The Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor (; en,
Expiatory Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, es, Templo Expiatorio del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús) is a
Roman Catholic church and
minor basilica located on the summit of Mount
Tibidabo in
Barcelona,
Catalonia,
Spain. The building is the work of the Spanish architect
Enric Sagnier and was completed by his son Josep Maria Sagnier i Vidal. The construction of the church, dedicated to the
Sacred Heart of Jesus, lasted from 1902 to 1961.
History
The idea of building a Catholic church on the summit of the Tibidabo emerged in the late 19th century amidst rumors about the construction of a
Protestant church and a hotel-casino at that location. This motivated a "Board of Catholic Knights" to acquire the ownership of the field and give it to
Saint John Bosco
John Melchior Bosco ( it, Giovanni Melchiorre Bosco; pms, Gioann Melchior Bòsch; 16 August 181531 January 1888), popularly known as Don Bosco , was an Italian Catholic priest, educator, writer and saint of the 19th century.
While working ...
in 1886, when he was visiting Barcelona at the invitation of
Dorotea de Chopitea
Antonia Dorotea de Chopitea de Villota (4 June 1816, Santiago, Chile – 3 April 1891, Barcelona, Spain) was a Chile-born philanthropist and social worker based in Barcelona. She is considered the principal patroness and the most important social ...
, a great
patron and promoter of the project. From this arose the idea of a building dedicated to the
Sacred Heart of Jesus, a dedication very popular at that time thanks to the impetus given by
Pope Leo XIII, and following in line with the church built in
Rome by Bosco himself (
Sacro Cuore di Gesù a Castro Pretorio) and the famous
Sacré-Cœur in
Paris.
In 1886 a
neo-Gothic hermitage was built, and two years later, for the
Universal Exposition, the Vallvidrera road was urbanized and a pavilion of
Mudejar inspiration was built beside the hermitage to serve as a viewing point (for the city below). However, the project to build the church suffered a significant delay mainly because of the development of a new project to build an astronomical observatory on the summit of Tibidabo, which was eventually constructed on a nearby hill (
Fabra Observatory
The Fabra Observatory ( ca, Observatori Fabra, ; obs. code: 006) is an astronomical observatory located in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain pointed towards the south at 415 metres above sea level (latitude: 41,4184° N; longitude: 2,1239° E).
It w ...
). Finally, on 28 December 1902, the first stone was placed in a ceremony presided by the
Bishop of Barcelona,
Salvador Casañas i Pagès.
The crypt was built between 1903 and 1911, and the main church was built between 1915 and 1951. The church was consecrated by Bishop
Gregorio Modrego Casaus
Gregorio is a masculine given name and a surname. It may refer to:
Given name
* Gregorio Conrado Álvarez (1925–2016), Uruguayan army general and de facto President of Uruguay from 1981 until 1985
* Gregorio Álvarez (historian) (1889–1986), ...
during the 35th
Eucharistic Congress held in Barcelona in 1952. The towers were completed afterward, with work officially ending in 1961. On 29 October 1961 the church received the title of
minor basilica from
Pope John XXIII.
Exterior
The external appearance of the church is of a
Romanesque fortress of stone from
Montjuïc (the crypt), topped by a monumental
neo-Gothic church accessed by two grand outdoor stairways. The upper church has a central floor with an octagonal
dome
A dome () is an architectural element similar to the hollow upper half of a sphere. There is significant overlap with the term cupola, which may also refer to a dome or a structure on top of a dome. The precise definition of a dome has been a m ...
on eight
column
A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. In other words, a column is a compression member. ...
s. The dome is crowned with an image of the ''Sacred Heart''; the original work was by
Frederic Marès Frederic may refer to:
Places United States
* Frederic, Wisconsin, a village in Polk County
* Frederic Township, Michigan, a township in Crawford County
** Frederic, Michigan, an unincorporated community
Other uses
* Frederic (band), a Japanes ...
(destroyed in 1936) and replaced in 1950 with another by
Josep Miret.
The upper church is square with three apses, a large central tower, and four lower towers marking the four corners of the square, and statues of the Twelve Apostles sculpted by Josep Miret. The main facade has three sections, the central wider, chaired by the figure of the Archangel Michael in the arch of the main entrance, and John Bosco in the
pediment above. Over the left door is the statue of
Teresa of Ávila and over the right,
Marguerite Marie Alacoque. Above the door is an open gallery of arches with tracery.
The façade of the crypt has a richly decorated
tympanum with sculptures by
Alfons Juyol i Bach following the design of
Eusebi Arnau. The sculptures represent the
Virgin of Mercy,
Saint George, and
Saint James Saint James or St. James may refer to:
People Saints
*James, brother of Jesus (died 62 or 69), also known as James the Just
*James the Great (died 44), Apostle, also known as James, son of Zebedee, or Saint James the Greater
**Saint James Matamoro ...
, the patron saints of
Barcelona,
Catalonia, and
Spain, respectively. The crypt facade consists of three semicircular
arch
An arch is a vertical curved structure that spans an elevated space and may or may not support the weight above it, or in case of a horizontal arch like an arch dam, the hydrostatic pressure against it.
