Basilica of Our Lady of Atocha

The Basilica of Our Lady of Atocha, located in Madrid, is a monument rich in history and spirituality, closely linked to the city and its inhabitants. Its origin dates back to the 12th century, when the original hermitage dedicated to the Virgin of Atocha was first mentioned by the Archbishop of Toledo, Juan. However, the current structure is the result of a series of reconstructions and restorations that reflect the political and social changes of Spain through the centuries. Legend has it that the icon of the Virgin of Atocha was found among the brush (“atocha”) during the period of the Reconquista, becoming a symbol of hope and protection for the faithful. In the 16th century, Friar Juan Hurtado de Mendoza, confessor of Charles V, undertook a major restructuring of the hermitage to turn it into a large church and convent, entrusted to the Dominican friars by Pope Adrian VI in 1523. Over the centuries, the basilica gained increasing importance, becoming a place of pilgrimage and devotion. Philip II, deeply devoted to the Virgin of Atocha, proclaimed her the patroness of Madrid and all the Spanish kingdoms. The king visited the sanctuary before and after every battle, a sign of the close connection between the monarchy and the basilica. This tradition continued with the subsequent kings, including Philip IV, who in 1643 proclaimed the Virgin the protector of the royal family and the Spanish monarchy. During the Spanish War of Independence, the basilica suffered serious damage. The Napoleonic troops looted it and turned it into a military camp, causing the loss of numerous works of art and sacred objects. After the war, the Dominicans regained possession of the convent, but in 1834 they were again expelled during the confiscation of ecclesiastical property. The church was then converted into a military parish and the convent into a neighborhood for the disabled. In 1863, Pope Pius IX elevated the church to the rank of minor basilica, the first in Madrid, at the request of Queen Isabella II. This elevation marked a new chapter in the history of the basilica, consolidating its status as one of the main places of worship in the city. The 20th century was a period of great transformations for the basilica. In 1924, the Dominicans, with the help of King Alfonso XIII, began a major restoration project. However, the Spanish Civil War led to new devastations, with the destruction of the temple during the conflict. The reconstruction in 1951, by the architect Fernando Arbós y Tremanti, gave the basilica its current appearance, combining neo-Byzantine elements with a modern bell tower.