September 6, 2013

Basilica of the Holy Cross of the Valley of the Fallen

Basílica de la Santa Cruz del Valle de los Caídos

The Valle de los Caídos "Valley of the Fallen" is a Catholic basilica and a monumental memorial in the municipality of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, near Madrid, conceived by Spanish general Francisco Franco to honor and bury those who fell during the Spanish Civil War.

In 1960, Pope John XXIII declared the underground crypt a basilica. The dimensions of this underground basilica, as excavated, are larger than those of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. 

The visit to the Valley of the Fallen, including Basilica and Benedictine Abbey, was an unexpected precious memory.  

Sometimes, Life rewarded us with beautiful dreams of love...




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23 comments:

  1. MitchyLRSeptember 6, 2013 at 2:31 PM

    Wonderful photo of a really beautiful place.

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  2. BirgittaSeptember 6, 2013 at 3:07 PM

    Magnificent!!!

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  3. VieraSeptember 6, 2013 at 4:07 PM

    Beautiful place ...excellent shot...

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  4. Leonor JaneiroSeptember 6, 2013 at 4:43 PM

    Cabo da Roca s a lighthouse near my house! Thanks for the lovely picture Sophie.

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  5. 'TsukiSeptember 6, 2013 at 5:43 PM

    Those floors are really neat and shiny... Faith does miracle with housekeeping too !

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  6. Ruth KellySeptember 6, 2013 at 5:43 PM

    It looks like water on the floor - beautiful!

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  7. AnonymousSeptember 6, 2013 at 6:25 PM

    Magnificent reflection photo of a very beautiful place, carol, xo

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  8. ElectraSeptember 6, 2013 at 7:07 PM

    This is beautiful, thank you for sharing it!

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  9. NonnieSeptember 6, 2013 at 7:31 PM

    gloriously stunning! and so grand for underground

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  10. JamesSeptember 7, 2013 at 1:07 AM

    Very cool! This looks like a place I would like to photograph. :-)

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  11. Timur Wilde PhotographySeptember 7, 2013 at 4:19 AM

    Hi Sophie,

    very very nice photo !! That´s all i can say :)

    Greetings from Germany

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  12. HansHBSeptember 7, 2013 at 12:01 PM

    Beautiful photo!

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  13. Angel Sánchez-MarcoSeptember 7, 2013 at 12:02 PM

    Un mal lugar, demasiado
    malo.
    Saludos, Ángel

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  14. CatherineSeptember 7, 2013 at 5:14 PM

    Beautiful basilica! I didn't know one existed larger than St. Peter's... I would love to visit Lisbon one day.

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  15. NatureFootstepSeptember 7, 2013 at 5:33 PM

    nice reflection....but, don´t wear a dress in that church.

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  16. EG CameraGirlSeptember 7, 2013 at 8:28 PM

    This looks like a place worth visiting. Beautiful photo!

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  17. ElectraSeptember 7, 2013 at 10:47 PM

    This is exquisite and you have showcased it so well!

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  18. Sallie (FullTime-Life)September 9, 2013 at 4:41 PM

    It is very beautiful -- awe-inspiring. I didn't really know what a basilica was I don't think...knew it was some kind of church..but didn't realize exactly what.

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  19. kwarkitoSeptember 13, 2013 at 8:40 AM

    yes it might be beautiful... But don't forget it's a fascist monument to honour the soldiers of Franco who was a dictator...

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  20. PerthDailyPhotoSeptember 15, 2013 at 10:49 AM

    Beautifully captured Sophie.

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  21. DesiréeSeptember 22, 2013 at 1:00 PM

    What a building and what a picture! Great work!

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  22. alfonsoDecember 3, 2013 at 11:07 AM


    Es un impresionante monumento. Es una lástima que esté dedicado a solo una parte de las víctimas de la guerra.

    · saludos

     · CR · & · LMA ·

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~ Thank you ~

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