Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus — Attraction in Gijón

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Gijón is a remarkable Catholic temple that serves as one of the city's most distinctive architectural landmarks. Popularly known as "La Iglesiona" due to its impressive proportions and the Asturian tendency to use augmentatives, this neo-Gothic and modernist church was completed in 1918.

The basilica combines multiple architectural influences, including Gaudí's modernist style and Gothic elements. Located on Calle Instituto near the Real Instituto Jovellanos, the church features innovative parabolic arches that were adopted as a solution to the narrowness of the building plot. The structure stands 45 meters long and represents a Neo-Gothic masterpiece.

The most distinctive feature of the basilica is the imposing statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, created by sculptor Serafín Basterra, which crowns the bell tower. At the time of its installation, this was the second-largest Sacred Heart statue in Spain, after the one at Cerro de los Ángeles. The statue is visible from various points throughout Gijón and adds a unique artistic element to the city's skyline. Due to its impressive size, locals sometimes refer to it as "El Santón," and the church is occasionally called "Iglesia del Santo" I n 2003, the Holy See officially elevated the church to basilica status in recognition of its historical and...

It is truly beautiful, from the stained glass to the pillars, the altar, the floors: there is a lot to take in, so leave plenty of time. Even when crowded just sit there and enjoy the ambience. Visiting the museum that has scale models and other interesting pieces, all related to the construction of the Basilica is well worth the tour. It has a timeless quality : even though it is modern in its.design, it still has the feel of.another epoch. The sculptures themselves are fantastic, in both the literal and exclamatory...

¡Personalmente, la iglesia más espectacular de toda la ciudad de Gijón!

La basílica del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús es un templo católico de la ciudad de Gijón/Xixón, que también es conocido popularmente como la Iglesiona, por sus proporciones y por la tendencia asturiana a los aumentativos en –on, ante hitos que tienen un especial valor sentimental e histórico.

El monumento aúna diferentes influencias, entre otras la tendencia modernista gaudiniana, y resonancias góticas.

Pero sin lugar a dudas una de las notas más características y que hacen de este templo algo único es la figura del Sagrado Corazón - obra de Serafín Basterra -, ubicada en el campanario, y que se divisa desde diferentes puntos de la ciudad, añadiendo a la "skyline" gijonesa un plus artístico que siempre resulta interesante.

La Iglesiona destaca además por sus impresionantes pinturas interiores, que hacen que sea conocida como la "capilla sixtina de Asturias". Por supuesto, sus arcos fajones parabólicos son también una novedosa solución adoptada debido a la estrechez de la parcela en la que fue construida.

Pero la Iglesiona no solo destaca por su valor artístico sino por su intensa historia. Incendiada en 1930 y reparada en aquel entonces por Manuel del Busto, durante la Guerra Civil Española fue utilizada como cárcel.

En el año 2003, la Santa Sede, atendiendo a sus méritos históricos y artísticos la...