National Expiatory Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
National Expiatory Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Minor basilica at Tibidabo mountain, Barcelona, Spain.
The National Expiatory Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a double-level religious building made from the sandy-toned Montjuïc stone at the summit of Tibidabo in Barcelona. The lower level houses a vaulted Neo-Byzantine crypt while the main church rises above it with Gothic Revival pointed arches and colored glass windows reaching skyward.
Enric Sagnier began construction in 1902 with the intention of creating an expiatory site visible to the entire city. His son Josep Maria carried forward the work until the church was consecrated in 1961, six decades after the first stone was laid.
The church carries its long name as a mark of atonement and devotion to the Sacred Heart, a concept deeply rooted in Catholic tradition. Pilgrims come here to pray in both levels, with the crypt offering a darker, more intimate space for quiet reflection while the upper church fills with natural light.
The Vallvidrera funicular brings visitors up from the lower neighborhood, where bus 111 continues to the summit. The approach to the church involves a stairway that offers plenty of shade on sunny days, and the front terrace allows a first look at the surrounding landscape.
The bronze statue above the facade shows Jesus with outstretched arms and can be seen from almost any point in the city. This gesture echoes the mountain name, which comes from Latin and alludes to a temptation of Christ in which he was shown all the kingdoms of the world.
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