Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy |
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| Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy and Saint Michael the Archangel | |
| La Mercè | |
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Basílica de la Mare de Déu de la Mercè
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 Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy
Location in Barcelona
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| 41°22′43.9″N 2°10′44.84″E / 41.378861°N 2.1791222°E | |
| Location | Barcelona |
| Country | Spain |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Basilica |
| Dedication | Our Lady of Mercy, Saint Michael the Archangel |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | Barcelona |
The Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy is a beautiful church in Barcelona, Catalonia, a region in Spain. It is also known as La Mercè. This church is built in a style called Baroque, which was popular a long time ago.
Since 1687, Our Lady of Mercy has been considered the special protector, or "patron saint," of the city of Barcelona.
Contents
History of the Basilica
Building the Church
The very first church on this spot was built way back in 1249. The church you see today was constructed much later. Workers built it between 1765 and 1775. A talented architect from Catalonia named Josep Mas i Dordal designed the building.
Special Features
The top of the church's dome has a statue of Our Lady. You can see this statue from the seaside path near the old shipyards. This church was the second one in Barcelona to be given a special title: "minor basilica." The only church that received this title before it was the Barcelona Cathedral.
Becoming a Minor Basilica
The church was given the title of minor basilica in 1918. This special honor was given by Pope Benedict XV, who was the leader of the Catholic Church at that time. It was to celebrate 700 years since Our Lady appeared to St. Peter Nolasco. He was the person who started the Order of Mercy, a group of people dedicated to helping others.
More Information
- www.basilicadelamerce.com Official website of the Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy
See also
In Spanish: Basílica de la Merced (Barcelona) para niños
