Basílica pontificia de San Miguel explained

Pontifical Basilica of St. Michael
Native Name:Spanish; Castilian: Basílica Pontificia de San Miguel
Native Name Lang:es
Address:, 4
Location:Madrid
Country:Spain
Denomination:Catholic Church
Dedication:Saint Michael
Status:Pontifical minor basilica
Functional Status:Active
Archdiocese:Madrid
Architect:Santiago Bonavía
Architectural Type:Church architecture
Style:Baroque
Heritage Designation:Bien de Interés Cultural
Groundbreaking:1739
Completed Date:1745
Construction Cost:1,421,000 reales
Length:50m (160feet)
Width:27m (89feet)
Width Nave:14m (46feet)
St. Michael's Basilica
Native Name:Basílica de San Miguel
Native Language:Spanish
Location:Madrid, Spain
Designation1:Spain
Designation1 Offname:Basílica de San Miguel
Designation1 Type:Non-movable
Designation1 Criteria:Monument
Designation1 Date:1985
Designation1 Number:RI-51-0005004

The Pontifical Basilica of St. Michael (Spanish; Castilian: Basílica Pontificia de San Miguel) is a Baroque-style Catholic church and minor basilica in central Madrid, Spain. It is located in San Justo Street, adjacent to the Archbishop's Palace. It is the church of the Apostolic Nunciature to the Kingdom of Spain of the Holy See and is now administered by the priests of Opus Dei.[1]

History

Construction began in 1739, on the site of the parish church of Sts. Justus and Pastor. The work was commissioned by Cardinal Infante Luis of Chinchón, Archbishop of Toledo, who subsidized construction with 1,421,000 reales. Construction was completed in 1745.

After the Napoleonic invasion, the church added the advocacy of Saint Michael (San Miguel), when the nearby parish church of San Miguel de los Octoes was torn down.

The original plans have been attributed to Santiago Bonavía, with perhaps an earlier contribution of Teodoro Ardemans. It was completed by Vigilio Rabaglio to Gandria. On the facade, the allegorical statues of charity, faith, hope, and fortitude were sculpted by Roberto Michel and Nicolás Caresana. A panel by Caresana, on the facade depicts the martyrdom of Santos Justo y Pastor. The cupola is decorated with frescos (1745), by Bartolomé Rusca, depicting the apotheosis of Santos Justo y Pastor.

Interior

Among the wood sculptures housed in the interior is the "Cristo de la Fe y del Perdón", by Luis Salvador Carmona.

Burials

The Italian composer Luigi Boccherini, who died in Madrid, was buried here until 1927, when Benito Mussolini repatriated the remains to the church of San Francesco in his native town Lucca.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Basilica of San Miguel . 2022-11-29 . Turismo Madrid . en.