Sagrat Cor de Jesus (Christ, the Sacred Heart of Jesus) is a monument[1] located 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north of Ibiza Town on the Spanish island of Ibiza.[2][3]

Sagrat Cor de Jesus
The statue of Sagrat Cor de Jesus
Map
38°56′28.32″N 1°25′20.26″E / 38.9412000°N 1.4222944°E / 38.9412000; 1.4222944
LocationIbiza Town, Balearic Islands, Spain
DesignerValencian sculptor Antoni Sanjuan
Completion date12 October 1947

Description edit

The monument is built from stone and is 23 meters tall.[1] The base pedestal and the pillar were constructed by a construction company from the island of Majorca by the name of Joan Serra. The onsite construction was carried out under the supervision of Joan Costa, master builder from Ibiza. The design structure and detail was carried out by architect Guillermo Moragues. The statue of Christ was carved by the Valencian sculptor Antoni Sanjuan. This statue of Christ resembles the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer on the Corcovado mountain outside the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro. The Ibizan statue is 14 meters[1] shorter than its Brazilian cousin.

History edit

This memorial was completed on 12 October 1947[1] and was constructed at the instruction of Antonio Cardona Riera[4] who was the Bishop of Ibiza between 2 February 1950 to 28 March 1960. The memorial and Christ statue was constructed to commemorate and to give thanks to the local population for giving sanctuary and a place of hiding to Antonio Cardona Riera, known on the island as Frit, during the Spanish Civil War. The late summer of 1936[5] saw a period of time during the conflict when Ibiza churches[5] had become a target of hate and were set alight and priests were being killed.[5][6] Following the military rebellion on Ibiza by the Nationalist the island had been re-captured by the Republicans under the leadership of Alberto Bayo. When Bayo left the island for Majorca, the FAI (Iberian Anarchist Federation) were left in control and it was during this period that Cardona decided to go into hiding for several days in these hills and was able to survive with the help of the local population.

Location edit

This memorial statue is to be found on a small knoll[2] north of Ibiza town on the eastern side of the C-731 road which runs from Ibiza Town to Sant Antoni de Portmany.[7] It is in the small hamlet named Monte Cristo as is the nearby industrial estate.

Getting there edit

The memorial site is not easy to find. By car travelling from Ibiza town, take the main C-731 road[7] to Sant Antoni then, after two miles, take a right road eastwards towards the industrial zone after the large supermarket. Keep driving straight ahead and uphill. After a short distance turn right again along a small lane to the car park just below the monument.

Gallery edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "The statue of Christ - The Sacred Heart of Jesus". Ibiza A to Z.com. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  2. ^ a b Title: Mapa Topográfico Nacional de España - 798 Ibiza/Eivissa. Published: ING. Date of issue: 2006 Edition. :ISBN 978 844 16000 10.
  3. ^ "Libreria Desnival- Mapa Topográfico Nacional de España - 798 Ibiza/Eivissa". Image of the front cover and details of Map. Libreria Desnival 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  4. ^ "The Hierarchy of the Catholic Church". Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  5. ^ a b c "Live Ibiza". The Spanish Civil War in the Pitiuses – Part Six – Section: Destruction and Persecution. LIVEIBIZA 1982-2013. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  6. ^ "Martyrs of the Religious Persecution during the Spanish Civil War - Ibiza". Martyrs of the catholic church on Ibiza. Hagiography Circle. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  7. ^ a b "579 Regional Map, Spain, Islas Baleares". Pub:Michelin Editions des Voyages, 2004, ISBN 2-06-710098-X

External links edit