The Cathedral, Miguelete, and Holy Chalice

Valencia’s Cathedral, like numerous other buildings in the city, has many names. Its full name is Iglesia Catedral-Basílica Metropolitana de la Asunción de Nuestra Señora de Valencia (Metropolitan Cathedral–Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady of Valencia, in English), but nobody calls it that.

You’re much more likely to hear it being called St Mary’s Cathedral, or simply, and most commonly, la Seu. No matter the name, if you’re staying in Valencia you’re likely to hear it, as it is the most prominent religious building in the city and a major tourist sight.

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The Seu was built on the site previously occupied by a Mosque, and a Visigothic cathedral before that. The structure we now see was erected between the second half of the 1200s and the 15th century. Thus, the style that is most strongly reflected in its architecture is Gothic.

However, the construction went on for hundreds of years, as was to be expected from such a large complex. As a consequence of this, in the Cathedral, you’ll find a mixture of artistic styles, including Romanesque, Valencian Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical.

In other words, this church too, like Saint Nicholas Church, bears the imprints of the time that passed since its first stone was laid. When walking its aisles, climbing its steps, or even just walking around its perimeter to look at its different faces, you’ll find many clues. These are the marks that witness the passage of centuries, styles, and kingdoms.

Together with the Seu, you’ll certainly hear the Holy Chalice being mentioned. The goblet, brought to the Cathedral in the 15th century, is believed by many, including the Roman Catholic Church, to be the true Holy Grail.

In addition to the Grail, the Cathedral’s Museum exhibits around 90 artworks of different styles: Gothic, Renaissance, and Mannerist. Its collection includes pieces by Spanish artists Maella , Goya , and Juan de Juanes .

Finally, if you want to enjoy a panoramic view of the city, you should consider going up the Miguelete. At the top of this bell tower, you’ll be able to see the whole of Valencia’s Old Town below you and, if you’re lucky, hear the tolling of the giant bells just a few feet above your head.

Tickets

Tickets too are sold separately for Cultural visits (including the museum) and for Miguelete visits.

If you have a Valencia Tourist Card, you are eligible for a 10% discount on the Cultural visit ticket. If you’d like more information about this card, you can check out our article about the Valencia Tourist Card.

All individual and family Cultural visit tickets include an audio guide available in Spanish, English, French, Italian, German, Russian, Japanese and Valencian.

Here you have a summary table of all the Cultural visit tickets available.

Tickets for a visit to the Miguelete tower do not come with audio guides. The 10% Valencia Tourist Card discount is not valid for Miguelete tickets.

Here you have a summary table of all the Miguelete tower tickets available.

Opening Times

Keep in mind that the Seu has two slightly different timetables for cultural visits (which include a visit to the Cathedral itself and its museum) and Miguelete tower visits.

For the visit to the main body of the Cathedral and museum, you should allow at least one hour. Of course, you can speed through some parts, or stay longer to admire the interior.

Here you have a summary table of the Cathedral opening times.

And here you have a summary table of the Miguelete opening times.

Location

Valencia’s Cathedral is located right in the middle of the city’s old quarters, the Ciutat Vella. In fact, the subsection of the Old Town in which you’ll find the Cathedral is called La Seu, after the name of the building itself.

Its entrance is in Plaza de la Almoina, which you can access through Plaça de la Reina, right behind the Plaça de la Mare de Déu. The Seu is only a few steps north of the Lonja de la Seda and the Central Market.

How to Get There

Because of where the Cathedral is located, if you are already in the city centre or close to it, we highly recommend you walk or bike there.

If you are in a different part of the city, you might want to take public transport.

By Metro or Tram

There are a few stops not far from the Church. Depending on where you are located, one or the other might be more convenient.

Àngel Guimerà is 1.2 km from the Cathedral (15-minute walk, a little over 0.7 miles). It is one of the most important stops in Valencia, as five lines (1, 2, 3, 5, 9) meet at this stop.

Metro stop Colón, on the other hand, is a little closer only 900 m away (11-minute walk, a little under 0.6 miles) from the building. Lines 3, 5, 7, and 9 all stop there.

