The Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Soledad (Basilica of Our Lady of Solitude) is a Roman CatholicBasilica located in Oaxaca de Juárez, Oaxaca, Mexico. It was built between 1682 and 1690, and is a sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of Solitude, patron saint of Oaxaca. The architecture style is Baroque, and was intentionally built with low spires and towers, as to better resist earthquakes. The Basilica de la Soledad is part of the Historic Center of Oaxaca City, which was declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987.
History
The construction of the Basilica began in 1682 and in 1690 was consecrated by Bishop Sariñana y Cuenca. It was designed by Father Fernando Méndez and the current facade was built between 1717 and 1718, with the assistance of Bishop Angel Maldonado.
Description
The Basilica of La Soledad is laid out in the shape of a Latin cross. The building was constructed from green cantera, a stone common in parts of Oaxaca.
The west gallery contains a baroque pipe organ dated 1686, restored to playing condition in 2000.
^Municipality of Oaxaca. "Templos y Ex Conventos" [Churches and ex-monasteries] (in Spanish). Oaxaca. Archived from the original on 11 June 2007. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
