Basílica de Santa María la Mayor, Pontevedra, Spain

The basilica of Santa Maria la Mayor is one of the jewels in the crown of Galician Gothic architecture. It was built in the 16th century, by order of the Guild of fishermen. It was granted the status of small basilica in 1962, by Pope John XXIII.

The west façade that was designed by Cornelius de Holanda, has been built in the style of an altarpiece, with three ornately decorated sections. There is a massive transept in the south façade and the main entrance opens up under a semicircular arch, bordered by a stone jamb and ornate Baroque ornamentation. Inside there are three naves that are separated by columns. The High Altarpiece, is made of chestnut tree wood and walnut tree wood, dating back to the end of the nineteenth century. It is a work of art that was made by a cabinetmaker and woodcarver from Santiago. To the left of the south doorway lies a sculpture of the Christ of Safe Journeys, to which the faithful flock in the hope that they may be granted protection during their journeys.

References:

spain.info

Religious sites in Spain

User Reviews

Leroy Asher (11 months ago)
Love the majestic interior.

Joseph Rodriguez (2 years ago)
Beautiful church, more than a museum, an active church with community involvement. Knowledgeable staff.

Jim Mannoia (2 years ago)
Very sweet of the elderly woman to allow us in even though she was moments from closing the church at 10 p.m. Beautiful to see especially empty and late at night.

Gerard Fleming (2 years ago)
This is a simply decorated church in the city. Really peaceful and a great church for contemplation.

Carlos Pinon (2 years ago)
A lovely little church in the centre of a nice city. Something I would recommend to visit at night. A small donation of 1€ you go up to the "Mirador" and while you go to the top there are a couple of museum rooms to enjoy some religious artifacts. A nice church which we didn't look around but worth the time to sit and enjoy it's beauty.

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