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Built during the second half of the 18th century, the Basilica of Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes in Oría is a distinctive example of the late Baroque in the province of Almería.
Its construction was sponsored by the 10th Marquis of Los Vélez, Don Antonio Álvarez de Toledo. In 1879 it was named Minor Basilica by Pope Leo XIII. The plan of the façade is delimited by the tower, built mostly of brick, and its counterpart which remained unfinished. It has a rectangular floor plan with an umbrella dome over the transept, and vaulted ceilings with lunettes. The interior is decorated with stucco reliefs which recall the compositional layout of Rococo art. The front of the main chapel is decorated with a large trompe l'oeil (optical illusion or visual trap) dating from the mid-20th century, mimicking an architectural altarpiece that frames the niche containing the Virgin of Las Mercedes.
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Open to visitors outside religious services. Check in advance.
