| Photo Information |
Copyright: Manuel Mayorga (ManuMay)
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 278 W: 74 N: 131]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/g-g-g.gif) (1184) |
| Genre: Places |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2008-07-06 |
| Categories: Architecture |
| Camera: Fuji FinePix S6500fd |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2008-07-07 13:43 |
| Viewed: 198 |
| Points: 0 |
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Juan de Avalos Piety at Fallen Valley.
Abadía Benedictina de la Santa Cruz de el Valle de los Caídos (Spanish for "Benedictine Abbey of the Holy Cross of the Valley of the Fallen") is a monumental memorial in the municipality of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, erected at Cuelgamuros Valley in the Sierra de Guadarrama, near Madrid.
Rising above the valley is one of the world's largest basilicas, Basílica de la Santa Cruz del Valle de los Caídos (Basilica of the Holy Cross of the Valley of the Fallen), hewn out of a granite ridge, and the tallest memorial cross in the world, a 152.4-metre-high construction of stone.
In 1960, Pope John XXIII declared the underground crypt a basilica. The dimensions of the underground basilica, as excavated, are larger than those of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. To avoid competition, a partitioning wall was built near the inside of the entrance and a sizable entryway was left unconsecrated.
The shrine, a landmark in 20th-century Spanish architecture, was designed by Pedro Muguruza and Diego Méndez on a scale to equal, according to Franco, "the grandeur of the monuments of old, which defy time and forgetfulness". It is laid out in uniquely Spanish Neo-Herrerian style, which was intended as a revival of Juan de Herrera’s classicist architecture, exemplified in El Escorial. This architecture was widely used in public buildings of post-war Spain and is rooted on the International classicism exemplified by Albert Speer or Mussolini's Esposizione Universale Roma.
The monumental hieratic sculptures over the main gate and the base of the cross culminated the career of Juan de Ávalos. The monument consists of a wide explanada (esplanade) with a spectacular view of the valley and the outskirts of Madrid in the distance. A long vaulted crypt was tunnelled out of solid granite by twelve thousand political prisoners working without pay.[citation needed] It pierces the mountain to the massive transept, which lies exactly below the cross.
On the wrought-iron gates, Franco's neo-Habsburg double-headed eagle is prominently displayed. On entering the basilica, visitors are flanked by two large metal statues of art deco angels holding swords.
There is a funicular that connects the basilica with the base of the cross. There is a spiral staircase and a lift inside the cross, connecting the top of the basilica dome to a trapdoor on top of the cross[1], but their use is restricted to maintenance staff.
A Benedictine abbey, Abadía de La Santa Cruz del Valle de los Caídos (Abbey of the Holy Cross of the Valley of the Fallen), on the other side of the mountain, houses priests who say perpetual Masses for the repose of the fallen. The abbey ranks as a Royal Monastery.
Extracted from Wikipedia. |
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