Oratorio del Caballero de Gracia, Madrid, Spain

Oratorio del Caballero de Gracia is one of the best hidden architectural treasures in Madrid. This church looks small from the outside, but inside it unfolds into a neoclassical temple by Juan de Villanueva, which looks like a Roman basilica.

Among its most noteworthy internal features are the single-piece granite columns, the vault and the sculptures of the Virgen del Socorro, signed by Francisco Elías in 1825, and of Cristo de la Agonía, which, according to studies, was made by Juan Sánchez Barba in 1650. The church belongs to the Caballero de Gracia Eucharistic Association, founded by Jacobo Gratiis (known as the Caballero de Gracia), who was born in Modena in 1517 and who died in Madrid in 1619. It is currently run by Opus Dei.

References:

esmadrid.com

User Reviews

Nessa S (9 months ago)
Beautiful church

Gauthier Masson (10 months ago)
Beautiful Mass at 20h15 everyday right next to the metro station Gran Via. Beautiful paintings and statues inside.

Pedro Miguel Cordeiro (13 months ago)
Beautiful understated neoclassical church. Great onfessions

Ellis Gil Luciano (2 years ago)
Confessions are available regularly.

Andres Gonzalez (3 years ago)
Please as you can read Hebrews chapter 10 and ponder deeply in why you are still offers every day the same sacrifice ? I love you all, it is not for contender I too was in the same error, but by The Grace of GOD JESUS I am what I am now, häleluYÁH, read your Bible and your eyes will be open exodus 20 and Deuteronomy chapter 5

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright larrywkoester

Historic Site of the week

Monte d'Accoddi

Monte d"Accoddi is a Neolithic archaeological site in northern Sardinia, located in the territory of Sassari. The site consists of a massive raised stone platform thought to have been an altar. It was constructed by the Ozieri culture or earlier, with the oldest parts dated to around 4,000–3,650 BC.

The site was discovered in 1954 in a field owned by the Segni family. No chambers or entrances to the mound have been found, leading to the presumption it was an altar, a temple or a step pyramid. It may have also served an observational function, as its square plan is coordinated with the cardinal points of the compass.

The initial Ozieri structure was abandoned or destroyed around 3000 BC, with traces of fire found in the archeological evidence. Around 2800 BC the remains of the original structure were completely covered with a layered mixture of earth and stone, and large blocks of limestone were then applied to establish a second platform, truncated by a step pyramid (36 m × 29 m, about 10 m in height), accessible by means of a second ramp, 42 m long, built over the older one. This second temple resembles contemporary Mesopotamian ziggurats, and is attributed to the Abealzu-Filigosa culture.

Archeological excavations from the chalcolithic Abealzu-Filigosa layers indicate the Monte d"Accoddi was used for animal sacrifice, with the remains of sheep, cattle, and swine recovered in near equal proportions. It is among the earliest known sacrificial sites in Western Europe.

The site appears to have been abandoned again around 1800 BC, at the onset of the Nuragic age.

The monument was partially reconstructed during the 1980s. It is open to the public and accessible by the old route of SS131 highway, near the hamlet of Ottava. It is 14,9 km from Sassari and 45 km from Alghero. There is no public transportation to the site. The opening times vary throughout the year.

Do you know an ancient castle or magnificent church near you?

Why not share it with other people interested in history? You can add your own historic sites and attractions to SpottingHistory.com.

It's absolutely free, easy, and doesn't even need registration!

Upload data

Oratorio del Caballero de Gracia

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Hidden Gems of Finnish Archipelago

House of the Dragon Filming Locations

Historic Landmarks of Sicily

Historic Site of the week

Monte d'Accoddi

Looks like you are a history fan!