佘山大教堂
Sheshan Basilica
佘山大教堂又名佘山进教之佑圣母大殿，坐落于西佘山山顶。红砖外墙与绿树互相映衬，高耸的尖顶为佘山重要的标志和美丽的风景。佘山大教堂建成于1935年11月，1942年罗马教宗敕封其为宗座圣殿，使之成为远东地区的天主教朝圣中心，有“远东第一教堂”之称。
佘山建设教堂的历史始于100多年前。1844年，天主教在中国恢复合法地位后，法籍耶稣会会长南格禄来到佘山，认为这里满山竹林，环境幽静，是祈祷之圣地。1863年，法国传教士以《中法北京条约》所许特权，购置佘山一部分山地。1864年，佘山山顶建造了六角亭供奉圣母像，教徒开始上佘山朝圣。1871年5月举行佘山山顶大教堂奠基典礼，6000名教徒参加露天大礼弥撒。1873年4月，希腊式的山顶大堂建成，又从半山腰到山顶修筑了一条“之”字形的苦路，在每个拐弯处竖立苦路亭共14个。1894年，半山又翻建了可容500余人的、中国传统风格的中山圣母堂。门前有可容千人的广场，设有栏杆、石凳，供教徒们休息、观景，西面建有三圣亭（耶稣圣心亭、圣母亭、若瑟亭）。后因教徒人数增多、原有建筑陈旧狭小，旧堂在1925年4月拆除重建，由葡萄牙籍神父叶肇昌负责设计并主持施工，历时10年6个月。当年建造时，设计师对工程管理十分严格，确保了大教堂的建筑质量和艺术魅力经久不衰。
佘山大教堂因处于山顶，因势而建，平面为不对称“十”字形，东西长56米，南北宽25米。教堂建筑设计先进，对声学、防潮、除尘等都有独特的处理。
教堂的建筑风貌中西结合，融多种建筑风格为一体。主体建材与装饰部分采用中国传统建筑风格，外墙红砖，内饰石材，殿窗镶嵌彩绘玻璃，顶部采用碧色的琉璃瓦。顶部高耸的钟楼内分布8只大钟，钟楼顶部有青铜铸成的高约8米的圣母耶稣像，圣母高举张开双臂身体呈十字状的小耶稣。 远远望去，佘山山顶的天主教堂与松江九峰连绵，红色砖墙与绿色山林相映，端庄雄伟，神圣肃穆，每年五月圣母月和十二月的圣诞节吸引各地的天主教徒来此朝圣。
参观指南
佘山森林公园每日8:00—16:30开放，佘山天主堂位于佘山山顶，参观时应遵守教堂礼仪。另有佘山中山圣母堂于西佘山侧。
Sheshan Basilica, officially the National Shrine and Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Sheshan and also known as the Sheshan Hilltop Basilica of Our Lady is located on the hilltop of West Sheshan. Surrounded by a red brick wall and green trees, the towering spire is one of the most beautiful landmarks on the hill. The basilica was built in November 1935 and ordained as a minor basilica by Pope Pius XII in 1942. It now serves as a popular Catholic pilgrimage site and as “the number one basilica in the Far East”.
When the Catholic Church was reinstated in China in 1844, Fr. Gotteland, a French Jesuit came to Sheshan believing that it was a perfect holy place for praying. In 1864, a hexagonal pavilion was built on the hilltop to worship the Virgin Mary thus beginning the site's history as a major pilgrimage destination. In May 1871, the foundation ceremony of the old chapel was held with 6,000 believers participating in the mass. Many pilgrims helped to carry the building materials to the hilltop. In April 1873, the old Greek-style chapel was completed at the end of a serpentine path up the mountain from the hillside to the hilltop with 14 pavilions at each corner. Rebuilding of the new basilica in April 1925 and lasted 10 and a half years and was overseen by the Portuguese priest F. Diniz. The cathedral remains in great condition and is still widely visited for its grandeur and artistic value.
The basilica follows a traditional cross-shaped, with a nave length of 56 meters from east to west and 25-meter transept crossing it from north to south. The design dealt with the acoustics, its thermal environment, and ventilation in an advanced way for the period it was built. The basilica is intriguing also for combining a wide variety of architectural styles. The red brick is used in exterior wall while marble is utilized in the interior. The windows are inlaid with stained glass and the top is composed of green, glazed tiles. Eight large clocks are hung in the bell tower, at the top of which rests an eight-meter-high bronze statue of the Blessed Virgin embracing Jesus. From afar, the basilica appears connected with the unceasing mountains, and the red brick walls harmonize with the green forests, fusing into a majestic, solemn scenery. Catholics from all over the world undertake the difficult and rewarding pilgrimage here every May and Christmas.
Tips
Hours:08:00–16:30.Located on the hilltop in Sheshan National Forest Park, and the Sheshan Hillside Chapel of Our Lady is also on West Sheshan.