Before discovering this hidden gem, I had walked past it numerous times without realising what I…read morewas missing. From the outside you wouldn't think there is anything there but once you go through the door and past a small passageway you are met with the oldest church in Valencia; it is hidden behind a wall so from the outside you'd be none the wiser. It was founded by Knights of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta in 1238 and is currently in the hands of Opus Dei. On the left hand of the main altar there is a chapel with 13th Century Romanesque mural paintings; they are the only surviving ones in the whole Valencian Community. On the opposite side there is a Chapel dedicated to Saint Barbara which has an impressive ceiling in the baroque style. I may not be the biggest fans of priests or the Church in general but there was a kind priest who explained that the windows are not glass but very thin slices of alabaster stone. There is no entrance fee.

Beyond beautiful. Art historians call this the Sistine Chapel of Valencia, and I can see why. The…read moremagnificent frescos, statues, and colors will blow your mind. It's a bit hidden, but once you, you'll be glad you went. A must see!

I had never seen such a beautiful church in Valencia (on even in Spain) like this one before. It's…read moreso beautiful and well done. The paintings inside are very in detail and well maintained. It's hard to take your eyes off of the ceiling which is covered with amazing paintings. It reminded me a bit of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. The pillars were all painted which are different from many churches. The door of the church is quite hidden. I wouldn't have known that this exists if my friend didn't tell me. El Carmen where is situated always surprises me!!! It's really a gem of Valencia!

As I fully expected from a predominantly Roman Catholic country, Valencia has quite a cathedral…read more It's one of the triumvirate of must-see sights in Ciutat Vella (Old City) along with the Central Market and the Silk Exchange. Built between the 13th and 15th centuries, the cathedral reflects a hodgepodge of architectural styles over its long history. The Mediterranean Gothic nave features wide proportions and ribbed vaults. Above is an octagonal Cimborrio dome which filters an ethereal light through translucent alabaster windows. The Main Altarpiece is a striking set of six Renaissance paintings in an ornate gold and silver frame (Photo 8). The side chapels house Goya masterpieces. The Chapel of the Immaculate Conception was particularly inspiring (Photo 9). It was pretty crowded when we visited, so we didn't wait in the queue to see the Holy Chalice from the Last Supper. We also managed to bypass the 200 steps to the top of El Miguelete tower for the Old City views. We were thinking there's got to be easier ways to get to heaven. CORRESPONDING REVIEWS: Mercat Central: https://yelp.to/4ZcoSwUN-z La Lonja de la Seda (Silk Exchange): https://yelp.to/ZycTitztRE RELATED - Exploring Valencia? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/RqZFRNlJ_m