Iglesia de San Juan del Hospital (Church of St. John of the Hospital Order), Valencia
Remarkably intact given its age, this former hospital church was consecrated in 1238, making it the oldest in Valencia built after the Reconquest. King James I commissioned it as a gesture of gratitude to the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, a religious-military group that supported his campaign to reclaim the city from Muslim rule. What emerged was more than just a church鈥攊t formed part of a larger complex that included a hospital, convent, and cemetery.
The church itself reflects a mix of architectural influences. Its north entrance shows off a Romanesque semicircular arch, topped by a Gothic ogival window bearing a Maltese cross. Inside, the single nave is covered by a pointed barrel vault, flanked by side chapels. The chancel is especially notable, supported by a combination of reused Roman and Islamic columns, including 10th-century caliphal capitals. The Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel holds rare 13th-century Romanesque frescoes鈥攁mong the few still visible in Valencia. Meanwhile, the Chapel of Santa B谩rbara was added in 1686 in full Baroque fashion, and houses the tomb of Empress Constance of Hohenstaufen鈥攁 rare surviving monument associated with that dynasty.
Outside, the south courtyard contains archaeological remains of Valentia鈥檚 Roman circus, including part of its central spine. Next to it lies a medieval cemetery unlike any other in the city, complete with arcosolium tombs and a funerary chapel where James I is said to have once attended Mass. Many of these arched tombs were once painted or inscribed with the name and virtues of the deceased. Though time may have erased much of that detail, the architectural form remains.
The complex didn鈥檛 always receive the care it deserved. After the dissolution of military orders in Spain, maintenance declined, and further damage occurred during the Spanish Civil War. By the mid-20th century, demolition was a real threat. Fortunes changed in 1943, when it was declared a National Historic and Artistic Monument. Restoration began in 1967, led by the Opus Dei prelature. The site now operates as both an active church and a museum, offering guided tours that explore the many layers of history preserved within its walls.
The church itself reflects a mix of architectural influences. Its north entrance shows off a Romanesque semicircular arch, topped by a Gothic ogival window bearing a Maltese cross. Inside, the single nave is covered by a pointed barrel vault, flanked by side chapels. The chancel is especially notable, supported by a combination of reused Roman and Islamic columns, including 10th-century caliphal capitals. The Chapel of Saint Michael the Archangel holds rare 13th-century Romanesque frescoes鈥攁mong the few still visible in Valencia. Meanwhile, the Chapel of Santa B谩rbara was added in 1686 in full Baroque fashion, and houses the tomb of Empress Constance of Hohenstaufen鈥攁 rare surviving monument associated with that dynasty.
Outside, the south courtyard contains archaeological remains of Valentia鈥檚 Roman circus, including part of its central spine. Next to it lies a medieval cemetery unlike any other in the city, complete with arcosolium tombs and a funerary chapel where James I is said to have once attended Mass. Many of these arched tombs were once painted or inscribed with the name and virtues of the deceased. Though time may have erased much of that detail, the architectural form remains.
The complex didn鈥檛 always receive the care it deserved. After the dissolution of military orders in Spain, maintenance declined, and further damage occurred during the Spanish Civil War. By the mid-20th century, demolition was a real threat. Fortunes changed in 1943, when it was declared a National Historic and Artistic Monument. Restoration began in 1967, led by the Opus Dei prelature. The site now operates as both an active church and a museum, offering guided tours that explore the many layers of history preserved within its walls.
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Iglesia de San Juan del Hospital (Church of St. John of the Hospital Order) on Map
Sight Name: Iglesia de San Juan del Hospital (Church of St. John of the Hospital Order)
Sight Location: Valencia, Spain (See walking tours in Valencia)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Valencia, Spain (See walking tours in Valencia)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Valencia, Spain
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