Cathedral

In the historic center of Valencia stands the impressive Valencia Cathedral. Far from being a ‘standard’ church, its exterior is remarkable for its mix of architectural styles. Inside, you’ll find one of the most important relics of the Christian faith, the Holy Grail! Curious to know more? Keep reading!

History of the Cathedral

The area around today’s cathedral has been the religious heart of Valencia since the city’s very foundation. The first Roman settlers built a temple on the main square, which was later replaced by a church when Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire. Remains of this early church can still be seen today in the Archaeological Museum L’Almoina and in the crypt of San Vicente Mártir.

Although Spain is now widely known as a Christian country, this wasn’t always the case. For 525 years, Valencia was under Islamic rule, Arabic was the main language, and the city was even renamed Balansiya. The old basilica was torn down to make way for a mosque.

On October 9, 1238, King Jaime I reconquered Valencia for the Christians. Interestingly, for 34 years the former mosque continued to be used as a church. It wasn’t until 1262 that the first stone of the current Valencia Cathedral was finally laid.

Oops, mistake!

The cathedral of Valencia was built in the traditional cross shape often seen in old churches: a Latin cross. But there’s a curious mistake in its design, the orientation of the church! Instead of facing east, as was customary, the cathedral was built facing southeast. And southeast doesn’t point to Jerusalem, but to Mecca, the holy city of Islam. You can clearly notice this when standing on Plaza de la Virgen and comparing the orientation of the cathedral with that of the pink basilica, which does face the correct direction.

Most of the cathedral was built during the 13th and 14th centuries, mainly in Romanesque and Gothic style. The original plans by architect Andreu Juliá were fairly simple, likely due to limited funds. After all, the construction wasn’t financed by the king or nobility, but by local citizens who had far fewer resources to spend.

Further works

The construction of Valencia Cathedral took place in six phases between 1262 and the late 18th century. In 1381, work began on the bell tower El Micalet, which took 44 years to complete. At that time, the cathedral was smaller than it is today, and the tower actually stood separate from the church! It wasn’t until 35 years later that the two structures were finally connected.

By the 18th century, Valencians considered the old Gothic style outdate, even barbaric and wanted to modernize the building. Frescoes were covered with stucco, parts of the roof were torn down, and new side chapels in the Neoclassical style were added. The blue domes you can still see today are part of this renovation.

Around the same time, the cathedral also received a new main entrance: the Puerta de los Hierros (Door of Iron), named after the wrought-iron gate surrounding it. This richly decorated entrance was built in Italian Baroque style, featuring the emblem of the Virgin Mary above the door, along with references to Valencia’s patron saints San Vicente Mártir and San Vicente Ferrer, and Valencian popes Calixtus III and Alexander VI.

From Building to Rebuilding

Over the centuries, Valencia Cathedral has gone through many transformations. It was damaged during the Spanish Civil War, and as tastes changed, so did the building itself. As mentioned earlier, much of the original Gothic design was reshaped in the 18th century into the Neoclassical style. By 1972, however, Valencians regretted this decision. Many of the classical elements were removed, revealing parts of the original Gothic walls and decorations once again.

Today, the cathedral is a fascinating blend of styles, primarily Gothic, but with touches of Renaissance and Baroque. And if that wasn’t impressive enough, in 1788 the famous Spanish painter Goya created two paintings that still hang inside the cathedral!

The Holy Grail in Valencia!

Don’t tell the Knights of the Round Table or Indiana Jones, but the Holy Grail is kept inside Valencia Cathedral! According to tradition, this is the very cup Jesus drank from during the Last Supper, just before his death. Soon after, Christians began the tradition of the Mass, drinking wine in remembrance of his sacrifice and resurrection. That makes the Holy Grail one of the most important relics in the Christian faith.

Every year, the Grail is still used during Mass on Holy Thursday (just before Easter) and on the last Thursday of October, when Valencia celebrates the annual Feast of the Holy Grail.

