Royal Basilica of Saint Francis the Great

Title: A Silver-Chiming Spanish Legacy

A haven of art, history, and architecture, the Royal Basilica of St. Francis the Great stands in the heart of Madrid. Its rich past was only a fragment of the church's history, as it was once Spain's national pantheon.

Completed in the Neoclassic style by the late-18th century architects Francisco Cabezas, Antonio Pló, and Francesco Sabatini, the basilica's grandeur is tangible, especially in its astounding 33-meter diameter, 58-meter-high dome, similar to the Pantheon's. Throughout the 18th century, the basilica held the remains of remarkable figures from Spanish politics, art, and culture, including the Duke of Seva and artist Francisco Goya.

Its status as a minor basilica was bestowed in 1963, followed by its designation as a national historic-artistic monument in 1980. Today, this sanctuary houses 19 bells, falling into two categories: 8 change-ringing bells and 11 chiming bells. Sadly, these bells, cast by John Warner and Sons in 1882, currently remain un-rung, with only bells 2, 4, and 6 possessing wheels.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons