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Catedral Nova
Between
1761 and 1781 the Catedral Nova was built thanks to the city inhabitants,
King Carlos III and bishop Joaquín Sánchez's contributions. Baroque
in style and with many French academic Classicist features, it
is located in the heart of the shopping quarter opposite the former
Hospital de Santa María.
The staircases, with three pointed iron gates and decorated with
side spires, give way to the main entrance, which boasts the Borbons
coat of arms at the top. The three-aisled inside hides the slim
Corinthian colonnade which supports the pointed arches.
The Baroque choir, by Lluís Bonifas Massó, was built during the
Spanish Civil War (1936). The church boasts an image of the Virgin
of Montserrat "la Moreneta" - patron of Catalunya and pilgrimage
destination on 27th April - made by Josep Obiols. The Virgin "del
Blau", whose special day is 2nd February, is also worshipped.
According to the legend, her name comes from the bruise her sculptor
made by throwing a hammer at her forehead when he saw that, while
he was away, one of his followers had finished her, significantly
improving on his master's artistic capabilities.