Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Jardín) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Basilica of the Immaculate Conception |
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Basílica de la Inmaculada Concepción
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| Country | Colombia |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Minor basilica |
| Founded | 1872 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Style | Neo-Gothic |
The Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is a beautiful Catholic church in Jardín, Antioquia, Colombia. It is called a "Minor Basilica" because it has a special honor given by the Pope. This church is built in a style called Neo-Gothic, which looks like old European cathedrals. It covers a large area of 1,680 square meters. What's really cool is that it's made entirely from stones that were hand-carved from the hills near the town!
Contents
History of the Basilica
How the Church Began
The story of this special church started in 1872. At first, it was a smaller church called a "vice parish." Father San Juan Nepomuceno Barrera began its construction. Legend says he asked people who felt they had sinned to bring stones from a nearby quarry. The weight of the stones was supposed to match the weight of their sins!
In 1881, the church became a full parish. But the building you see today didn't start until much later, on March 20, 1918.
Building the Grand Church
The main construction of the church finished in 1940. José Angel Botero was the director of this big project. He even changed some of the original plans. These plans were first drawn by Giovanni Buscaglione, who was an architect and priest from Italy.
Even though it wasn't fully finished, the church opened its doors in 1932. At that time, it still didn't have its tall towers or the complete front part.
Surviving an Earthquake
In 1979, a big earthquake shook the city. The church was damaged, and so was the park in front of it. Workers had to rebuild most of the park. For the church, they needed to fix several doors and add two new emergency exits. They also used this chance to make the sound system inside the church much better.
Becoming a Minor Basilica
On June 3, 2003, the church received a very special title. It was officially named a "Minor Basilica." This made it the twenty-fourth church in Colombia to get such an important honor!
What Makes the Basilica Special?
Inside and Out
This amazing church has 128 windows and skylights, which let in lots of light. It also has two large bells from Hamburg, Germany.
Inside, you'll find some beautiful statues and features made from Carrara marble. This includes the statue of San Juan Bautista, the holy water font, the tabernacle (where sacred items are kept), and the pulpit (where sermons are given). The inside walls are painted a lovely turquoise color. The church's two tall towers and the crosses on top are made of strong aluminum.
See also
In Spanish: Basílica de la Inmaculada Concepción (Jardín) para niños
