To all intense and purposes this is an amazing construction dedicated to God and worship of Him. Yes it remembers the fallen of Spain, but with a 150m cross on top of a mountain that can be seen 30km away. The basilica enters the granite hillside and goes deep inside the mountain with dimensions larger than those of St Peter’s in Rome. The basilica itself is quite impressive as well with side chapels dedicated to the Armed Forces of Spain’s military and a quite modern looking central altar. Unfortunately we couldn’t take photos of the inside. Up to now everything you would expect to find in a place where a country’s military personnel are remembered. We have them the world over.
However things then began to feel very strange. There were many tapestries on the walls, enormous pieces of art, all depicting the artist’s view of the end times and his interpretation of the book of Revelation. Some of these were quite gruesome, even disturbing. If you then add to that the reason for the construction of this place and the political controversy over it: commissioned by the Spanish Military Dictator Franco, used both war and political prisoners to build it, has been likened to a Nazi concentration camp, Franco himself is buried by the main altar – then it takes a more sinister feel. No wonder there are currently moves in Spain to remove Franco’s body. I wonder how the Monks who worship here regularly and have their monastery within the area feel about this?
There is no doubt that this place is a memorial to Spain’s recent troubled past, no doubt that the area is peaceful and tranquil and no doubt that it is a feat of engineering but can such a place ever become a place of spirituality? I have very mixed feelings about this.
Holy Places - a journey of discovery 