Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Soledad explained

Building Name:Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad
Location: Oaxaca de Juárez
Geo:17.0636°N -96.7303°W
Religious Affiliation:Roman Catholic
Rite:Latin Rite
Province:Archdiocese of Antequera, Oaxaca
Consecration Year:1690
Status:Basilica
Architect:Fernando Méndez
Architecture Type:Latin Cross
Architecture Style:Baroque
Specifications:yes
Facade Direction:East-northeast
Groundbreaking:1682
Year Completed:1718
Materials:cantera

The Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Soledad (Basilica of Our Lady of Solitude) is a Roman Catholic Basilica located in Oaxaca de Juárez, Oaxaca, Mexico. It was built between 1682 and 1690, and is a sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of Solitude, patron saint of Oaxaca.[1] The architecture style is Baroque,[2] and was intentionally built with low spires and towers, as to better resist earthquakes. The Basilica de la Soledad is part of the Historic Center of Oaxaca City, which was declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987.[3]

History

The construction of the Basilica began in 1682 and in 1690 was consecrated by Bishop Sariñana y Cuenca. It was designed by Father Fernando Méndez and the current facade was built between 1717 and 1718, with the assistance of Bishop Angel Maldonado.[4]

Description

The Basilica of La Soledad is laid out in the shape of a Latin cross. The building was constructed from green cantera, a stone common in parts of Oaxaca.

The west gallery contains a baroque pipe organ dated 1686, restored to playing condition in 2000.[5]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Basilica de Nuestra Senora de la Soledad Review. Fodor's Travel. 2010-04-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20100114170500/http://www.fodors.com/world/mexico-and-central-america/mexico/oaxaca/review-153889.html. 2010-01-14. dead.
  2. Web site: Sacred Destinations: Basilica de la Soledad, Oaxaca. Sacred Destinations. 2010-04-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20100405072827/http://www.sacred-destinations.com/mexico/oaxaca-basilica-de-la-soledad.htm#. 2010-04-05. dead.
  3. The measurement of the economic impact and damage to Oaxaca City tourism economy, after the sociopolitical movement in 2006. . Rivera Rosas . Ricardo . 2008 . 9th internacional forum of Tourism Statistics .
  4. Web site: Municipality of Oaxaca . Templos y Ex Conventos . Oaxaca . Churches and ex-monasteries . Spanish . 8 September 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070611164241/http://www.oaxacainfo.gob.mx/index.php?mod=topic&topic=templos . 11 June 2007 .
  5. http://iohio.org.mx/eng/organs6.htm The Organ of La Soledad