Cathedral of the Sea () is a Spanish historical drama television series that originally aired on Antena 3 from May 23 to July 18, 2018. It is an adaptation of Ildefonso Falcones's novel La catedral del mar, which centers around the construction of the church of Santa MarÃÂa del Mar in Barcelona. Directed by , it stars Michelle Jenner, Aitor Luna, Daniel Grao, Pablo Derqui, Tristán Ulloa, Natalia de Molina, Andrea Duro, José MarÃÂa Pou, Silvia Abascal and Ginés GarcÃÂa Millán, among others.
The series sparked a sequel, Heirs to the Land.
In the fourteenth century, Barcelona, under the Crown of Aragon, is in one of its most prosperous moments in history: the city has grown up to the Ribera, a humble fishing district, where the church of Santa MarÃÂa del Mar is to be built. In 1319, a serf, Bernat Estanyol, flees with his infant son Arnau from Navarcles to Barcelona after Bernat's wife is raped and kidnapped by a feudal lord.
Episode 1 then proceeds to 1329 when Arnau is a young boy growing up in his uncle's home. Arnau is blamed for his cousin's death, which leads to the melancholy and eventual death of his aunt in Episode 2. It is in this year that construction begins on the church of Santa MarÃÂa del Mar, and Arnau assists the workers by bringing them water.
Episode 3 begins in April 1334 during a famine. Bernat is hung for participating in a riot to secure food that is hoarded by the aristocracy. After discovering a thief at the cathedral, Arnau is promoted to (stone carrier), carrying stones from Montjuïc to the cathedral, and is given a (headdress to facilitate carrying heavy stones on the head). In 1339, he falls in love with the daughter of the tanner but is refused an offer of marriage. In 1342, the church is visited by Peter IV of Aragon, the count of Barcelona.
Episode 4 begins in 1342, when Arnau is married but continues an illicit affair with the tanner's daughter. Work is begun on a covered bridge from the to the port, which James III of Majorca had demanded be built to protect him from assassination attempts by bow and arrow, but after it is discovered that James has laid a trap for Peter IV, enticing him into the covered bridge, James fleas to Roussillon. Peter IV declares war against him and in 1343, Arnau is drafted to fight against the forces of James near Roussillon. While on tour, Arnau briefly meets his own mother, who has become a prostitute servicing the troops. Five years later, Arnau returns home to find Barcelona stricken with plague, to which his wife succumbs.
In episode 5, Arnau saves the lives of a Jewish family from an angry mob. In gratitude, the Jewish man teaches Arnau to become a , or money changer. Arnau adopts a young orphan girl whose parents were killed by the plague. In 1356, Arnau, now a wealthy man, plans a solution to the problems related to the harbor in Barcelona. Ships find the harbor difficult to navigate during storms, seeking refuge at Salou or Tarragona. Ships must enter the harbor through a narrow passage one at a time and risk running aground in the sand that surrounds the harbor. Arnau purchases a galley to tug the lighter ships into the harbor. In a reversal of fortune, Arnau purchases the debts of his uncle's family, who had persecuted him since a boy, and sends them out of the city.
In episode 6, Peter of Castile attempts to attack Barcelona while the forces of Peter IV of Aragon are fighting in Majorca. Arnau sinks his own galley, blocking off the entrance to Barcelona harbor. As a reward for his courage, Peter IV of Aragon makes Arnau baron of Granollers, Sant Vicenç, and Montbui. The king gives one of the ladies of the court to be his wife, against the wishes of Arnau, and the move to . Meanwhile, the tanner's daughter, who still loves Arnau, is working as a prostitute for Arnau's mother, finds out about the marriage. The local nobles do not recognize Arnau's authority due to his lowly birth. Arna institutes reforms, banning the abuse of serfs and setting them free.
Arnau's social ascent will lead him from misery to a comfortable life as a money changer, which will awaken the envy of his enemies, who will plot a conspiracy and will put his life in the hands of the Inquisition.
Produced by Atresmedia Televisión in collaboration with , La Catedral del Mar A.I.E and Televisió de Catalunya, it premiered on 23 May 2018 on Antena 3. The original broadcasting run ended on 18 July 2018. It averaged a good 17.4% audience share.
The series sparked a sequel, Heirs to the Land.