The Collegiate Basilica of Santa Maria de Manresa, known as “La Seu”, is an emblematic monument that dominates the city from the top of Puig Cardener. Built in Catalan Gothic style, it was designed by the master builder Berenguer de Montagut, who also worked on the famous basilica of Santa Maria del Mar in Barcelona. Work began in 1328 and lasted until the end of the 15th century. Over the years, it has undergone several interventions and extensions that have added Renaissance, Baroque and even Neo-Gothic elements, such as the façade of the baptistery designed by Alexandre Soler i March, under the advice of Antoni Gaudí. In addition to its impressive architecture, La Seu houses a rich collection of works of art, including the outstanding 14th century Altarpiece of the Holy Spirit, a masterpiece from the Serra brothers’ workshop in Barcelona.
A visit to La Seu de Manresa is a journey through history, from its Romanesque origins to modernist and contemporary interventions. Its imposing single nave, one of the widest in Europe, is flanked by side chapels that house Gothic altarpieces and other works of sacred art. The Baroque crypt holds the relics of the Patron Saints of the city, Sant Fruitós, Santa Agnès and Sant Maurici, while the neoclassical cloister and historical museum complement the cultural experience. With its magnificent architecture and significant art collection, La Seu de Manresa remains a spiritual and cultural reference point in the region, attracting visitors from all over the world.
During his year of life in Manresa, Saint Ignatius went many times to La Seu seeking confession and spiritual advice. It is said that Canon Joan Bocotavi wisely helped him to overcome his scruples of conscience and that Ignatius spent hours in the church, following the Mass, reading the Passion of Christ and contemplating the altarpieces that instructed him on the lives of the saints and especially on the life of the Holy Spirit in the scriptures, according to the Serra brothers. A statue of Ignatius on pilgrimage recalls the place where he sat to read and knelt to pray.
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Bda. de la Seu, 1, Manresa, Barcelona - Web
https://seudemanresa.cat/?lang=en - Visiting Hours
Monday to Friday from 10:30 to 13:30 and from 16:00 to 19:00. Saturdays from 10.30 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 19:00. Sundays from 12:00 to 14:00. - What to see
Gothic Altarpieces, Tapestry
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