Sacred Heart Basilica, Minor basilica in Donji grad, Zagreb, Croatia
Sacred Heart Basilica is a Catholic church in Zagreb's Donji grad neighborhood, distinguished by its baroque revival style and detailed stone facade. The building features ornate exterior ornamentation and rises prominently in the urban landscape with its architectural form.
The Jesuits' return to Zagreb in 1855 prompted Archbishop Juraj Haulik to donate 60,000 florins in 1860 for a church; Archbishop Juraj Posilović added 12,000 florins four decades later. Land in Palmotićeva street was bought in 1898, and Janko Holjac's neo-Baroque basilica was consecrated in 1902 after just over a year of building. It became a minor basilica on 31 July 1941.
The church is a Jesuit residence and parish church, established as a parish on 15 August 1977. Blessed Ivan Merz attended daily Mass here from 1922 to 1928, and his grave is in the basilica. The Academic Choir "Palma" sings here, and the SKAC student ministry operates from the residence.
The church is centrally located and accessible by foot from public transportation, with main entrances facing the surrounding squares. Visitors should be aware that interior spaces may be reserved for worshippers during service times.
The basilica is registered in the Register of Cultural Goods of Croatia, making it one of the country's protected architectural monuments. This recognition underscores its importance to Zagreb's heritage.
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