Honored Visitors

In the past fifty years, Valencia has had the privilege of welcoming two popes. In 1982, Pope John Paul II visited Valencia Cathedral, where he admired the Holy Grail, kissed the sacred cup, and even celebrated Mass with it. In 2006, Pope Benedict XVI also came to the city and used the Grail during Mass.

In 2015, Pope Francis granted the cathedral of Valencia the privilege of holding a special Jubilee Year every five years in honor of the Holy Grail. This recognition makes the Holy Chalice of Valencia officially acknowledged by the highest Christian authority on earth.

Want to see the Holy Grail for yourself? After entering the cathedral, head to the right towards the Capilla del Santo Cáliz. There, behind a glass panel, the Grail is waiting for your visit!

Pregnant in Valencia?

If you’re expecting, locals in Valencia will often encourage you to visit the cathedral. Tradition says that pregnant women should walk nine laps around the main hall and altar, each lap representing one month of pregnancy. Before starting, you can buy a candle at the entrance, which comes with a special prayer.

The ritual begins at the statue of Nuestra Señora del Buen Parto (‘Our Lady of Good Delivery’.) Read the prayer and walk your first lap around the cathedral, then repeat eight more times. One important detail: don’t light the candle while walking. Instead, save it and light it when labor begins.

Not pregnant but still curious to try? Don’t worry, joining in on this tradition won’t do any harm!

The Cathedral Museum

On the east side of the cathedral you’ll find the Cathedral Museum, home to a remarkably diverse collection spread across five halls. Nearly one hundred works of art are on display here, many of which once stood inside the church itself. These include paintings, sculptures and various religious objects.

You’ll also find fascinating information about the cathedral’s construction, along with fragments from demolished or rebuilt sections of the building. Head down to the basement and you’ll step right into history, there’s an archaeological site with remains dating back to Roman times. And before you leave, don’t forget to browse the museum shop for a special souvenir.

The Older Doors

Valencia Cathedral has three main doors, though today only one is still in use, the grand entrance on Plaza de la Reina. If you walk around the cathedral, you’ll spot the other two historic doors, which nowadays remain closed most of the time.

Where It All Began…

On the east side of the cathedral stands its oldest entrance: the Puerta de la Almoina. Built in Romanesque style, the door is fairly simple, but that simplicity is exactly what makes it so beautiful. The entrance faces the Archbishop’s Palace of Valencia, which is why it’s also known as the Porta del Palau (Palace Door).

Look closely above the doorway and you’ll see the carved heads of seven couples – influential families who helped finance the construction of the cathedral.

El Tribunal de les Aigües

On the west side of the cathedral, facing Plaza de la Virgen, you’ll find the Puerta de los Apóstoles. This Gothic-style doorway is named after the sculptures of the twelve apostles that flank the entrance. The statues you see today are reproductions, while the originals are preserved in the Cathedral Museum.

Every Thursday at 12.00, this is the stage for the Tribunal de las Aguas, Europe’s oldest judicial institution still in operation. Eight judges meet here to discuss the distribution of Valencia’s irrigation water, continuing a tradition that dates back to Islamic times. North African experts once introduced advanced irrigation techniques to the region, and the water tribunal oversaw their use. Since 2009, this fascinating institution has been recognized by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Reach New Heights: El Micalet

Rising above the cathedral is Valencia’s iconic bell tower: El Micalet. Construction began in 1381, and at first it was simply known as ‘the new bell tower.’ The large bell installed to mark the passing of time was given a name, as was customary in those days: El Miguelete (‘Little Miguel’ in Spanish). Over time, the name stuck, not just for the bell, but for the entire tower and in Valencian it became El Micalet.

Today, you can still climb the tower and it’s absolutely worth it! From the top you’ll enjoy spectacular views over the city, spotting landmarks like the Mercado Central and several of Valencia’s most famous squares. On clear days (which are frequent here), you can even see the mountain range surrounding the city and the vast Valencian plain stretching out before you.

A little tip: be prepared for the climb! There are 207 steps and the spiral staircase can get quite narrow. And if you’re afraid of heights, keep in mind that El Micalet reaches 51 meters tall…

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