La Merced Basilica (Ibarra)
.jpg)
The Basílica Nuestra Señora de la Merced ( German Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy ) is a Roman Catholic church in Ibarra , the capital of the Ecuadorian province of Imbabura . The monastery church of the Mercedarians was consecrated to Mary , the Mother of God , under the invocation of Mary from the ransom of the prisoners . The church of the diocese of Ibarra bears the title of a minor basilica .
history
The construction of the church of La Merced began after the earthquake of 1868 that destroyed the whole city and lasted until 1945. In 1964 the church was opened by Pope Paul VI. raised to the minor basilica. The strong earthquake in 1987 caused only minor damage.
architecture
The church was built as a three-aisled basilica on a cross-shaped floor plan. With the crossing dome , for example, it follows the architectural scheme of the La Merced basilica in Quito . The choir is just closing. The ceilings are designed as barrel vaults. The church is part of a block of flats, the facade is part of the continuous street front. The style of the main facade with its three gates is characterized by Gothic and Romanesque elements, the towers enclose the central section with columns and its round gable, on which a statue of the Virgin Mary stands. Park de la Merced forms the block in front of the church.
Furnishing
The main altar in its neo-baroque style with gold leaf decoration, in the middle of which is the sculpture of Our Lady of Mercy, is an essential part of the church furnishings . At the lower end of the left nave there is a life-size crucifix that comes from the chapel of the Hacienda de Pesillo. There are 16 chapels of various sizes. In the dome there is also an altarpiece by Nelson López depicting him in baroque style with memories of the Mercedarian community in Ibarra.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Basílica de Nuestra Señora de La Merced on gcatholic.org
- ↑ a b Basilica la Merced
Coordinates: 0 ° 21 '6 " N , 78 ° 7' 12.9" W.