Basilica of Our Lady of El Valle
The Basilica of Our Lady of El Valle ( Spanish Basílica Menor Nuestra Señora de El Valle ) is a Roman Catholic church in El Valle del Espíritu Santo, a place near Porlamar on Margarita Island in the Venezuelan state of Nueva Esparta . The parish church of the diocese of Margarita is consecrated to the Virgin Mary invoking the Virgen de Valle . The minor basilica is a listed building.
history
The Spanish conquerors brought the image of Mary to the city of Nueva Cádiz on the island of Cubagua . After a strong hurricane hit this island in 1542, the image was moved to El Valle del Espíritu Santo on Margarita Island, renaming the image to Virgin of the Valley ( Spanish Virgen del Valle or Nuestra Señora del Valle ). She is considered the patron saint of Eastern Venezuela, the seamen and the Venezuelan Navy. The originally small church was rebuilt several times, mainly under the direction of Father Philip Martinez in 1733. The current building dates from 1894, until 1940 the church with the towers was completed.
Pope Pius X granted the canonical coronation of the statue of Mary on September 8, 1911 . The church was elevated to a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1995 .
Building
The single-nave church with a cross-shaped floor plan was built in the neo-Gothic style. The entrance side consists of the gable of the nave with a portal, which is framed by the church towers set back to the side. The roof is raised in the area of the crossing . The important figure of Mary is in a niche above the altar. The stained glass windows are simple and bright. The double tower facade is illuminated at night. The Diocesan Museum is near the church.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ La Virgen del Valle (Spanish)
- ↑ La Virgen del Valledel Espiritu Santo (Spanish)
- ↑ a b El Valle
- ↑ Basílica Menor Nuestra Señora de El Valle on gcatholic.org
Coordinates: 10 ° 58 ′ 57.7 ″ N , 63 ° 53 ′ 3 ″ W.