Arches may be synonymous with vaul ...
es on columns, inserted under a larger semicircular arch, originally decorated with a
mosaic of the ''Holy Trinity'' by
Daniel Zuloaga (destroyed in 1936). In 1955 it was redecorated by the Bru Workshop of Barcelona; the work depicts an
allegory
As a literary device or artistic form, an allegory is a narrative or visual representation in which a character, place, or event can be interpreted to represent a hidden meaning with moral or political significance. Authors have used allegory th ...
of the devotion of Spain, represented by its patron saints.
Interior
The interior is divided into a nave and two aisles with semicircular apses, with
stained glass
Stained glass is coloured glass as a material or works created from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant religious buildings. Although tradition ...
es and four
rose window
Rose window is often used as a generic term applied to a circular window, but is especially used for those found in Gothic cathedrals and churches. The windows are divided into segments by stone mullions and tracery. The term ''rose window'' w ...
s on the facades. In the main altar stands the great crucifix, a work by Joan Puigdollers. The windows of the
presbytery are dedicated to
Pius X,
John the Evangelist,
Marguerite Marie Alacoque,
Paul the Apostle
Paul; grc, Παῦλος, translit=Paulos; cop, ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ; hbo, פאולוס השליח (previously called Saul of Tarsus;; ar, بولس الطرسوسي; grc, Σαῦλος Ταρσεύς, Saũlos Tarseús; tr, Tarsuslu Pavlus; ...
and John Bosco. The left altar has five stained glasses dedicated to various Marian devotions: the
Virgin of Antipolo (
Philippines),
Our Lady of Luján (
Argentina), the
Assumption of Mary,
Our Lady of Guadalupe (
Mexico) and
Our Lady of Charity (
Cuba). The right altar is presided by the ''Risen Jesus'', a work by Joan Puigdollers, and its stained glasses are dedicated to Spanish Marian devotions: the
Virgin of Almudena (
Madrid), the
Virgin of Núria (
Catalonia), Our Lady of Hope,
Our Lady of the Forsaken (
Valencia) and
Our Lady of Begoña (
Basque Country
Basque Country may refer to:
* Basque Country (autonomous community), as used in Spain ( es, País Vasco, link=no), also called , an Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Spain (shown in pink on the map)
* French Basque Country o ...
).
The windows of the four towers contain the
Latin phrase ''tibi dabo'' ("I'll give you"), the name of the
mountain. At the level of the
choir include founding saints:
Marcellin Champagnat and
Jean-Baptiste de La Salle on both sides of the presbytery, and
Anthony Mary Claret
Anthony Mary Claret, CMF ( ca, Antoni Maria Claret i Clarà; es, link=no, Antonio María Claret y Clarà; December 23, 1807 – October 24, 1870) was a Spanish Catholic archbishop and missionary, and was confessor of Isabella II of Spain. He fo ...
,
Joseph Calasanctius
Joseph Calasanz ( es, José de Calasanz; it, Giuseppe Calasanzio), (September 11, 1557 – August 25, 1648), also known as Joseph Calasanctius and Iosephus a Mater Dei, was a Spanish Catholic priest, educator and the founder of the Pious Schoo ...
,
John Bosco and
Maria Domenica Mazzarello next to the main facade. The windows of the four facades are dedicated to
Francis de Sales,
Pius XI,
Ignatius of Loyola,
Francisco Javier
Francis Xavier (born Francisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta; Latin: ''Franciscus Xaverius''; Basque: ''Frantzisko Xabierkoa''; French: ''François Xavier''; Spanish: ''Francisco Javier''; Portuguese: ''Francisco Xavier''; 7 April 15063 December 1 ...
,
Pius IX,
Rose of Lima
Rose of Lima (born Isabel Flores de Oliva; 20 April 1586 24 August 1617) was a member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic in Lima, Peru, who became known for both her life of severe penance and her care of the poverty stricken of the city thro ...
,
Leo XIII and
Pius XII. The eight stained glasses of the
dome
A dome () is an architectural element similar to the hollow upper half of a sphere. There is significant overlap with the term cupola, which may also refer to a dome or a structure on top of a dome. The precise definition of a dome has been a m ...
depict scenes from the life of Jesus.
Statue of Jesus
The church is crowned by the enormous bronze statue of the Sacred Heart made by Josep Miret in 1950. It replaced the original by Frederic Marès, which was made in 1935 and destroyed the following year as the Spanish Civil War began. The ascent from the crypt, passing through the church and ending at the sculpture, reflects the rise and the purification of the human condition by means of sacrifice and atonement.
Crypt
The crypt was designed in a
neo-Byzantine style, combining
Gothic and
classical elements, and decoration close to
Modernisme. The space of the crypt consists of five
naves separated by columns, the central one being wider, all with
semicircular apses.
