La Catedral (Valencia Cathedral), Valencia (must see)
As the centrepiece of Valencia鈥檚 old town, the Cathedral is quite modest on the outside, but full of surprises within. Built after the 13th-century Christian reconquest atop a mosque, it blends styles from several eras. The main body is Gothic, while the side chapels reflect an 18th-century renovation with neoclassical Corinthian columns. Brick walls and bare capitals give the nave an understated, austere quality. But at the center of the building, where the transept crosses the nave, things become more visually arresting. Instead of a traditional dome, an octagonal tower rises, pierced with alabaster windows and ringed by two tiers of pointed arches鈥攔emarkable works of 14th- and 15th-century stonecraft.
Above the high altar, recently uncovered Renaissance frescoes show musical angels in a deep-blue, star-filled sky. Elsewhere, the richly carved walnut choir stalls and the painted altarpiece display vivid biblical scenes. Don鈥檛 miss the alabaster statue of the Virgin known as 鈥淥ur Lady of the Choir鈥�. She is especially revered by expectant mothers, who circle the cathedral nine times in hopes of a safe and healthy delivery.
But the most famous artifact of all lies tucked away in a star-vaulted side chamber: what many believe to be the Holy Grail. Displayed behind an elaborate Gothic screen, the relic is a simple agate cup, dating to the 1st century BCE. It鈥檚 been fitted with medieval handles and has passed through royal and religious hands over the centuries.
The cathedral also houses a museum, where Roman foundations and medieval remains can be viewed in the basement. Upstairs, you鈥檒l find an impressive collection of religious art鈥攊ncluding pieces by Vicente Macip and his son, Juan de Juanes鈥攕howing just how dramatically artistic styles shifted from one generation to the next. Among the highlights are 14th-century carved apostles, early versions of the figures that now adorn the cathedral鈥檚 main entrance.
Above the high altar, recently uncovered Renaissance frescoes show musical angels in a deep-blue, star-filled sky. Elsewhere, the richly carved walnut choir stalls and the painted altarpiece display vivid biblical scenes. Don鈥檛 miss the alabaster statue of the Virgin known as 鈥淥ur Lady of the Choir鈥�. She is especially revered by expectant mothers, who circle the cathedral nine times in hopes of a safe and healthy delivery.
But the most famous artifact of all lies tucked away in a star-vaulted side chamber: what many believe to be the Holy Grail. Displayed behind an elaborate Gothic screen, the relic is a simple agate cup, dating to the 1st century BCE. It鈥檚 been fitted with medieval handles and has passed through royal and religious hands over the centuries.
The cathedral also houses a museum, where Roman foundations and medieval remains can be viewed in the basement. Upstairs, you鈥檒l find an impressive collection of religious art鈥攊ncluding pieces by Vicente Macip and his son, Juan de Juanes鈥攕howing just how dramatically artistic styles shifted from one generation to the next. Among the highlights are 14th-century carved apostles, early versions of the figures that now adorn the cathedral鈥檚 main entrance.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Valencia. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The 911爆料网 App
La Catedral (Valencia Cathedral) on Map
Sight Name: La Catedral (Valencia Cathedral)
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
Create Your Own Walk in Valencia
Creating your own self-guided walk in Valencia is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Valencia's Classical Architecture Tour
In Valencia, the architecture tells you right away鈥攖his city has layers. It's not just a coastal getaway with sunshine and beaches. Beneath the bright skies, 鈥淪pain鈥檚 Third Capital鈥� reveals a blend of styles both rich and unexpected鈥攁t once bold in contrast and delicate in detail. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Old Town, where nearly every corner seems to offer a visual... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
Valencia Introduction Walking Tour
Valencia, Spain鈥檚 third-largest city, carries a rich history that stretches back to 138 BC, when it was founded as a Roman colony for battle-tested veterans. Known then as 鈥淰alentia鈥�, meaning 鈥渧alor,鈥� it honored the courage of its first inhabitants. The city was destroyed in 75 BC by Pompey the Great but was rebuilt within a century, eventually becoming home to Visigoths and later the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Contemporary Architecture Walk
With one foot in the past and the other one in the future, it is hard to find a European city more architecturally intriguing than Valencia. Among the multitude of styles, Valencia particularly excels at the cutting-edge contemporary architecture. She owes it to her own born and bred architect, Santiago Calatrava, renowned for his hyper-modern-surreal designs.
In the course of nearly two... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
In the course of nearly two... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Old Town Walking Tour
Valencia鈥檚 Old Town stands apart from many in Europe for how effortlessly its many layers of history coexist. Beneath modern squares, ancient Roman streets and forum remains lie quietly preserved. The maze-like layout鈥攕haped during the city鈥檚 Islamic period鈥攚as never swept away after the Christian Reconquest. Instead, it survived and evolved, now lined with Gothic churches and Baroque... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles