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BEFORE YOU GO ABROAD, KEEP IN MIND:
BEFORE YOU GO ABROAD, KEEP IN MIND:
Depending on where you go, religion may have a larger or smaller role than it does in your community.
Stay open-minded about religious practices, even if they are different from yours.
If you are planning to practice your religion abroad, you should research places of worship.
If you have faith-based dietary restrictions, be sure to inform Barcelona SAE ahead of time, especially if you are living with a host family.
Use your experience abroad to learn about the world's religions and the role they play in culture.
CHRISTIANITY
CHRISTIANITY
The Catholic branch of Christianity is the most common religion in Spain, but with very high levels of secularization (a movement away from religious institutions). Most Spaniards, especially the younger generations, choose not to adhere to Catholic teachings and do not attend mass.
Even though only 3% of Spaniards consider religion as one of their three most important values (lower than the 5% European average), Catholicism's influence can still be seen in Spain's everyday life. There are many religious holidays and festivals throughout the year, such as Viernes Santo, La Asunción, and Todos los Santos. There are also countless churches and museums containing Catholic artefacts. Each city, town, and village in Spain even has its own patron saint!
CATHOLIC PLACES OF WORSHIP & ORGANIZATIONS in barcelona:
CATHOLIC PLACES OF WORSHIP & ORGANIZATIONS in barcelona:
The Parroquia de Maria Reina is known for doing English services on Sundays from September to June.
Did you know that you can actually attend mass at the Sagrada Familia?
Caritas is the official confederation of the social and charitable action organizations of the Catholic Church in Spain, established in 1947.
protestant places of worship & ORGANIZATIONS in barcelona:
protestant places of worship & ORGANIZATIONS in barcelona:
The International Church of Barcelona is a Protestant (non-denominational) church with services in English.
St. George's Church is a Protestant church with services in English.
OTHER THINGS OF INTEREST:
OTHER THINGS OF INTEREST:
If you're looking to attend a service, we encourage you to look at the websites of the various Christian worship centers in Barcelona. You can also usually find the dates and hours for mass in each language posted on the door of the church.
Check out Barcelona's Religious Affairs Office (specifically, their events calendar) for Christian events and festivities held throughout the year.
Judaism
Judaism
Barcelona has a rich Jewish history that dates back many centuries. Judaism was introduced to the Iberian Peninsula in Roman times. At its height, Spanish Judaism was one of the largest, most prosperous, and cultivated Jewish communities in the world. However, this came to an end in 1492, in which the Jewish community was forced to choose between conversion or expulsion in an attempt to create Catholic uniformity across the region. After this point, Spain did not see a rise in its Jewish community until the early 1900s.
Since the early 2000s, there has been a significant community effort to commemorate and preserve the long Jewish history of Barcelona. There is a well preserved Jewish "Call" in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter, which is home to one of Europe's oldest synagogues. In 2015, a law was passed to offer citizenship to the descendants of Sephardic Jews (Jews of Spanish origin).
JEWISH PLACES OF WORSHIP & ORGANIZATIONS in barcelona:
JEWISH PLACES OF WORSHIP & ORGANIZATIONS in barcelona:
KAHAL: Your Jewish Home Abroad is an organization that provides support programming for Jewish students abroad. They have some staff and student ambassadors based in Spain.
Chabad House is a Kahal-facilitated Whatsapp group for Jewish students abroad in Barcelona.
Jabad Barcelona is a Jewish community center (Beit Chabad) that fosters educational programs for both youth and adults. The Synagogue provides religious services and cultural events. You can contact them through their Instagram page.
Bet Shalom is a progressive Jewish community in Barcelona offering a welcoming and inclusive space for Jews of various backgrounds and beliefs. They may have regular Shabbat services, educational programs, and cultural events.
Atid (Reform Jewish) holds services in Spanish and Hebrew but some community members speak English.
The Jewish Community of Barcelona was created in 1918 and claims to be the first organization in Barcelona to serve as a social, educational, cultural, and religious meeting point for Barcelona's Jewish population. It is a focal point for synagogue services, social and cultural events, and educational programs.
