The Cathedral was built upon the site of the first Roman temple in the city.
However, the Cathedral used to be a mosque, but when El Cid conquered the city,
it became a Roman Catholic cathedral. Later the city was retaken by the
Muslims, and the cathedral became again a mosque until the Christian king,
James I reconquered Valencia.
It has been the main Cathedral in Valencia
to this day.
The Cathedral is mainly of early gothic style, though some parts of it were
added in later eras. The cathedral's three doors reflect the mixture of styles.
The Palau Door is archaic romanesque mixed with primitive Gothic. The Door of
the Apostles is pure Gothic. The Hierros Door is baroque. The main chapel, Capilla
Mayor, is in baroque style, while the two lateral chapels are neoclassic.
The octagonal bell-tower, called Miguelete, is the landmark of the city.
From there one has a great view of the entire city. In the Capitulary one can
see what the church claims is the Holy Grail, of which Jesus Christ and
the Apostles are said to have drunk during the Last Supper.
The Cathedral houses a museum, founded in 1761. The museum's collection
consists primarily of religious wooden images, paintings, and other sacred
objects and silver work. Among these pieces is a notable collection of works
from the 14th century, pieces by Jacomart, the two Hernandos, Juan de Juanes,
and the most well-known, two paintings by Goya, The Farewell to Saint Francis
of Borja, and the Condemned.
Basilica of the Virgen de los Desamparados
The basilica is the site of the statue of the namesake virgin of the
basilica, also known as the Virgin of the Abandoned Ones. The basilica,
attached to the Cathedral by a magnificent renaissance archway, competes with
the cathedral in its ability to attract the faithful. It is the sanctuary of
the Geperudeta or the Little Hunchback, the virgin who is known for her
efforts to protect the less fortunate. The statue itself is in the gothic
style, with a Byzantine face, a long head of hair. It is adorned by numerous
jewels donated by the faithful. The basilica was constructed between 1652 and
1667 by Diego MartÃnez Ponce de Urruana.