Ascensor del Pilar

The Basílica del Pilar in Zaragoza is one of the most important Baroque churches in Spain and serves as a co-cathedral of the archdiocese. Its name comes from a traditional account of an apparition of the Virgin Mary on a pillar, said to have appeared to the Apostle James the Greater. This column holds the central miraculous image, which makes the church an important pilgrimage destination. The history of the site goes back to the 12th century, when a Romanesque church was built after the reconquest of the city. The monumental building you see today dates to the 18th century, the result of extensive expansions and alterations. The rectangular building, with its four striking corner towers that were only raised to their present height in the 20th century, has eleven domes and stretches 130 meters (about 427 feet) in length.

Inside, the basilica impresses with its symmetrical layout of a main nave and two side aisles. A particular highlight is the Santa Capilla, a semi-open space with an oval dome that depicts the arrival of Mary. Here you will also find the historic pillar with the small statuette of the Virgin. The main altar combines Gothic structures with Renaissance sculptures, while the oak choir stalls opposite are decorated with scenes from the Bible. Of great art-historical importance are the frescoes by Francisco de Goya, which he painted on the vaulted ceilings in the 1770s and 1780s. These works are considered his first commissions in the city after his return from Italy.

Besides its sacred art, the church also houses some unusual exhibits. Two aerial bombs from the Spanish Civil War that fell on the building in 1936 without exploding are on display as a sign of divine protection. The acoustics are served by a modern organ installed in the historic case in 2007. It has 71 stops and combines mechanical key action with electric stop action. The Basílica del Pilar thus brings together religious tradition, Baroque architecture, and important works of art into an impressive whole.