The extraordinary architecture of the Minor Basilica of Saint Agnes [ENG-ESP]
(Edited)
[ENG]
Greetings, dear friends of Architecture+Design, welcome to my blog. Today's review is about one of the oldest temples in Cumaná, the Minor Basilica of Santa Inés, located in the city center, in the historic district, specifically on Sucre Street. To give you some background, this church was restored in 1853 and was built on the remains of another church, La Parroquial. On the day of the visit, the sky was very sunny, creating a beautiful landscape, including the surrounding area. Santa Inés was declared a National Monument on August 2, 1960, and its architectural style combines neoclassical and neo-Renaissance elements.
From some areas of the city center, you can see the imposing domes of the Santa Inés church in the distance.
In addition to the bell tower, the windows and entrances on the church façade are arched, but the doors leading into the religious building are square in style. There are three entrances on the main façade and two on the sides, leaving ample space and plenty of freedom for parishioners to enter.
After climbing the stairs, the church offers beautiful panoramic views.
When I entered the church, there were a few people praying or simply sitting on the wooden benches. I was surprised by how beautiful the basilica is and how well maintained it is thanks to the new parish priest. Everything was impeccable, and you could see the shine on the granite tile floors. Upon arrival, I immediately located the guide who would be taking me on the tour, a very friendly young man who gave me a very important overview of this ancient Catholic site.
The maintenance of the Santa Inés church has been crucial to preserving its current appearance. The stained floors that hid the decorations printed on them are now a thing of the past.
One of the features of the church that caught my attention the most is the material that prevails in it: wood. However, its internal structure also includes plaster, wattle and daub, and marble.
All the religious images found in the church are carved from wood, and some have gold leaf appliqués. The oil used in the images gives the impression that they were made from cement or another material, but no, they are wood and look quite beautiful. It is important to note that, as wood predominates in the church, no wet cloths or special chemicals are used for its conservation. We can see the shiny, well-maintained wooden benches, as well as the rest of the elements. To prevent pests, the church is fumigated, which is why it is closed for a period of one month.
The roof of this basilica is made of wood, with an external tile covering. The domes are made of plaster and the lighting is provided by beautiful decorative chandeliers.
The columns are made of wattle and wood, sturdy and striated in appearance. They rest on a base that prevents them from touching the floor directly. Marble is prevalent in some areas of the church, such as the altar and the baptismal font.
Finally, I must say that I was enchanted by the extraordinary stained glass windows.
That concludes our tour of the solemn Church of Santa Inés. I hope you enjoyed it, as well as the reading.
Thank you for reading
The photos are originals taken with my Xiaomi Redmi 9 phone
[ESP]
Saludos estimados amigos de Architecture+Design, bienvenidos a mi blog, La reseña que hoy les comparto trata sobre uno de los templos más antiguos de Cumaná, la Basílica Menor de Santa Inés, ubicada en el centro de la ciudad, en el casco histórico, específicamente en la calle Sucre. Para hacerle algo de historia, ésta iglesia fue restaurada en el año 1853 y su construcción fue realizada sobre los restos de otra iglesia, La Parroquial. El día de la visita, el cielo estaba muy soleado, recreando así un hermoso paisaje, incluyendo los alrededores. Santa Inés, fue declarada el 02 de agosto de 1960 Monumento Nacional y su estilo arquitectónico combina el neoclásico con el neorrenacentista.
Desde algunas zonas del centro de la ciudad se pueden observar a lo lejos las imponentes cúpulas de la iglesia Santa Inés.
Además del campanario, en la fachada de la iglesia se puede observar que las ventanas y las entradas cuentan con forma de arco, sin embargo, las puertas para ingresar al recinto religioso son de estilo cuadrado. Posee tres entradas en la fachada principal y dos en los laterales, dejando un amplio espacio y mucha libertad para la entrada de los feligreses.
Después de subir las escaleras, la iglesia nos regala hermosas vistas panorámicas.
Al entrar a la iglesia, habían algunas personas orando o simplemente sentadas en los bancos de madera. Me sorprendió lo bella que está la basílica y lo bien cuidada gracias al nuevo párroco, todo estaba impecable, se podía observar el brillo en los pisos de baldosas de granito. Al llegar, enseguida ubiqué al guía que haría el recorrido conmigo, un chico muy amable que me hizo un resumen muy importante de este antiguo recinto católico.
El mantenimiento de la iglesia Santa Inés ha sido crucial para la conservación de su buen aspecto actual. Los pisos manchados que no dejaban ver las decoraciones impresas en ellos quedaron en el pasado.
Una de las características de la iglesia que más llamó mi atención es el material que más prevalece en ella, la madera. No obstante, en sus estructura interna también se halla el yeso, bahareque y el mármol.
Todas las imágenes religiosas que se encuentran en la iglesia son talladas en madera y algunas poseen aplicaciones de hojillado en oro. El óleo utilizado en las imágenes dan la sensación de haber sido fabricadas en cemento u otro material, pero no, es madera y se ven bastante hermosas. Es importante destacar que al imperar la madera en la iglesia, no se usan paños mojados ni químicos especiales para su conservación. Podemos ver los bancos de madera relucientes y bien cuidados, así como el resto de los elementos. Para evitar plagas, en la iglesia se realizan labores de fumigación, motivo por el cual la iglesia se cierra por período de un mes.
El techo de ésta basílica es de madera, con cubierta externa de tejas. Las cúpulas están hechas de yeso y la iluminación está a cargo de hermosas lámparas araña de techo de tipo decorativas.
Las columnas están hechas de bahareque y madera, robustas y de aspecto estriado. Están apoyadas sobre una basa que impiden su descanso directo sobre el suelo. Por otra parte, el mármol prevalece en algunas áreas de la iglesia, como el altar y la pila de bautismo.
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The Church of Santa Inés is a beautiful architectural work. The towers are beautifully designed, and the interior features beautiful columns and striking stained-glass windows.
Greetings!
Yes, she is very pretty, inside and out. Best regards.
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Thank you, regards
Hey @hylene74 you are welcome.
Thanks for using @worldmappin 😘
Thanks, regards.
This temple is a great architecture. A very emblematic place, blessings my friend.
A wonderful piece of architecture. Thank you for stopping by. Best regards.
The church is beautiful! Those intricate altars, the quiet rows of wooden benches and the soft light filtering through the stained glass windows create such a peaceful and sacred atmosphere.
The truth is that it is very nice and well cared for. Thanks for commenting. Regards.
You're welcome!😊 That's good to hear!
It is an amazing place. I've always really liked churches, it is a place full of peace, harmony, and beauty.
Great post.
Cheers!
In addition to peace, going to church brings tranquility while enjoying the beauty of its architecture. Greetings