Basilica de Santa Maria

First winter morning in Elche at one of the city main spots.

The "Basilica de Santa Maria" (XVII-XVIII c.) is the greatest Christian temple in the city of Elche. It is located at the same site as an old Muslim Musk from the XIII century, which was later transformed into a Christian church once the city was reconquered by Jaime I in the XIV century. The front facade, shown at the pano, by Nicolas de Bussi is one of the main examples of the Valencian Barroco style.

The Basilica was partially destroyed during the raids at the Spanish Civil War (1936-39) and later restored by the local architect Antonio Serrano Peral (my grandpa).

The Basilica is also where "El Misteri" takes place once a year (Unesco Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity - 2001). "El Misteri" is a medieval rehearsal showing the ascension or assumption of The Virgin Mary. The City patron Saint is thus "La Virgen de la Asuncion". The three statues also shown at the pano represent three of the apostles that appear in this act.

See also WWP Summer Solstice 21st June 2004 for a panoramic view of Elche showing the Basilica tower and dome.

Picture taken and assembled by Antonio V. Garcia-Serrano, picture location by Sonia Zamora-Amorós.

Europe / Spain

Lat: 38° 16' 1.26" N
Long: 1° 42' 53.1" W

→ maps.google.com [EXT]

Precision is: High. Pinpoints the exact spot.

Canon 10D - Sigma 8mm - f.5,6 at 1/60, iso 100, JPG

manfrotto tripod and vr head

Photoshop-PTGui-Enblend-Panotools-Photoshop-PanoCube.