Italy—Emilia Romagna and Tuscany—1

Collegiate Basilica of St. Mary Major, Bologna, Emilia Romagna

Considered a minor basilica for centuries.

A church has been here since the 6^th Century, but the current church dates to the 11^th Century.  The church was renovated in the 15^th and 17^th Centuries.  It was deconsecrated for a large portion of the 19^th Century before once again becoming a parish church.

 

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Petronius, Bologna, Emilia Romagna

Considered a minor basilica for centuries.

 

Dedicated to a 5^th Century bishop, construction began on this church in 1390 and is ongoing.  There are 22 side chapels.  The church has two interesting features.  One is a meridian line used for astronomical measurements that were fairly precise for that time.  The church also has a fresco depicting the Prophet Mohammed being tortured in Hell.  Islamist terrorists have threatened to destroy the basilica on more than one occasion.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Stephen, Bologna, Emilia Romagna

Considered a minor basilica for centuries.

The basilica is a complex of buildings beginning with a church built by St. Petronius in the 5^th Century to commemorate the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.  The complex also includes a 4^th Century church dedicated to the first martyrs in Bologna—Vitale and Agricola.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of Our Lady of the Mount, Cesena, Emilia Romagna

Considered a minor basilica for centuries.

The basilica is an abbey church.  The abbey was originally built in the early 11^th Century.  It has been suppressed several times by hostile forces but is active today.

The first two pictures are from local sources, the third is from TripAdvisor, and the last is from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. John, Florence, Tuscany

Considered a minor basilica for centuries.

The Baptistery of St. John the Baptist sits in front of Florence’s cathedral.  Its origins are murky, but scholars today believe it dates to either the 11^th or 12^th Century.  It is one of the most famous buildings in Florence and is mentioned in Dante’s Divine Comedy.  Dante was baptized here.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of the Holy Spirit, Florence, Tuscany

Considered a minor basilica for centuries.

The Augustinians built this Renaissance church in the 15^th Century to replace an earlier church.  The church has a painting by Botticini and a crucifix by Michelangelo.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Minias on the Mountain, Florence, Tuscany

Considered a minor basilica for centuries.

This Romanesque church was constructed in the 11^th Century to replace an 8^th Century chapel dedicated to a Roman martyr.  Originally Benedictine, the church is now owned by the Olivetan monks.  The cemetery has the graves of several prominent people including Carlo Collodi, the creator of Pinocchio, and firm director Franco Zeffirelli.

The top picture is from a local source, and the others are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Lawrence, Florence, Tuscany

Considered a minor basilica for centuries.

A church has been here since the 4^th Century and for 300 years, one of these churches served as the cathedral for Florence.  The current church was built by the Medici family in the 15^th Century.  The Renaissance building has tombs of many of the Medici family members.  The church has works of art by Michelangelo and Donatello.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of the Holy Trinity, Florence, Tuscany

Considered a minor basilica for centuries.

This 13^th Century Romanesque church was built by and serves as the Mother Church of the Vallumbrosan Order.

Pictures are from Dreamstown, a local source, and Wikipedia.

 

Basilicas in Spain—Granada

Cathedral Basilica of the Incarnation, Malaga, Andalucía

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius IX in 1855.

The basilica is the cathedral for the Diocese of Malaga.  Ferdinand and Isabella ordered the church to be built in 1487 just prior to conquering the city.  It is built on the site of a former mosque and was largely constructed between 1528 and 1782 using Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles.  The church was badly damaged during the Spanish Civil War but has been partially restored.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Yecla, Murcia

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius IX in 1868.

The neo-classical church was built between 1775 and 1868.

The first picture is from a local source, and the others are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of Our Lady of Mercy, Oria, Andalucía

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Leo XIII in 1890.

The Baroque church was built in the 18th Century but was damaged by Napoleon’s troops during the early 19th Century and during the Spanish Civil War in the 20th Century.  It has been restored.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. John of God, Granada, Andalucía

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XV in 1916.

St. John of God (1495-1550) was born in Portugal.  He was kidnapped at a young age, which caused his parents such distress that his mother died and his father became a Franciscan.  The young boy found himself in Toledo, Spain, homeless and impoverished.  He worked as a shepherd and later as a soldier but found little satisfaction.  The Infant Jesus appeared to him and told him to go to Grenada.  He eventually established a religious order, the Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God, to care for the poor, sick, and mentally disturbed.  The Baroque church was built between 1737 and 1750 to house John’s grave. 

The first picture is from Alamy, the second from Dreamstime, and the last two are from local sources.

Basilica of Our Lady of Sorrows, Granada, Andalucía

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius XI in 1922.

This church was built in the 16th Century to house an image of the Virgin Mary donated by Queen Isabella.

The first picture is from Dreamstime and the others are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of the Sweet Name of Jesus Nazareno del Paso and María Santísima de la Esperanza, Malaga, Andalucía

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1998.

The neo-Baroque church was built in 1988 by the Archconfraternity of Paso y la Esperanza.

The first two pictures are from a local source and the last two are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of Our Lady of Victory and Mercy, Malaga, Andalucía

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 2007.

This Baroque church was built between 1693 and 1700.  It has a statue of the Virgin Mary given to the city by King Ferdinand after he conquered the city in 1487.

The first picture is from Dreamstime and the others are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of the Most Holy True Cross, Caravaca de la Cruz, Murcia

Declared a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 2007.

The Baroque church was constructed between 1617 and 1703 and houses a smaller chapel.  The medieval chapel has a portion of the True Cross of Christ.

The top picture is from a local source and the other two are from Wikipedia.

Basilica and Royal Shrine of Our Lady of Cabeza, Andujar, Andalucía

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.

The Gothic Basilica was built between 1287 and 1304.  It houses a statue of the Virgin Mary found by a shepherd boy who was healed upon speaking to Mary.  Unfortunately, the church and the statue were mostly destroyed during the Spanish Civil War.  A new church has since been built. 

Pictures are from Alamy, a local source, and Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Alphonsus, Jaen, Andalucía

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.

A chapel was built here in 1248, but after the Virgin Mary was said to have appeared there in 1430 that the building was expanded.  Work continued until the 18th Century, and the basilica has elements of Gothic, Renaissance, and Neoclassical styles, and even some Baroque and Rococo.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of Our Lady of Charity, Cartagena, Murcia

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012.

The Neo-classical church was built in the 18th and 19th Century to house a statue of Our Lady of Charity.

The first picture is from a local source, and the others are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of Our Lady of the Alcazar, Ubeda, Andalucía

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Francis in 2014. 

The building was a mosque until King Saint Ferdinand III conquered the city in 1233 and turned it into a church.  Construction took place in various styles from the 13th to the 19th Centuries.  It was badly damaged during the Spanish Civil War and was damaged further by a badly executed renovation in the 1980s.

The first picture is from a local source, and the others are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Mary Major, Linares, Andalucía

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Francis in 2016.

This Gothic and Renaissance church was built in the 13th to the 16th Centuries.

Pictures are from Pinterest and Wikipedia.