Seen from the current perspective, it is difficult to recognize this entrenched environment on one side of something as noble as the church of Santa Maria del Mar. The superb lateral façade appears timidly to the left, largely hidden by the stalls that disfigure it. .
This is Santa Maria street, which mediates between the square of the same name and Paseo del Born. The photograph was taken at the beginning of the 1920s and focused on the aforementioned walk.
In fact, it appeared converted into a kind of open-air market. It is surprising that the stalls could be attached to this façade; Some posts were removable, although despite this condition they enjoyed a stable character. This situation had been consolidated thanks to the fact that the church obtained money in exchange for accepting their presence. Hence, a similar landscape occurred in noble points such as the facades of the Vicereina palace or the Santa Creu hospital.
The origin of this landscape was due to the expansive force exerted by the Born market since its inauguration. The surrounding area was soon transfigured; Suffice it to say that the pompous Montcada street suffered an environmental drift that reduced its category.
The central presence of the elevated construction that spans the street like a bridge undoubtedly marked this environment. This is the corridor that the Prince of Darmstadt ordered to be laid between his viceregal palace and the basilica in order to protect his threatened safety by avoiding going down to the street. Such a work explains the forced profile that the Fossar de les Moreres acquired then.
It had been built in 1700 without the slightest ornamental pretensions: a simple hallway. It was demolished by the constitutionalists in 1823, but a political ups and downs rebuilt it with deplorable functionality and simplicity, as can be seen in the image.
The fire of the Royal Palace led to the elimination of part of the corridor, but the rest was maintained until the pre-Olympic years.
In the process of rehabilitating the enclave, the advisability or otherwise of its permanence was discussed. In the end, good sense prevailed and it was demolished, which allowed us to enhance, and above all dignify, such a representative and sensitive historical place. It was carried out with undoubted success.
