The Basilica of San Juan El Real in Oviedo, Spain, has a history dating back to 862, when Alfonso III the Great built an altar dedicated to San Juan Bautista next to his palace. In 1006, it was donated by Alfonso VI, and a hospital for the poor was established nearby as pilgrims visited the site. While the date for the first parish church of the parish of San Juan el Real is not known, the site has remained a place of worship through the centuries.
In 1912, the foundation of the present church building was started on a site that had been occupied by another church demolished in 1882. The design by architect Luis Bellido was completed in 1915. The church is built in the shape of a Latin cross with side chapels and a dome.
Today, the site serves as the Parroquia de San Juan el Real. In November 2014, as the present church building was about to celebrate its 100th anniversary, the Pope elevated the status of this historic place of worship from a church to a minor Basilica.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nik Frost
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