A Neogothic minor basilica built in Madrid’s Recoletos district, where a soaring tower and sculpture of the Immaculate Conception crown a church completed just as the Spanish monarchy entered its final decades.
At a glance
The Church of La Concepción stands on Calle Goya at its intersection with Calle de Núñez de Balboa. This Catholic minor basilica rises in the Neogothic style, its most prominent feature a 43.7-metre tower topped by an iron spire and crowned with a sculpture of the Immaculate Conception. The church has served the parish of Recoletos since its consecration in 1914.
History
Construction began in 1912 under the direction of architect Eugenio Jiménez Corera. Following Corera’s death in 1910, Jesús Carrasco-Muñoz assumed responsibility for completing the design and construction. The church was inaugurated on 11 May 1914, a ceremony attended by King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenie.
The building underwent significant renovations in the 1950s, 1985, and 2013. On 16 April 2014—marking the centenary of its opening—Pope Francis granted the church the dignity of a Minor Basilica through a decree of the Congregation for Divine Worship, a honour conferred upon Cardinal Antonio María Rouco Varela, Archbishop of Madrid. The church had previously been requested for declaration as a Bien de Interés Cultural in 1977.
What you see
The church’s Neogothic vocabulary includes pointed arches and vertical emphasis characteristic of the style. The tower dominates the composition: rising 143 feet, it commands views across the district. Its iron spire, itself a feat of engineering, supports the crowning sculpture of the Immaculate Conception—a symbolic reference to the church’s dedication.
Cultural significance
La Concepción exemplifies early 20th-century Spanish ecclesiastical architecture at a moment of modernization. Its designation as a Minor Basilica reflects both its architectural merit and its religious importance to the diocese of Madrid. The church remains an active parish church serving the Recoletos community.
Key facts
- Country: Spain
- City: Madrid (Recoletos district)
- Coordinates: 40.42471111, −3.68244722
- Completed: 1914
- Tower height: 43.7 metres (143 feet)
- Architects: Eugenio Jiménez Corera (until 1910); Jesús Carrasco-Muñoz (completion)
- Designated Minor Basilica: 2014
- Status: Active Catholic parish church
Practical information & getting there
The Church of La Concepción is located on Calle Goya in the Recoletos neighbourhood of Madrid. The church remains in active use for worship and is open to visitors during service hours. For current visiting information and Mass times, contact the parish office or check the Archdiocese of Madrid website.
Sources & resources
- Church of La Concepción – Wikipedia
- Cultural Heritage Online
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