Santa Maria de Balaguer, Gothic parish church in Balaguer, Spain.
Santa Maria de Balaguer is a Gothic parish church with a single nave interrupted by side chapels positioned between buttresses and a seven-sided angular apse. The interior is covered by star-shaped ribbed vaults that run the length of the structure.
Construction began in 1351 following a royal donation from King Peter IV, with the building reaching completion and consecration in February 1558.
The building reflects the religious life of Balaguer during its period as a trading hub, with its grand interior spaces showing how the community expressed its importance through careful craftsmanship. The church served as a gathering place where the rhythm of daily life connected to religious observance.
The building can be entered through three separate doorways: one on the western side and two additional entrances along the flanks of the structure. Starting your visit from the exterior allows you to appreciate the architectural details before stepping inside.
The octagonal bell tower displays four distinct levels separated by decorative moldings and houses a spiral staircase with semicircular arched windows. This layered composition creates a rhythm of light and shadow that guides visitors as they move upward through the tower.
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