Basilica of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary, Minor Basilica in Svatý Kopeček, Czech Republic.
The Basilica of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary is a Baroque church in Svatý Kopeček featuring a dual-tower facade, twelve apostle statues adorning the side wings, and a central dome. The interior showcases refined architectural details that reflect the Baroque design approach.
The original chapel built by wine merchant Jan Andrýsek between 1629 and 1633 was replaced by the present structure designed by Giovanni Pietro Tencalla. This transformation created one of the region's major Baroque pilgrimage sites.
The basilica houses numerous interior artworks, including pendentive paintings by Jan Kryštof Handke depicting four continents and his principal altar painting in the Augustine Chapel.
The basilica offers visitors access to exhibition areas, including the choir section with interior views and previously closed ceremonial spaces available through guided tours. Plan adequate time to explore the different sections thoroughly.
The building deviates from the traditional east-west orientation, with its facade facing the Hradisko monastery, allowing priests at the altar to bless both the congregation and the monastery. This unusual positioning showcases a distinctive approach to Baroque liturgical planning.
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