The walls and
vaults are lined with
alabaster or decorated with mosaics, with scenes relating to the dedications of the altars:
Mary Help of Christians,
Saint Anthony of Padua, the
Blessed Sacrament,
Saint Joseph
Joseph (; el, Ἰωσήφ, translit=Ioséph) was a 1st-century Jewish man of Nazareth who, according to the canonical Gospels, was married to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and was the legal father of Jesus. The Gospels also name some brothers of ...
, and the
Virgin of Montserrat.
Polychrome alabaster is also used for the ''Via Crucis'' (
Stations of the Cross
The Stations of the Cross or the Way of the Cross, also known as the Way of Sorrows or the Via Crucis, refers to a series of images depicting Jesus Christ on the day of Crucifixion of Jesus, his crucifixion and accompanying prayers. The station ...
) sculpted by Josep Miret. The windows that bring natural light inside are complemented by
stained glass
Stained glass is coloured glass as a material or works created from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant religious buildings. Although tradition ...
windows with the following topics: the largest in the arch, in the corners, represent the appearance of the
Our Lady of the Pillar
Our Lady of the Pillar ( es, Nuestra Señora del Pilar) is the name given to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the context of the traditional belief that Mary, while living in Jerusalem, supernaturally appeared to the Apostle James the Greater in AD 4 ...
and the conversion of King
Reccared I
Reccared I (or Recared; la, Flavius Reccaredus; es, Flavio Recaredo; 559 – December 601; reigned 586–601) was Visigothic King of Hispania and Septimania. His reign marked a climactic shift in history, with the king's renunciation of Arianis ...
to Catholicism;
Saint Ferdinand
Ferdinand III ( es, Fernando, link=no; 1199/120130 May 1252), called the Saint (''el Santo''), was King of Castile from 1217 and King of León from 1230 as well as King of Galicia from 1231. He was the son of Alfonso IX of León and Berenguela of ...
and
Saint Hermenegild
Saint Hermenegild or Ermengild (died 13 April 585; es, San Hermenegildo; la, Hermenegildus, from Gothic ''*Airmana-gild'', "immense tribute"), was the son of king Liuvigild of the Visigothic Kingdom in the Iberian Peninsula and southern France ...
are represented in the two large vertical windows; and the small ones located above the door are dedicated to
Joachim
Joachim (; ''Yəhōyāqīm'', "he whom Yahweh has set up"; ; ) was, according to Christian tradition, the husband of Saint Anne and the father of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The story of Joachim and Anne first appears in the Biblical apocryphal ...
,
Isidore the Farmer
Isidore the Labourer, also known as Isidore the Farmer ( es, San Isidro Labrador) (c. 1070 – May 15, 1130), was a Spanish farmworker known for his piety toward the poor and animals. He is the Catholic patron saint of farmers and of Madrid, El ...
,
Saint Anthony and Saint
Elizabeth of Portugal
Elizabeth of Aragon, more commonly known as Saint Elizabeth of Portugal, T.O.S.F. (1271 – 4 July 1336; ''Elisabet'' in Catalan, ''Isabel'' in Aragonese, Portuguese and Spanish), was queen consort of Portugal, a tertiary of the Franciscan Or ...
.
From the crypt there is access to a chapel dedicated to the
Perpetual Adoration, excavated into the mountain in the late 1940s, consisting of three naves divided by columns. The interior is decorated with marble, mosaics in the pavement, and paintings by
Miquel Farré i Albagés in the vaults, made between 1947 and 1949.
Outside of the crypt, on either side of the main door, are two staircases leading to the level of the temple itself.
Gallery
File:Juan Bosco (1886).jpg, Saint John Bosco during his visit to Barcelona in 1886.
File:1ª pedra Sagrat Cor (28-12-02).jpg, Laying the foundation stone (12-28-1902).
File:Pabellón Expo'88.jpg, Mudéjar pavilion for the 1888 Universal Exposition (next to the hermitage).
File:Sagrat Cor (1931).jpg, The Sagrat Cor in 1931.
File:Ermita Sagrat Cor (1902).jpg, The hermitage in 1902, before building the temple.
File:Sagrado Corazón19.jpg, The hermitage today, integrated in the temple.
File:Tibidabo07.jpg
File:Sagrado Corazón05.jpg
File:Sagrado Corazón09.jpg
File:Sagrado Corazón18.jpg
Bibliography
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See also
*
Enric Sagnier
*
Modernisme
* The model of this church in
Catalunya en Miniatura
Catalunya en Miniatura (, in English "Catalonia in miniature") is miniature park inaugurated in 1983 in Torrelles de Llobregat, 17 km from Barcelona. The park is 60,000 square meters, 35,000 of them devoted to the scale models, it is one of ...
.
External links
Sagrat Cor official siteSagrat Cor Review (German)
{{Barcelona landmarks
Roman Catholic churches in Barcelona
Tourist attractions in Barcelona
Sarrià-Sant Gervasi
Gothic Revival church buildings in Spain
Roman Catholic churches completed in 1961
Basilica churches in Spain
Romanesque Revival church buildings
20th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Spain