Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Soledad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad |
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Facade of the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Province | Archdiocese of Antequera, Oaxaca |
| Rite | Latin Rite |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Basilica |
| Year consecrated | 1690 |
| Location | |
| Location |  Oaxaca de Juárez |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Fernando Méndez |
| Architectural type | Latin Cross |
| Architectural style | Baroque |
| Groundbreaking | 1682 |
| Completed | 1718 |
| Specifications | |
| Direction of façade | East-northeast |
| Materials | cantera |
The Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Soledad is a beautiful and important church in Oaxaca de Juárez, Mexico. It's also known as the Basilica of Our Lady of Solitude. This special church was built a long time ago, between 1682 and 1690. It's a place of worship for Roman Catholics and is dedicated to Our Lady of Solitude, who is the patron saint of Oaxaca.
The church's style is called Baroque, which means it has lots of fancy details. The builders made sure the towers and spires were not too tall. This was a smart idea to help the building stand strong during earthquakes. The Basilica de la Soledad is part of the Historic Center of Oaxaca City. This entire area became a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987. This means it's a very special place that the whole world should protect.
Discovering the Basilica's History
The building of the Basilica began in 1682. It took eight years to build this amazing church. In 1690, it was officially opened and blessed by Bishop Sariñana y Cuenca. This important event is called a consecration.
The church was designed by a priest named Father Fernando Méndez. The beautiful front part, called the facade, was built later. This happened between 1717 and 1718. Bishop Angel Maldonado helped with this part of the construction.
Exploring the Basilica's Design
The Basilica of La Soledad has a unique shape. If you look at it from above, it looks like a Latin cross. This is a common design for many churches.
The church was built using a special green stone. This stone is called cantera. It is a type of stone that is very common in the Oaxaca region of Mexico. The green color gives the Basilica a distinct and natural look.
Inside the church, on the west side, there is a very old pipe organ. This organ was made in 1686. It's a true piece of history! In the year 2000, experts carefully fixed the organ. Now, it can play music again, just like it did centuries ago.
See also
- Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán
- Baroque architecture
- Oaxaca de Juárez
