The sculpture of the Nativity is above the main West door. It prominently features the Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus, surrounded by angels and other figures, all set within an elaborately decorated niche. [Photo1 Credit: ElsaBornFree ][Photo2 Credit: Vadim ] INDEX
22. LOWER WALL TA
There are three doors in this face. The central door is called the Door of Forgiveness, but is only used on very special occasions. This may be seen as sending a rather obscure unintentional message! [Photo1 Credit: Aldamir Salvatico ]
23. MARBLE BASE PANELS GSV
The base of this wall is lined with carved marble slabs.
24. ENJOYING THE WEST FAÇADE Wiki
When closed, the Cathedral may take time to do some advertising! [Photo1 Credit: Fernando ]
25. TIME TO GO INSIDE TA
But now the Cathedral is open, and it is time to go inside. We choose to enter by the left (South) door. [Photo1 Credit: Kathrin ]
0. ENTRANCE TA
After entering through the South (West) door, we find ourselves in this enormous domed space. It is tempting to stop to investigate it, but we shall leave this to last (#28). Instead, we find Chapel #1 behind us.
1. CHAPEL OF THE TRANSFIGURATION TA TA
Almost all the chapels in this Cathedral are behind black steel grills. One understands the need for security, but for the visitor / worshipper, there is a sense of separation. We are lookers-on, not involved. •• Here is a wonderful painting of the Transfiguration in which Jesus meets God with Moses and Elijah. Peter, James and John are seen cowering at the bottom. (Matthew 17:1–8) [Photo1 Credit: Jezz C ] [Photo2 Credit: Luis E ]
2. CHAPEL OF CHRIST OF THE MIRACLE TA TA
The next Christ of the Miracle Chapel shows a crucifixion scene, but with two men at the base of the cross. •• The altarpiece materials are high quality, with the brown and green colours making a striking contrast with the white chapel walls. [Photo1 Credit: Jim20ffg ] [Photo Credit: Lisa L ]
3. CHAPEL OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS TA
Chapel #3 shows Christ of the Sacred Heart. Margaret Mary Alacoque was a French nun. In 1673, she experienced Christ’s presence in a way she never had while praying. She heard Jesus tell her that he wanted to show his love for people by encouraging a special devotion to his Sacred Heart. Christ revealed ways to venerate his Sacred Heart and explained the immense love he has for humanity, appearing with his heart visible outside his chest, on fire, and surrounded by a crown of thorns. Christ told Sister Margaret Mary: “My Sacred Heart is so intense in its love for men, and for you in particular, that not being able to contain within it the flames of its ardent charity, they must be transmitted through all means.” •• The chapel was established by Don Martin de la Selva at the end of the 15th century. [Photo Credit: mariostoona ]
3 – 4. NORTH SIDE OF AISLE TA
This is where ‘following the Plan’ gets a little complicated. This is the view of the aisle wall, opposite Chapels 3, 4 and 5. We look first at the Chapel shown here on the left. [Photo Credit: Titloup83 ]
3 – 4. CHAPEL OF ST CAMILLUS DE LELLIS TA
The painting is by Juan Navarro. St Camillus of Lellis (1550 – 1614) is the patron saint of hospitals, nurses and the sick. He has an interesting story which can be found here. Returning to the Plan, we next look at Chapel #4. [Photo Credit: Vadim ]
4. JUNTERONES CHAPEL Wiki MC
Junterone’s Chapel has special significance. The priest Gil Rodríguez de Junterón, who was born in Murcia, ended up becoming a very important person in the Vatican, holding the position of Protonotary Apostolic to Pope Julius II. As someone who was very close to the Pontiff, he shared with the Pope the upsets and political difficulties of the time. As well, he also participated in the flourishing artistic and cultural activity of Italy that inspired all of Europe. The marked Italian design of this chapel is therefore not surprising. [Photo Credit: Galopax ]
4. DETAILS OF JUNTERONES CHAPEL MC SS
The chapel stands out for its vault, an innovative solution devised by Jerónimo Quijano to cover the space of the presbytery, with an elliptical floor plan. This open scallop, turned in on itself, was much admired and renowned by subsequent architects, to the extent that the architect and treatise writer Alonso de Vandelvira named it the ‘Dome of Murcia’. In the centre we find the Nativity altarpiece, a relief carved in white Carrara marble by Jerónimo Quijano. Among the columns, the niches house the figures of the prophet Isaiah on the right and Saint John the Baptist on the left. The other female figures are the Sibyls, prophetesses in Roman mythology.
4 – 5. STEPS AND FRESCO TA TA
Directly opposite Junterones Chapel is another space behind an iron grill, but this space contains a piano, and a set of steps leading up behind the organ. Of particular interest is some old fresco work in a corner up above the steps. [Photo Credit: Lone S ] [Photo Credit: Jim20ffg ]
5. CHAPEL OF SAINT JOSEPH TA TA
Next to the Junterones Chapel is Chapel 5 in the Plan, the Chapel of St Joseph. Here there is a statue of Joseph holding the Child Jesus. Up above is a round window depicting a dove ascending – I am unsure of the significance. [Photo1 Credit: Pierre G ] [Photo2 Credit: Luis E ]
5 – 6. NORTH WALL CHAPELS, PAINTING, GRYPHON TA SS TA
Returning to the inner wall of the aisle, we see that East of the steps there is a painting with a sculpture on either side. The painting is of the Madonna and Child, and we notice an interesting creature beneath each of the sculpted figures. These are wyverns – mythical creatures with two legs, two wings, and often a pointed tail. What are they doing here?! [Photo31,3 Credit: Vadim ]
5 – 6. CHAPEL OF UNKNOWN NAME TA
Next to the painting is the last of these inner chapels, for which there is a photo but unfortunately no name. The man depicted is likely to be a Spanish saint. [Photo Credit: Vadim ]
6. ORGAN MC Wiki TA TA
This completes our investigation of the chapels of the Southern aisle, and we move round to the central nave. Looking West, we see the magnificent Cathedral organ. The Merklin organ dates from 1854 (when there was a destructive Cathedral fire) and has almost 4000 pipes. It is claimed to be one of the most important organs at an international level. [Photo2 Credit: Pariegetes ] [Photo3 Credit: Danish Travelor ] [Photo4 Credit: Jeroan B ]