See The Basilica De La Mare De Deu De La Merce From Your Barcelona Accommodation

For a day away from your BARCELONA ACCOMMODATION why not venture over for a visit

to the Basilica de la Mare de Deu de la Merce which for a brief period was called the Basilica de la Merce. It is situated on a square of the same name built in 1981, a lot younger that the basilica by a few hundred years. At one time there was a monastery located here but today there is a marble gate that leads to what is now the captain's quarters. At its side is a fountain dedicated to the god Neptune carved by Adria Ferran and Celdon Guixa. The fountain had two previous homes: one in the La Barceloneta for a hundred years and before that it was in the Montjuic Park.

The original church was built in 1267 when a local merchant Pere Nolase had a dream which Our Lady of Sorrows appeared in. As legend tells us the Lady of Sorrows gave him the idea of a monastic order dedicated to those poor souls who suffered at the hands of the infamous Barbary Pirates during this dream. His plan was to be implemented by the Dominican Ramon de Penvafort and King Jaume I. This new order was named the La Merce and was appointed to oversee this new church where the basilica now stands.

The church was to undergo several reconstructions, the first was in the 14th century and the second was in the 15th century. In 1775 the church required a complete renovation which was over seen by the architect Josep Mas I Dordal converting it into the building of today. In 1870 the facade from the 15th century Gothic church of Sant Miguel was reinstalled at the flank of the basilica. As you approach this side of the basilica take note of the Gothic style door made by Rene Ducloux in 1516 as it was constructed using the classic details of the time.

Even more was added to the basilica in 1888 when a large dome on the transept was installed: this was the work of Joan Martorell I Montells. To finish off the dome a sculpture of Our Lady of Sorrows of La Merce was placed on top which was the visualization of Maximi Sala. The other sculptures carved on the facade are the work of Carles Grau.

The ostentatious interior has been toned down with the coating of marble and plaster in a rococo style. There is also another carving of Our Lady of Sorrows of La Merce but this one is inside the basilica carved from wood in 1361; it is thought to be the work was that of Pere Moragues.

Originally Santa Eulalia was the patron of Barcelona but in 1637 Our Lady of Sorrows of La Merce, according to legend, stopped the grasshopper plague and the honour of patron saint was awarded to her. Word of her deed spread not only in the Mediterranean countries but the new world as well thereby increasing her popularity, which was something at the time. This became even more evident with the festival of La Merce held in her honour in September. While on a day out from your BARCELONA ACCOMMODATION be sure to pay a visit to this well known Basilica as it is second only to the cathedral in Barcelona. It received its title of Basilica from Pope Benedictus XV in 1918, 700 years to the day when Our Lady appeared at Pere Nolasc.

by: Porsche Klinger

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