Mozaika is a non-profit organization that aims to bring Jewish culture closer to the general public.
The Barcelona Jewish History Museum is located in the heart of the medieval Jewish quarter, El Call, and it offers insights into the history of the Jewish community in Barcelona.
Associació Call de Barcelona is an organization that aims to recover the historical memory of Judaism in Catalonia. Located within the Main Synagogue, they also have a resource center featuring a collection of Jewish objects from the 3rd and 4th centuries, as well as archeological excavations from the Roman era.
oTHER THINGS OF INTEREST:
oTHER THINGS OF INTEREST:
Check out our Barcelona Student Guide page on Kosher restaurants and shops
Shalom Barcelona is a collection of resources by Barcelona's tourism board featuring local Kosher cuisine, Sephardic heritage tours, events, and more.
The Jewish Film Festival is an annual film festival hosted in BCN to showcase Jewish culture and heritage through cinema.
Check out Barcelona's Religious Affairs Office (specifically, their events calendar) for Jewish events and festivities held throughout the year.
IsLam
IsLam
Islam was introduced to the Iberian Peninsula after the Muslim conquest in the 8th century. Spain was under Islamic rule for more than 700 years, with the heart of its empire in Andalucía (southern Spain). It is often described as a Golden Age of learning, in which libraries, colleges, and public baths were established and literature, poetry, and architecture flourished. However, the collapse of Islamic rule in Spain came in 1492, due to increasing pressure from the Christian states (which led to the Muslim community being forced to choose between conversion and expulsion, in an attempt to create Catholic uniformity across the region) as well as internal divisions among Muslim rulers.
In Barcelona, there is a specific district with a larger presence of the Muslim community, the Ciutat Vella (more specifically, in the Raval neighborhood). The main Muslim community in Barcelona is of Pakistani origin, as the Pakistani community is the third largest immigrant population living in Barcelona. The second biggest Muslim population is the Moroccan community, which is also a significant part of Barcelona's international population.
ISLAMIC PLACES OF WORSHIP & ORGANIZATIONS in barcelona:
ISLAMIC PLACES OF WORSHIP & ORGANIZATIONS in barcelona:
The Islamic Cultural Center of Catalonia (CCIB) is a prominent Islamic institution that serves as a focal point for the Islamic community in the region and offers a range of services and facilities to meet the religious, cultural, and educational needs of the Muslim community in Catalonia.
Mezquita Tariq Bin Ziyad is the largest mosque in Barcelona, named after the great Amazigh and Muslim conqueror, Tarek Ibn Ziyad.
The Central Mosque of Barcelona is a house of worship that serves the Muslim community, with a library and support services to study the Arabic language, the Qur’an, fiqh, and the formation of imams.
The Centre Islàmic del Carmel is a space designed for dialogue, coexistence, and respect for those in the Carmel neighborhood. It offers courses on Islamic culture and the Arabic language. The center also participates in food collection campaigns and other charity events to support the local community.
Junta Islàmica Catalana (JIC) is an organization which plays a significant role in representing the Muslim community in Catalonia. It is involved in interfaith dialogues, legal issues, and community outreach.
The University of Barcelona has a Associació Juvenil d'Estudiants Musulmans (Association of Muslim Students) - if you're taking classes at the UB, consider checking it out!
Other THINGS OF INTEREST:
Other THINGS OF INTEREST:
Check out our Barcelona Student Guide page on Halal butchers and restaurants.
Halal Trip's Ultimate Muslim Guide to Barcelona, Spain
Check out Barcelona's Religious Affairs Office (specifically, their events calendar) for Islamic events and festivities held throughout the year.
If you know of another resource that you recommend we add to this page OR if you follow a religion that is not listed on this page and are looking for further assistance on finding faith based resources, please write to studentlife@barcelonasae.com.
Your feedback is very important to us and allows us to better support future students, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with any questions, comments, or suggestions. :)
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