The oldest church in Valencia
The building combines the styles Romanesque, Valencian Gothic and Baroque, built in the 13th century on a land donated by Jaime I of Aragon as a temple and hospital of the Order of Malta. In front of the church there is a baroque house with ceramic pictures and architectural remains.
When King Jaime I took Valencia in 1238, the Knights of the Order of the Jerusalem Hospital (today Order of Malta) accompanied him and settled next to the Jewish quarter, occupying the Arab palace of the first emir. There they erected a first church converted into a hermitage, the hostel-hospital area and the cemetery. In 1255 the construction of the church begins.
Chapel of Santa Barbara
Inside of the chapel of Santa Barbara, the remains of Constance Augusta, Empress of Greece were found. King Jaime I gave a shelter to her and she was buried there in 1307. The Empress brought some relics of Santa Barbara with her, among others the Lignum Crucis that became one of the most important relics of the Cathedral.
The 13th century was the time of transition between the Romanesque and the Gothic, between the Islamic and the Christian in Valencia. This is well represented by this Cistercian church.
Interesting facts
- it is the oldest church in Valencia after the Reconquista, built around 1261
- it is a combination of Romanesque and Gothic styles, with the latter being more prominent
- it was the priory of the Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, and it has the only cemetery dating from medieval times in Valencia
- it was declared a National Historic and Artistic Monument in 1942
- It is now a parish church, and it is open to the public for visits
- the church is located in the heart of Valencia, in the district of La Seu-Xerea
- the walls of the church are decorated with murals and paintings, many of which date from the 17th century
- the church has a beautiful cloister, which is now a public garden
- the church is a popular tourist destination, and it is also used for religious services and weddings
- the only Catholic church in Valencia that is giving services in English
