Iglesia de San Lorenzo (Church of St. Lawrence), Valencia

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Iglesia de San Lorenzo (Church of St. Lawrence), Valencia

Iglesia de San Lorenzo (Church of St. Lawrence), Valencia

Though not among the most well-known, this church is one of the city’s historic parishes, dating back to the time of the Reconquest, with records mentioning it as early as 1245. The exact beginnings remain unclear, but it was likely built in the 13th or 14th century, possibly over the site of an old Arab mosque. One of its most striking exterior elements is the hexagonal bell tower, added later in 1746.

Inside, the layout follows a single nave running parallel to the square. While the structure began in the Gothic tradition, major Baroque renovations in the 1680s reshaped the interior. The transformation brought in ornate detail while still leaving traces of its medieval past. Among the highlights is the main altarpiece—one of the few in Valencia to survive the Spanish Civil War in 1936. Its design features Solomonic columns and a layered, sculptural arrangement that plays with depth and movement.

By 1902, the church was no longer serving as a parish and was handed over to the Franciscan order, whose convent stands next door, forming part of the same block.

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Iglesia de San Lorenzo (Church of St. Lawrence) on Map

Sight Name: Iglesia de San Lorenzo (Church of St. Lawrence)
Sight Location: Valencia, Spain (See walking tours in Valencia)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

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