Basilica of Santa Maria, Igualada facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Santa Maria d'Igualada
Basilica de Santa Maria d'Igualada
Main altarpiece
41°34′43.05″N 1°37′6.23″E / 41.5786250°N 1.6183972°E / 41.5786250; 1.6183972
Country	Spain
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Website	Santamaria
Architecture
Architect(s)	Pere Blai Rafael Plançó Pau Ginestar
Style	Gothic and Renaissance
Years built	1003
Administration
Diocese	Roman Catholic Diocese of Vic

The Basilica of Santa Maria is the most important historical building in Igualada, a town in Catalonia, Spain. This beautiful church is also known as the "big church" in Catalan. While its history goes back to the 11th century, most of the building you see today was built in the 1600s.

History of Santa Maria Church

The church of Santa Maria is a very old and important building in Igualada. Around the year 1000, the first small settlement of Igualada began right where the church stands now. This spot was special because it was where two important travel routes crossed. One route connected Barcelona with Aragon, and the other linked the north and south of Catalonia.

Becoming a Basilica

During the Spanish Civil War, which happened from 1936 to 1939, the church was used as a market. After the war, it was carefully repaired by an architect named Cèsar Martinell. In 1949, something very special happened: Pope Pius XII gave Santa Maria the title of a Minor Basilica. This means it's a church with special importance, often because of its history or religious significance.

The church was also renovated in the 1980s and reopened in 1990. Because it was built over many years, the church shows different styles of architecture and art.

Exploring the Church Building

A view of the Santa Maria Basilica from the outside.

The Main Part of the Church

Santa Maria has one main open space inside, called a nave. Its design is typical of the Renaissance style in Catalonia, which means it looks strong and simple. For example, the front of the church only has a large round window, called a rosette window, as its main decoration. The side walls are also simple, with just windows and buttresses. These buttresses are supports that stick out from the walls. Some of them have cool gargoyles carved into them, looking like humans and animals.

The roof of the nave has a Gothic design, called a vault. This means the ceiling has a skeleton of stone ribs that meet at different points. At these meeting points, there are carved figures of saints. The rounded arches of the ceiling rest on pillars that look like Italian style. Above these pillars, there's a walkway with arches, called a triforium, and a decorative border called a cornice. The main part of the church ends with a square-shaped area called an apse, where the main altar is located. This area has a star-shaped vault on its ceiling. In the center of this vault is a carving of the Virgin Mary, and around her are carvings of the Evangelists.

Side Chapels and Their Stories

On both sides of the main nave, there are twelve smaller rooms called chapels. Even though they look like the old Baroque style, many of their decorations are quite new. This is because they were rebuilt after the Spanish Civil War with help from local trade groups.

For example, you can see altars dedicated to different patron saints:

• Saint Anthony Abbot is the patron saint of muleteers (people who drive mules).
• Saint Isidore the Laborer is the patron of farmers.
• Saint Anthony of Padua is the patron of tanners (people who make leather).
• Saint Christopher is the patron of motorists.
• Saint Antonio Maria Claret is the patron of weavers.

Under the bell tower, there's the altar of Our Lady of Sorrows. This is thought to be the oldest part of the church. It was built in the 14th century as an expansion of an even older Romanesque chapel.

The "Sant Crist" Chapel

One of the most special parts of the church is the "Sant Crist" chapel. This chapel was built in the early 1700s in the Baroque style. It's an extra room on the left side of the main church, close to the bell tower. It has a shape like a Latin cross. The ceiling is a round hemispherical dome, held up by four pairs of pillars.

Inside, the chapel is decorated with a painting by Francesc Tremulles that shows the Holy Trinity and Mary. Below the dome, there are more paintings by Miquel Llacuna showing the Evangelists. From the outside, you can see that the dome is octagonal (eight-sided). In the main part of the chapel, there's an altarpiece with a statue of Saint Christ of Igualada. This statue is a copy of a 14th-century Gothic carving that was lost during the civil war. Two large paintings by Camps Dalmases show a famous story from 1590. According to tradition, Christ's blood sweat happened in Igualada.

The Main Altarpiece: A Masterpiece

The main altarpiece is probably the most important piece of art in the church. It was started in the 1700s but wasn't finished until the end of that century because of the War of the Spanish Succession. This delay meant that the final design mixed the old Baroque style with a newer, more classic look.

The altarpiece was created by Jacint Morató and Josep Sunyer. During the civil war, it was taken apart and partly damaged. After the war, it was rebuilt under the guidance of architect Cèsar Martinell. When the church was restored in the 1980s, the altarpiece was also carefully cleaned.

This altarpiece is considered one of the first major artworks made in Catalonia after the Succession War. It has three clear levels:

• Center: The middle shows the Immaculate Conception, with the Virgin Mary carried by angels inside a special space. On her sides are statues of her parents, Saint Joachim and Saint Anne. Below them are round carvings showing two moments from Mary's life: her wedding and her Presentation of Mary at the temple. Above Mary, a dove represents the Holy Spirit, and above that, a carving of Eternal Father.
• Second Level: Here you'll find statues of Saint Roch and Saint Faust, who are connected to an old prayerbook from Igualada. These figures are surrounded by four angel musicians, which are common in Baroque art. One of these angels plays a guitar, which is very rare for religious art from that time!
• Upper Level: The very top of the altarpiece has a statue of St. Bartholomew, who is the patron saint of Igualada.

Symbolically, the entire altarpiece is held up by four large Atlas figures made of marble. These figures represent the four seasons of the year. On the side walls, there are two carved panels with the city's emblem above them. These panels show the Epiphany (when the Three Wise Men visited Jesus) and the adoration of the shepherds.

The Church Organ

The organ is located high up in the church, under the large rose window at the front. It was built in the mid-1700s by Antoni Boscà. During the civil war, it was moved to a Escolàpies convent and used for concerts. In 1980, it was restored by a master organ maker named Gerhard Grenzing. This organ is considered one of the most important in Catalonia. Because of its quality, the basilica hosts an International Organ Festival every year.

The Bell Tower

The bell tower was built in the 1500s during the Gothic period. It has a simple but beautiful design, with decorations around its upper windows and some small arched windows. The tower has a square shape and is covered on all four sides. It has seven bells, and six of them were recently installed. They were made in Germany.

Other Interesting Parts of the Church

Between the Atlas figures that hold up the main altar, you'll find two entrances to the vestry (a room where priests prepare). Above each entrance are the city's coat of arms. In the first side chapel on the right, there's a painting by Segimon Ribó. It shows the story of Christ's blood sweat in Igualada from 1590. The baptistery, where baptisms take place, has a modernist style and was designed by Ignasi Colomer. It's located on the left side of the entrance. The crypt (an underground room) beneath the chancel (the area around the altar) was built after the civil war, based on a plan by Cèsar Martinell. Outside the main front of the church, there are two plaques that remember the people of Igualada who fought in the Battle of the Bruch.

The mix of different parts and styles in Santa Maria shows its long history and all the changes it has been through. Visiting the church is like taking a journey through the history of Igualada and the history of art!

"Fulgentia" Art Exhibition

"Fulgentia" is a special exhibition of religious art that you can visit permanently at the Basilica of Santa Maria. It has two main areas. One is the left gallery of the triforium, where about 70 pieces of art are displayed. The other area is a storage room near the sacristy, which is not open to visitors. Some of the pieces in this exhibition are considered among the best examples of Catalan goldsmith art.

See also

In Spanish: Iglesia de Santa María (Igualada) para niños