The Basilica of La Macarena is a modern church built between 1941 and 1946 by the architect Aurelio Gomez Millan, who built it in a Neo-Baroque style. It has been a basilica since 1966. It is famous for housing the Virgin of Hope, Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza, who is also called La Macarena. The statue is attributed to the famous sculptress Luisa Roldan, known as La Roldana, and was probably made in the 18th century. The statue is found in the main altar and is surrounded by silver and gold decoration. The statue is also the most revered image in Seville and she is the patron saint of the matadors and a favorite of the Gypsies. The matador Joselito bought four emeralds for her. On Good Friday the statue is taken out of the church for the procession and is brought to the Cathedral. Thousands of people shout to her "Guapa", which means beautiful. The brotherhood that takes care of the statue was founded in 1595.
The basilica also contains the statue of the Virgen Rosario from the 18th century and sculpted by Pedro Duque Cornejo, as well as the statue of the Cristo de la Sentencia, sculpted in 1654 by Felipe Morales Nieto. Just outside the church is the Arch of Macarena, which was a door from the Almoravid dynasty.
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