Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

About

The Church of the Conception (Spanish: Iglesia de la Concepción) is a Neogothic Catholic church and minor basilica in Madrid, Spain. It is located on Calle Goya at the corner of Calle de Núñez de Balboa, and its construction was carried out between 1912 and 1914. The architect in charge of the church's design was Eugenio Jiménez Corera until his death in 1910.

Another architect, Jesús Carrasco-Muñoz, finished the work. The tower—with a height of 43.7 m (143 ft)— is topped with an iron spire, itself crowned by a sculpture of the Immaculate Conception. King Alfonso XIII of Spain and his consort Queen Victoria Eugenie attended the church's opening; the ceremony took place 11 May 1914.

The building has undergone several renovations: in the 1950s, in 1985 and 2013. On 8 July 1977 Boletín Oficial del Estado published a report requesting the church's declaration as Bien de Interés Cultural. On 16 April 2014, Pope Francis gave approval for the church to be conferred the dignity of a Minor basilica through a decree of the Congregation for Divine Worship.

It was given to Cardinal Antonio María Rouco Varela, Archbishop of Madrid. The event coincided with the 100th anniversary of the inauguration...