Basilica of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, Minor basilica in Marianka, Slovakia.
The Basilica of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary features Gothic architecture with pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses that support its stone walls and allow for larger windows.
Originally constructed in 1377 in Gothic style, the basilica underwent Baroque reconstruction between 1717 and 1735, and received Neo-Gothic modifications to its presbytery in 1877 by architect J. Lippert.
The basilica houses a 14th-century sitting Madonna statue carved from pear wood by a hermit artist, representing one of Slovakia's rare preserved Romanesque sculptural artifacts.
The basilica opens Monday through Saturday from 08:00 to 18:00, and on Sundays at 8:00, 9:15, 10:30, and 16:00, with services managed by the local Roman Catholic parish administration.
Pope Benedict XVI elevated this church to minor basilica status on July 31, 2011, recognizing its importance as Slovakia's most frequented pilgrimage destination in the region.
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