The Shrine of the Infant Jesus, the Basilica has the shape of a Latin cross, with a single nave.
According to the Fathers and Artists wanted to achieve something beautiful and majestic to honor Jesus, the Infant. The Renaissance style facade dominates the wide square and is located at the center of two cloisters with arcades; on the mountain side stands the bell tower. All images, especially mosaics and coat-of-arms speak about Infant Jesus, Carmel and Arenzano.
Those who enter the Holy Temple, feel an atmosphere of prayer. Here, everything inspires the elevation of the mind to God. Above all, in the center you can see the throne of the Infant Jesus and our gaze is immediately brought to Him. The central nave is the oldest part of 1908 (year of Inauguration), with stuccoes, decorations, stained glass typically Carmelite Chapels. The transepts instead built in the 1960s are crowns. In them, as on the counter-facade dominate the ceramic works by Angelo Biancini.
The measurement of the Basilica is 32 meters long, including the choir. It is 11.50 meters wide and 25 meters high. Including the transepts is 40 meters long overall.
There are six side chapels, leading to the High Altar and the throne of the Infant Jesus. From the right they are: St. John of the Cross, St. Theresa of Infant Jesus and St. Joseph; on the left, Chapel of Passion, of St. Theresa of Avila, the Sacred Heart and Our Lady of Mount Carmel. …
From the center of the church we can see the presbyterian-throne-apse.
The new presbytery rebuilt in 1991, was entirely made of red marble of Portugal and red of France, embedded in a large semi-circular pedestal. In front of the altar there is the artistic frontal of the previous one, with four bronze statues depicting (from left to right) S. Elia, …
The transept (40 meters long) has a barrel ceiling and along the trabeation the biblical inscription reads in Latin, “whoever invoked the name of the Lord will be saved-in the name of Jesus every knee will bowed”. In the transept facing the mountains on the north wall, you can see the Marriage of Our Lady. This was Biancini’s first work for the Shrine, …
The sacristy represent itself as a linear and sober environment, with furniture containing all the material necessary for the great celebrations that often take place in the Basilica. …
The transept has a barrel ceiling and along the trabeation the following biblical script reads in Latin: “All nations will come to you and worship you Lord, and will glorify your name because You are Holy”. …
Looking up we are attracted by the magnificent fresco that completely covers the apse basin. The work by the painter Renzo Bonfiglio from Vado Ligure dates back to 1965 and depicts the needy humanity at the feet of the Child Jesus. …
The chapel is inspired by Donatello, angels dance around the canopy. The frescoes show Our Lady with Carmelite Saints. The wooden statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is a copy of one found on the west front of the Cathedral in Florence. …
It is a small chapel, like that of St. Therese of Lisieux. The vault is decorated with figures of two Carmelites. On the right, St. Teresa Margaret, on the left the Venerable Fr. John of Jesus and Mary …
She was the Reformer of Carmelite Order and a Doctor of the Church. She is shown with an open book and pen in her hand. She fixes her eyes on the divine light which inspired her to write. On the other side walls there are two large frescoes depicting the transverberation of her heart and her crowning. …
From the chapel of St. Theresa you can be accessed a small chapel with a very cozy atmosphere of prayer.
Here, there are three important works presented to the public: …
The wooden statue above the altar is the work of craftsmen from Ortisei in the Val Gardena. It was donated by the carpenters of Arenzano in honor of their patron.
On the canopy, the saint is shown helping the needy. Entering from the left side, in the same order as described on the right: …
Patroness of the Missions and Doctor of the Church. This chapel is so simple and quiet. The image of the saint is surrounded by an angel. …
In a niche there is a statue of St. John, a Doctor of the Church and the founder of the Discalced Carmelites, together with St. Therese of Avila. In bright colors and garlands, the chapel is decorated with scenes from the life of Saint. The mosaic banner shows St. John among his Carmelite brothers,…
To the left of the facade, leaning against the transept on the mountain side, we find the small cloister dedicated to St. Therese of Infant Jesus. The entrance of arches and columns in travertine crown a beautiful fountain, surmounted by the statue of St. Therese of Infant Jesus. …
To the right of the facade, on the sea side transept, there is the cloister dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, whose marble statue stands in the center, in a small bed complete with white and black stones. …
When you come out from the souvenir shop, you can visit the Chapel of Blessing, where there is a statue of Infant Jesus of Prague on a fine marble plinth. …
In the transept on the sea side, there are two artistic confessionals, but we use only in great recurrences, usually a more reserved and comfortable room use with two confessionals, …
The facade of the church is architect by Joseph Castellucci of Florence. It is in the Italian Renaissance style, with the central projecting forward slightly, and higher than the two lateral wings. The whole structure is divided horizontally into two parts. In the lower part there are eight paired columns, resting on plinths …
On the right side of the Chapel of the Blessings there is the porter’s lodge of the Carmelite fathers.
From it – which can be visited – access is made to the enclosure of the religious community.
At the end of the north transept you will see the majestic belfry, 43 meters high. Its completed in 1965, in a modern style. It has 12 bells to remind us the age of Jesus, when his parents found him in the temple among the scholars. …
