Church of the Mare de Déu de Betlem (Barcelona)
Located between La Rambla and El Carmen Street is the Church of the Mare de Déu de Betlem, a Baroque-style temple inaugurated in 1553, but which has undergone countless reforms, additions and extensions. Its architectural design was part of the Counter-Reformation style of the Jesuits, inspired by the design of the Church of the Gesú in Rome, that is, a single nave arranged parallel to the Rambla with side chapels and a semicircular apse.
Its nave is divided into six sections with a narthex with a cylindrical vault with lunettes under the choir and interconnected dome-shaped side chapels. Its main façade faces El Carmen Street and has a widening that makes it partially visible from La Rambla.
It has a wavy crown with a door framed by Solomonic columns and sculptures of Saint Francis Borgia and Saint Ignatius of Loyola, created by the sculptor Andreu Sala. Its door is crowned by a nativity by Francesc Santacruz.
Its lateral façade faces La Rambla and presents a rhomboid cushion extended to the lower part of its main façade together with two doors, one of them crowned by an image of the Child Jesus, also by Francesc Santacruz, and the other door, more modern, made by Enric Sagnier. This door contains an image of the Infant Saint John the Baptist.
The interior of the temple abounds with patrimonial and artistic works. Highlights include its 10 chapels adorned with beautiful murals by Albert García, Doménec Fita and Joan Lleó in 1954, a carving by Mariano Benlliure from 1952, oil paintings by Vicenc Navarro, an alabaster image by Joaquín Ros from 1964 and many works of art by other contemporary artists such as Joan Rebull and Manuel Sans.
Its nave is divided into six sections with a narthex with a cylindrical vault with lunettes under the choir and interconnected dome-shaped side chapels. Its main façade faces El Carmen Street and has a widening that makes it partially visible from La Rambla.
It has a wavy crown with a door framed by Solomonic columns and sculptures of Saint Francis Borgia and Saint Ignatius of Loyola, created by the sculptor Andreu Sala. Its door is crowned by a nativity by Francesc Santacruz.
Its lateral façade faces La Rambla and presents a rhomboid cushion extended to the lower part of its main façade together with two doors, one of them crowned by an image of the Child Jesus, also by Francesc Santacruz, and the other door, more modern, made by Enric Sagnier. This door contains an image of the Infant Saint John the Baptist.
The interior of the temple abounds with patrimonial and artistic works. Highlights include its 10 chapels adorned with beautiful murals by Albert García, Doménec Fita and Joan Lleó in 1954, a carving by Mariano Benlliure from 1952, oil paintings by Vicenc Navarro, an alabaster image by Joaquín Ros from 1964 and many works of art by other contemporary artists such as Joan Rebull and Manuel Sans.
Location
Religious Buildings in Barcelona
Civil Buildings in Barcelona
Museums in Barcelona
