🌎 {21/01/26} ✦ "The Basilica of Our Lady of Chiquinquirá was restored!" 🌤️ 🧘♀️ ⛪ | Fascinating Architecture ✦ 🇪🇸 │ 🇺🇸
✦ The last restoration was 70 years ago. Until recently, what will it look like in 2026? - Collage & Edition in FotoJet, photos by @Tesmoforia ✦
🇪🇸 ~ Hace escasos días fui al centro de la ciudad para completar un papeleo importante, en el camino se encuentra "La Basílica de Chiquinquira", en ello me pregunté "¿cuál es la diferencia entre una iglesia, una catedral, y una basílica?, ¿qué significa en primer lugar que un edificio reciba el nombre de basílica?", este hermoso edificio es famoso por resguardar una sagrada reliquia, una tablita de madera en la que apareció una imagen de la Virgen María, en 1709.
A todos los niños de esta ciudad desde muy pequeños nos enseñan en la escuela la historia de este milagro... ¡pero yo no recuerdo que mi maestra me dijera QUÉ ERA UNA BASILICA!, mientras la duda me carcomía recordé que el edificio paso por exhaustivas reparaciones/restauraciones entre 2024 y 2025, y antes de seguir mi camino hice esta breve visita (¡espero que disfrutes el recorrido!):
! [ENGLISH VERSION]
🇺🇸 ~ A few days ago, I went to the city center to complete some important paperwork. On the way, I passed “La Basílica de Chiquinquira”, which made me wonder, "What is the difference between a church, a cathedral, and a basilica? What does it mean for a building to be called a basilica in the first place?" This beautiful building is famous for housing a sacred relic, a small wooden tablet on which an image of the Virgin Mary appeared in 1709.All the children in this city are taught the story of this miracle at school from a very young age... But I don't remember my teacher telling me WHAT A BASILICA WAS! As doubt gnawed at me, I remembered that the building underwent extensive repairs/restorations between 2024 and 2025, and before continuing on my way, I paid a brief visit (I hope you enjoy the tour!):
✦ Although it hasn't rained for many weeks, the weather hasn't been that hot ✦
✦ And we have these beautiful clouds of pure white ✦
✦ The yellow church against the blue sky looks even more amazing in person ✦
✦ How about we go inside? ✦
✦ Last year's renovations are noticeable from the entrance ✦
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La respuesta que encontré a mi pregunta creo que resulta mas que satisfactoria. Resulta que "Basílica" no es cualquier edificio, es un título especial concedido por una declaración papal, por tener el edificio valor artístico e histórico, ser centro de culto o peregrinaje, que se distingue por su belleza, y que gracias a ese titulo especial "posee privilegios litúrgicos y un vínculo único con la Santa Sede."
! [ENGLISH VERSION]
I think the answer I found to my question is more than satisfactory. It turns out that “Basilica” is not just any building, it is a special title granted by papal decree because the building has artistic and historical value, is a center of worship or pilgrimage, is distinguished by its beauty, and, thanks to this special title, “has liturgical privileges and a unique bond with the Holy See.”
✦ What I like most about the entire building are its seats ✦
✦ Everything feels quite new ✦
✦ Some things haven't changed, but everything is in better condition than it was a few years ago ✦
✦ There were people lining up to visit the relic ✦
✦ Next time I go up there, I'll bring back some close-up photos ✦
✦ Some vaults have not yet been restored ✦
✦ Because they are too high up, and the scaffolding needed to reach them would be right in the middle of the church for months ✦
✦ But the lower sections look incredibly good ✦
✦ Those lambs, for example, used to be very worn out ✦
Mi parte favorita de esta iglesia y desde que tengo memoria, son los asientos, con todas sus formas curvas decorativas y hermoso color hueso. Cuando eres niño siempre vas a visitar este lugar en un viaje escolar, para mi es un sitio familiar como sé que lo es para casi todos los Zulianos, por eso también quise detenerme un momento, es decir, hay personas que viajan desde muy lejos para conocer esta basílica.
! [ENGLISH VERSION]
My favorite part of this church, for as long as I can remember, is the seating, with all its decorative curves and beautiful bone color. When you're a child, you always visit this place on a school trip. For me, it's a familiar place, as I know it is for almost everyone from Zulia, which is why I wanted to stop for a moment. I mean, there are people who travel from far away to see this basilica.
✦ People take time to pray, make requests, and leave offerings ✦
✦ During the November celebrations, it is impossible to walk through these corridors ✦
✦ Some light bulbs were burned out ✦
✦ But the lighting in general was quite good ✦
✦ Here I was already heading for the exit ✦
✦ This fence is very beautiful! ✦
✦ If you like religious iconography, there are many details to admire here ✦
✦ This part, for example, is my mom's favorite ✦
✦ I think this is the Medal of Chiquinquirá ✦
✦ Goodbye beautiful church, I will return soon ✦
Creo que tuve mucha suerte ese día porque normalmente hay muchas personas dentro del edificio o hay alguna ceremonia celebrándose, cuyo caso me hubiera cohibido de sacar el teléfono para tomar estas fotos, por tema de respeto, además visitar "La Basílica de Chiquinquirá" siempre se siente como un acto solemne desde antes de entrar al edificio, fue agradable rodearse de esta atmosfera un rato antes de seguir mi camino.
La última vez que visite este edificio fue para celebrar el bautizo de unos sobrinos, muchas personas sueñan con celebrar su boda eclesiástica en esta iglesia también, especialmente los mas devotos de este culto.
El teléfono que tenía conmigo ese día no tiene una muy buena cámara pero espero que el recorrido les haya gustado y sobre todo disfrutaran de todos los intrincados detalles y pinturas del interior de este monumento.
! [ENGLISH VERSION]
I think I was very lucky that day because normally there are many people inside the building or there is some ceremony being held, in which case I would have been too shy to take out my phone to take these photos, out of respect. Besides, visiting “La Basílica de Chiquinquirá” always feels like a solemn act even before entering the building, so it was nice to soak up this atmosphere for a while before continuing on my way.The last time I visited this building was to celebrate the baptism of some nephews. Many people dream of celebrating their church wedding in this church too, especially the most devout followers of this cult.
The phone I had with me that day doesn't have a very good camera, but I hope you enjoyed the tour and, above all, enjoyed all the intricate details and paintings inside this monument.
✦ An interesting fact is that one of the main artists responsible for restoring the artwork in this church has an account on Hive. He joined when we were still on the old chain, and although he is not an active user today, I think it's an interesting fact to share ✦
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✨ 🍓 Texts & photos by @Tesmoforia 🍓 ✨
📸 Tools: Smartphone 📲 Snow 🎬 TinyPNG 🌓 FotoJet 📐
🚨 ¡Please do not take, edit or republish my material without my permission! 🚨
💌 ¿Do you wish to contact me? Discord #tesmoforia 💌
🌙 Graphics @Vanuzza - InstaLog 📲
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