Torreciudad facts for kids
Torreciudad is a special religious place, called a shrine, located in Aragon, Spain. It was built by Josemaría Escrivá, who started a group called Opus Dei. The shrine was officially opened on July 7, 1975. It is dedicated to Our Lady of Torreciudad, which is another name for Mary, the mother of Jesus.
People have shown their devotion to Mary in this area for a very long time, possibly since the 11th century. A group called the Torreciudad Trust takes care of the shrine and makes sure it has enough money to stay open.
What You Can See at Torreciudad
The Torreciudad shrine was designed by an architect named Heliodoro Dols. He worked with other architects, Santiago Sols and Ramon Mondejar, to build it.
Inside the main church, you can see some amazing things:
- An altarpiece made of alabaster by Juan Mayné. An altarpiece is a work of art behind the altar.
- A special chapel for the Blessed Sacrament. It has a bronze statue of Jesus on the cross by Pasquale Sciancalepore.
Downstairs, in the crypt, there is a chapel for the Holy Family. There are also three chapels where people can go for confession. These chapels are dedicated to Mary under different names: Virgin of Loreto, Virgin of the Pillar, and Virgin of Guadalupe.
Outside, along the covered walkways, you can see beautiful ceramic pictures by José Alzuet. These pictures show important moments from the rosary, which are prayers about the life of Jesus and Mary.
There is also an old hermitage on the grounds. This was the original home for the statue of Our Lady of Torreciudad before it was moved to the new church.
Visiting the Shrine
Many pilgrims, who are people who travel for religious reasons, visit northern Aragon to pray at the shrine. The spiritual activities at Torreciudad are managed by the Opus Dei Prelature. The shrine is open every day of the year for visitors.
See also
- Catholic Church in Spain
- In Spanish: Santuario de Torreciudad para niños
