speakers) is truly spectacular!

Filled with tall Gothic arches, beautiful stained glass and imposing pillars, it is definitely a must see when visiting Barcelona.

And as a little surprise, this religious sanctuary is even home to a dozen white geese!

Just off the Carrer del Bisbe is an enchanting little passageway leading to the side entrance of the Gothic cathedral. As you walk past the haunting gargoyles and under the intricate arched balcony, you are greeted by a beautifully stone etched lady carrying a basket of leaves and a pair of street musicians.

You walk past them (after possibly buying their latest album!) with wonderful guitar music filling your ears and you enter a final archway on your right that leads you into the Cathedral's courtyard.
Here alongside the tall palm trees is the Font de les Oques (the Well of the Geese) which dates all the way back to 1448. All the lettuce they can eat beside a magnificent fountain and being papped by hundreds of tourists as they bask in the sunshine-what a life 'ey?!

The Cathedral also prides itself as starting the old 16th century tradition of the 'Dancing Egg,' where an egg would be emptied and filled with wax before placing it in the main fountain in the centre and by the force of the water it would seem to dance in the air.

The inside of the building doesn't disappoint either with breathtakingly high vaulted ceilings, a large ancient organ and an octagonal tower that lets in light and a magnificent glow is created throughout the Cathedral.

The outside of the Cathedral is just as impressive with intricately carved sculpture and tracery windows. Here the front of the Cathedral leads onto a square filled with shops, musicians and modern sculpture.