R04: Did you know what?
Antoni Gaudí and Misericordia
One of Antoni Gaudí's great ties to Reus, his hometown, was the devotion he professed to the Virgin Mary of Mercy, as demonstrated by the fact that he participated in various pilgrimages to the Sanctuary. His participation in that of 1900 is particularly noteworthy, which had a special significance. For this occasion, Gaudí designed the banner that identified the people of Reus living in Barcelona, which featured a painting by the artist Aleix Clapés. The banner was burned during the Civil War in 1936.
On the other hand, in 1903 Antoni Gaudí presented to the Board of the Sanctuary a project for the renovation of the facade of the temple, which was approved by the Board that same year. The project provided for the construction of a monumental portico presided over by a large sculpture of the Virgin Mary. Although the City Council gave the permission to start the works, the project was stopped just before the work started due to a conflict between the residents and the council which finally made it unviable. Reus lost the opportunity to have a work signed by the brilliant architect.
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