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 Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is a beautiful Catholic church in Jardín, Antioquia, Colombia. It's a special kind of church called a basilica. This amazing building looks like old European churches with its Neo-Gothic style. It was built entirely from stone that was carved by hand from nearby hills. The church covers a large area, about 1,680 square meters.
Contents
Building a Special Church
How the Basilica Started
The story of this basilica began in 1872. At first, it was a smaller church called a vice parish. Father San Juan Nepomuceno Barrera started the project. People say he asked everyone 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 construction of the big church we see today didn't start until March 20, 1918.
Building the Grand Design
The main construction of the church finished in 1940. José Angel Botero was the director of this huge project. He even changed the original plans for the church. These plans were first drawn by Giovanni Buscaglione. He was a Salesian architect and priest from Italy.
Even though it wasn't fully finished, the church opened its doors in 1932. At that time, it still needed its tall towers and part of its front.
Challenges and Changes
Earthquake Repairs
In 1979, an earthquake shook the city of Jardín. The earthquake damaged the church and also El Libertador park, which is right in front of the basilica. The park had to be almost completely rebuilt.
For the church, workers needed to fix several doors. They also added two new emergency exits for safety. These repairs were a good chance to make other improvements, like upgrading the sound system inside the church.
Becoming a Basilica
On June 3, 2003, the church received a very special honor. It was given the title of "minor basilica." This made it the twenty-fourth church in Colombia to earn such a title. Being a basilica means it's a church of special importance.
Inside and Out: The Architecture
The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception has many interesting features. It has 128 windows and skylights, which let in lots of natural light. The church also has two large bells, known as Hamburger bells.
Inside, you can find beautiful statues and items made from Carrara marble. This includes the statue of San Juan Bautista, the holy water font, the tabernacle, and the pulpit. The inside walls of the church are painted a lovely turquoise color. The two tall towers and the crosses on top are made of aluminum.
See also
In Spanish: Basílica de la Inmaculada Concepción (Jardín) para niños
