Description
The period of vibrancy, transformation and growth experienced by Tortosa between the 19th and 20th centuries not only affected public and private architecture, but also spread to religious architecture. A noteworthy example is the Church of the Reparation by Joan Abril i Guanyabens, built in 1903 under the patronage of the Brotherhood of Diocesan Worker-Priests and its founder, Blessed Josep Domingo i Sol.
Located between Carrer de la Mercè and Carrer del Vall, next to the new Marcel·lí Domingo library and near the Romeu Gate, on the site of the Baroque church of the convent of La Mercè, it is an example of symbiosis between Modernisme and Neo-Gothic architecture.
Built with a clear and manifest desire to impress, it combines Neo-Romanesque external elements with Neo-Byzantine internal elements. Especially noteworthy is the polygonal dome and the eye-catching skylight, which features a perfect blend of ceramics with ironwork and stained-glass windows; it emerges above the roofs, like a lighthouse guiding the surrounding neighbourhood. The outer apse, which faces onto the historic Carrer del Vall and the current Plaça dels Dolors, has an unusual appearance. This is the location of the entrance to the crypt or the Mossèn Sol Place, which has been listed in the catalogue of locations for diverse cultural uses and activities since its restoration.
