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 (also known as Basílica de la Mercè in Catalan or Basílica de la Merced in Spanish) is a beautiful church in Barcelona, Catalonia. It's built in the Baroque style, which means it has a fancy and detailed look. This special church is dedicated to Our Lady of Mercy. She has been the patron saint of Barcelona since 1687. This means she is considered the city's special protector.
Contents
History of the Basilica
Building the First Church
The very first church on this spot was built a long time ago, in 1249. Imagine how much history has happened since then!
The Current Building
The church you see today is not the original one. It was built much later, between 1765 and 1775. A talented architect from Catalonia named Josep Mas i Dordal designed it. He made sure it looked grand and impressive.
Special Features of the Church
- The top of the church's dome has a statue of Our Lady.
- You can see this statue clearly from the seaside promenade, which is a walkway near the old shipyards (called drassanes).
- 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 famous Barcelona Cathedral.
Becoming a Minor Basilica
The title of minor basilica was given to the church in 1918 by Pope Benedict XV. This was a big honor! It happened to celebrate 700 years since a special event. This event was when the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Peter Nolasco. He was the founder of the Order of Mercy, a religious group.
More Information
- www.basilicadelamerce.com Visit the official website of the Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy to learn more.
See also
In Spanish: Basílica de la Merced (Barcelona) para niños
