Paris1972-Versailles2003

I have other than Madrid, San Sebastian or Donostia in basque was the first city I ever went to in Spain. Go figure it , do not know how that happened! However, my mom had an old friend from the region that went to school with her and after living in Madrid took the opportunity to see each other once there and once in Madrid! There you go why! This was back in 1972!!! After it took several years to be back, 1990 to be exact,  but been there several times afterward. I have written on the city of San Sebastian before but very little on this marvelous monument, the basilica church; it is time to tell you a bit more on it, Therefore, here is my take on the Basilica Church Santa Maria del Coro !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.

Just at the end of Calle Mayor,(Kale Nagusia) at the foot of Mount Urgull and framed by two towers, you will find this wonderful church. The Basilica Church Santa María del Coro is of  baroque work of the 18C,  the baroque facade of Churrigueresque hue, chaired by a sculpture of San Sebastián Martyr and the main altarpiece dedicated to the Virgen del Coro, patron Saint of the city. If you look at it from afar it seems to stand out directly from the slopes of Mount Urgull. The church has a rectangular plan, with semicircular apse and secondary units. The nave is attached to the northern part, and the octagonal pillars reach a height of 15 meters to their capitals, the central vault being the largest with a height of more than 27 meters. Each September 8, the Virgen del Coro is lowered it from her altar to preside the major Mass from a pedestal facing the sea.

The main nave consists of a room of 48 meters by 33 meters, divided into three naves, which in turn can be divided into 4 zones, having as axes the pillars of the nave. The main altar is dedicated to the Virgen del Coro (Choir) that is , together with San Sebastián, the patron saint of the city. The image of the Virgin is a wood size of about 40 cm that can be dated between the 15-16C. Saint Sebastián is also present both in an canvas of the main altar, and in a sculpture of the facade (1819). Also inside, the classicist style set that make up the central and lateral altarpieces, is remarkable. At the feet of the church is the choir, communicated by a staircase. It highlights a semi-circular plant stalls, and the excellent Romantic organ of 1863, whose facade corresponds to that of an ancient baroque organ. In the interior you will find the Museo Diocesano with 150 works of sacre art from the Romanesque to the vanguard arts.

A bit of history I like on the church, tell us that the basilica rises in the site once occupied by a Romanesque church of the 12-13C built by the kings of Navarre then enlarged in the Gothic style Renaissance, between 1522 and 1560, by the Habsburgs, then kings of Spain. In 1688, an explosion in the powder deposits of the Mota castle, located at the back of the church, deeply damaged it. The reconstruction work began in 1743 a floor with three naves of equal height and covered by intertwined vaults, completed in 1771.

A bit on San Sebastian, aka Donostia in basque, the capital of the province of Gipuzkoa, in the Basque Autonomous community (Euskadi) of the kingdom ofSpain. Bathed by the waters of the Cantabrian Sea, at the mouth of the Urumea River, it owes much of its fame to its harbour, the Bay of La Concha, framed by two rocky isles, the Igeldo and Urgull mountains, true natural balconies from which one can marvel at a large part of the city, the ocean and the hilly landscapes of the surrounding area. You have the old section or Centro wedge between the harbor and the Urumea river,the area was rebuilt from 1813 after a fire previously devasted it. Here you find the center of the city and people watching in the Plaza de la Constitucion,  and the Monte Urgull or hill with a Christ on top plus the ruins of the castle Castillo de Santa Cruz de la Mota.

The Euskadi region tourist office on San Sebastian : https://tourism.euskadi.eus/en/top10/towns/donostia/san-sebastian/aa30-12376/en/

The Euskadi tourist office on the basilica church : https://tourism.euskadi.eus/en/cultural-heritage/the-basilica-of-santa-maria-del-coro/aa30-12375/en/

There you go folks, a dandy in my dear Spain, you must come to San Sebastian, The basilica church is a must to visit here, me think, Again, hope you enjoy this post on the Basilica Church Santa Maria del Coro !!! as I

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!