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Lujan's Basilica, province of Buenos Aires
This monumental neogothical building was constructed in stone extracted from Entre Rios.
The first stone of Lujan’s Basilica was placed on May 8, 1887 based on the founding drawing prepared on the 6th of May. The Basilica was inaugurated in 1935.
This neo-gothic monument was constructed in light ashlars from Entre Rios, and owes its existence to Priest Jorge M. Salvaire. Ulderico Courtois was the designer.
Its outside is imposing. Its front, flanked by two towers, is majestic. The one over the transept is made completely out of copper, according to the best gothic traditions.
The author of Lujan’s basilica based his design in the famous Notre Dame of Paris, and assures that its lines and details make it a primary ogival monument of the 13th century.
Its wide aisle begins underneath a rosette under which the organ pipes can be seen and, under it, the main entrance, from where the altar dominates the view.
The closer the visitor gets to the altar, the clearer the view of the Virgin of Lujan gets.
The names carved in the stone at the entrance of the Basilica, are a testimony of the donations with which the Basilica was constructed.
Its vitreaux represent historical events, such as the moment in which the wagon was stopped originating the Miracle of Lujan’s Virgin; and the coronation of the holy image in 1887.
About this article...
Author of the article: Grondona Olmi, Verónica
Sources employed:
- "El País que no Miramos" ("The Country we have not Seen"), a series of documentaries for television produced by Ivan Grondona. Archivo General de la Nación ("Argentina's National Archive").
- “Monumentos Históricos de la República Argentina. Comisión Nacional de Museos, Monumentos y Lugares Históricos. Secretaría de Cultura y Comunicación. Presidencia de la Nación”. (Historical Monuments of the Argentine Republic. National Commission of Museums, Monuments and Historical Places. Secretary of Culture and Communication. Presidency of the Nation). Year 2000. Page 146.
Translated by: Veronica Grondona
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