Pontifical Basilica of St. Michael

The Pontifical Basilica of Saint Michael in central Madrid is a Baroque Roman Catholic church built between 1739 and 1745 to plans by Italian architect Santiago Bonavia. It was commissioned by Cardinal Luis de Borbon y Farnesio, son of King Philip V, in memory of the child martyrs Justus and Pastor, killed at Alcala de Henares in 597. The convex curved facade over the narrow Calle San Justo is one of the few examples of Roman high Baroque in Spain and recalls the work of Borromini. Opus Dei has cared for the church since 1892 and it was raised to the status of minor basilica in 1930. It stands opposite the Madrid archbishop's palace and serves as the church of the Apostolic Nuncio in Spain. Inside, an oval main dome and frescoes by Bartolome Rusca dominate.