Basílica de Santa Maria (Castelló d'Empúries)
The Basílica de Santa Maria ( also known as Catedral de l'Empordà and Catedral de Castelló d'Empúries in Catalonia ) is a Gothic church located in the small town of Castelló d'Empúries within the Catalan province of Girona in Spain . The elevation of the parish church to a basilica minor took place on August 15, 2006 by Pope Benedict XVI.
history
During the reign of Count Ponç I over the city of Peralada , with the associated towns of Empuries and Castello, a letter from 1007 mentions a church dedicated to the Mother of God in the area of today's Castello de Empuries for the first time.
Under the reign of his second son Hug II , Empuries became the independent capital of his barony, while Peralada fell to his older brother Berenguer; from Empúries was later Castelló d'Empúries .
The construction of a new church of Santa Maria began in Castelló d'Empúries on February 13, 1261. The church building was completed in the first half of the 15th century; In the second half, the alabaster picture of the main altar and the figures of the side altars followed in the course of the interior work . The two side chapels were added in the 17th and 18th centuries.
architecture
The Basílica de Santa Maria is an imposing example of the Catalan Gothic , which was introduced to Catalonia by the Cistercian monks in the Middle Ages . It is characterized by a hall-like uniform interior, without a clear separation between the choir and nave and, as in this case, mostly without a transept . The basílika has a two-tower facade with a funnel portal made of marble, elaborately decorated with figures and ornaments, and above it a large rose window. The right tower was not completed. On the left side of the nave, the third tower is the 36 meter high five-storey bell tower , which was designed based on the Romanesque bell towers of the time in Lombardy ; it probably dates from the 13th century.
The interior of the church building follows the type of hall church . An extraordinarily wide central nave is flanked by two much narrower aisles, to which a number of chapels have been added between the buttresses. The church interior is divided in length into nine bays , closed at the front with a 7/12 end. The ribbed vaults of the main and side aisles are supported by round columns that end in an octagonal wreath chapter. Above this, the vaulted ribs of the main and side aisles and the arcade arches are at the same height. Due to the much larger width of the main nave, however, there is a much higher vaulting, which made it possible to install small rose windows in the wall above the arcade arches, between the main and side aisles, which give the main nave additional light. Most of the church is lit through the large windows in the aisles above the chapels.
As a special feature, the foremost two yokes have a basilical cross-section. The side aisles are much lower here; the large windows sit directly in the main nave wall above the arcade arches. From the outside, these two yokes are easily recognizable by the huge buttresses and the buttresses. The 7/10 tail segments have the same large windows; the front part of the church is therefore much brighter than the rest of the nave. Compared to other Catalan Gothic churches, there is a relatively clear division into a lighter choir (7/10 end and two front bays) and a less bright nave (the remaining seven bays). A chapel wreath is added directly to the 7/10 end; the aisles end at the foremost yoke with a small side apse each with a 5/8 end . On both sides of the church, large chapel rooms are attached to the foremost yoke.
Bell tower and apse
Central nave and altar
Bible scene over the portal
Detailed view of the marble portal
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altar
The main altarpiece of the Basílica is made of alabaster and dates from the second half of the 15th century. The first written records of the work on this work date from March 18, 1452; in 1456, this 6.56 meter high shrine was attributed to the French artist Ponc Gaspar .
The statue of the Madonna is supported by a two-tiered base with the coats of arms and symbols of the donors - carried by angels - in the lower area, while the upper tier depicts scenes from the story of Jesus' passion .
This altarpiece is the last of its kind that was made in Catalonia in the second half of the 15th century using this technique and is now counted among the most important sacred works of art in Catalonia from this period.
General view of the altarpiece
Detail of the statue of the Madonna
Angel with a donor's castle
Altarpiece and ceiling of the end of the choir
organ
According to a historical document from 1494, the organ in the Basílica de Santa Maria was originally built by the organ builder Pere Granjera. After the destruction as a result of the war, a new organ was started in the church in 1803 by Jean-Pierre Cavaillé ; In 1854 this musical instrument was finally finished by Gaietà Vilardebó. Following the Spanish Civil War , the church organ was restored by the organ builder Gerhard Grenzig; According to Grenzig, the organ to be restored had previously been built by master organ builder Louis Scherrer. The musical instrument today has 4 manuals , 57 registers , a pedal with 12 tones and 4,500 pipes .
Museum / treasury
The new sacristy of the church and adjoining rooms now house a museum with sacred collectibles and works of art. The exhibition includes a jeweled processional cross from the 16th century as well as liturgical vestments from different eras. Historical paintings with biblical scenes, glass and ceramic finds from the 14th and 15th centuries on the occasion of the church restoration in 1972 and ancient hymn books are exhibited, as well as a relief of Saint Catherine .
Ancient sacred art made of gold and silver
Historical paintings and reliefs
Antique church vestments and books
Historical oil paintings
Web links
- Official website ( Memento of January 14, 2012 on the Internet Archive ) (Catalan)
- Basilica Santa Maria ( Memento of May 9, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) In: castello.cat
Individual evidence
Coordinates: 42 ° 15 ′ 34.2 " N , 3 ° 4 ′ 33.2" E