Royal Basilica of Saint Francis the Great facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Royal Basilica of Saint Francis the Great |
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Basílica de San Francisco el Grande
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| General information | |
| Status | Minor basilica, bien de interés cultural |
| Type | Church |
| Location | Gran Vía de San Francisco, 19, Madrid, Spain |
| Coordinates | 40°24′38″N 3°42′52″W / 40.4105°N 3.7144°W |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Francisco Cabezas, Antonio Plo, Francesco Sabatini |
The Royal Basilica of Saint Francis the Great (in Spanish, Real Basílica de San Francisco el Grande) is a beautiful Roman Catholic church. You can find it in the center of Madrid, Spain. It is located in a neighborhood called Palacio.
The church's main entrance faces the Plaza of San Francisco. This plaza is where several streets meet, including Bailén and Gran Vía de San Francisco. The basilica is part of a larger complex. This complex belongs to the Franciscan religious group. The Franciscans first built a convent here in the 13th century.
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History of the Basilica
The current church stands on the site of an older Franciscan convent. People believe that Francis of Assisi himself founded the first convent in 1217. King Charles III ordered the old building to be taken down. He wanted a brand new convent and church built from scratch.
Building Design and Art
The Royal Basilica was designed in a Neoclassic style. This means it looks like ancient Greek and Roman buildings. Construction happened in the second half of the 1700s. The first design was by Francisco Cabezas. Then, Antonio Pló worked on it. Finally, Francesco Sabatini finished the project.
Inside the church, you can see many amazing paintings. These artworks show Spanish painting from the 1600s to the 1800s. There are paintings by famous artists like Zurbarán and Francisco Goya. The walls of the church were painted in the 1800s. This church was once a special place for important people. It held the remains of famous artists and politicians. Today, it is a popular place for tourists to visit.
The Grand Dome
The basilica has a very large dome. It is about 33 meters (108 feet) wide. It also stands 58 meters (190 feet) tall. Its shape is very round, much like the dome of the Pantheon in Rome. This round shape was different from most domes built in the 1700s. It is said to be the fourth largest dome in Europe. Only the Pantheon, St. Peter's Basilica, and the Florence cathedral have larger domes.
Special Recognition
The church received a special honor on February 2, 1963. Pope John XXIII declared it a minor basilica. This was done through an official letter called Gloria matriti. In 1980, the Spanish Ministry of Culture recognized the building. They named it a national historic-artistic monument. This is a special heritage status in Spain.
Bells of the Basilica
The church has a unique set of bells. They are the only set of change ringing bells in Spain. These bells were made by John Warner and Sons in 1882. They weigh around 430 kilograms (948 pounds). Sadly, they are not in working condition and cannot be rung. For a long time, they were the only change ringing church bells in mainland Europe. That changed in 2017 when St George's Church in Ypres got its own set.
Images for kids
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Interior in 1860.
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A print showing the remains of Pedro Calderón de la Barca being moved. This happened from the Royal Basilica of Saint Francis the Great to the cemetery of San Nicolás in 1874.
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The main altar inside the church.
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A view of the great dome from inside.
See also
In Spanish: Real basílica de San Francisco el Grande para niños