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The tram network’s line 4 stops quite close to the Cathedral, on the other side of the Serranos bridge. The stop is called Pont de Fusta, and it is about 900 km (under 0.6 miles) north of the building (11-minute walk).

For detailed information about how this system works, you can read our article about the metro and trams in Valencia.

By Bus

While there are no bus stops immediately next to the Cathedral, there are various buses stopping not too far from it.

The closest bus stop is Plaça de la Reina (bus C1), about 170 m away (0.1 miles). You’ll find other stops by the Central Market and by the Turia Park (bus 28) The stops are both 550 m away in opposite directions (a little over 0.3 miles).

For detailed information about tickets and how to get them, you can read our article about buses in Valencia.

By Taxi

Cabs are obviously the most expensive option to move around the city, and in this case, they are not the most comfortable way to get to your destination.

As the Seu is so central, we would only recommend this means of transport if your departure point is quite far from the old quarters, maybe in the outskirts of the city. It is normally quite easy to hail a taxi in the street in Valencia, but other options are also booking through a mobile app or through a phone call.

See detailed information on this in our article about taxis in Valencia.

By Bike

Valencia is a very bike-friendly city, so we always recommend exploring it this way.

On the official map, you’ll see that there are bike paths circling the city’s old quarters.

You can also cycle in the city centre and its pedestrian zones, as long as there is enough room for people to walk. On the same map, you will also see that there are two Valenbisi stations close to la Seu (one in front of it and one behind), and many others not too far away.

If you want to know more about cycling in the city, read our article about biking in Valencia or our article about Valenbisi, Valencia’s public bike rental service (with video guides).

By Scooter

Electric scooters are an ever-more popular transport solution in Valencia. They are ideal if you want to move independently around the city and you don’t want to get stuck in traffic, but you don’t like cycling or walking. Many scooter-sharing companies offer rental plans that let you pay per minute of use and nothing else.

You can park and drive your scooter within a designated area in the city’s urban zone. Generally, usually you are not allowed to park in the Old Town, where the Cathedral is, but you can always park nearby. It will be sufficient to leave your scooter just outside the no-park zone that you will see on your app’s map.

If you want to know more about this, you can check out our article about electric scooter rentals in Valencia. In the article, you’ll find step-by-step instructions and video guides to help you through the rental process.

On Foot

Given that the Cathedral is right in the middle of the city’s old quarters, it is normal that reaching it on foot is not difficult at all. In fact, if you are in the centre, going on foot is likely the easiest option.

From Estación del Norte, located at the southern end of the city centre, the Cathedral is only 900 m away (12-minute walk, a little over 0.6 miles). To reach it you will simply have to walk north, towards the heart of the Old Town.

From the Serranos towers, at the northern edge of the centre, you will only have to walk 650 m (8-minute walk, about 0.4 miles). This time, you will find the Cathedral just south of your position.

If you’d like to explore Valencia and its many monuments on foot, we have created a selection of self-guided walking tours that you can enjoy at your own pace. You can find the one that best fits your needs in the Northleg itineraries section.

Useful Tips for Your Visit

• The Cathedral and Miguelete’s opening times can be very confusing, as the schedules shift depending on the time of the year and day of the week.
• If you don’t want to keep that many timetables, you can go anytime between 10:30 am and 4:30 pm from Monday to Saturday. If you go within this time frame, regardless of the season, you’ll be able to buy your ticket and have time for a full visit.
• We also recommend you go to the Cathedral first, and the Miguelete afterwards, as it is normally open until later.
• An audio guide is provided through a QR code you can scan with your phone. To be able to listen to it carefully, don’t forget to bring your earphones.
• Remember not to skip the museum either, it has many interesting artefacts, including pieces by Spanish painter Francisco Goya .
• The climb to the Miguelete bell tower is steep and long. The 207 steps are very narrow, so with that in mind, take it slow and bring some water.
• Climbing up the steps of the Miguelete is of course worth it just to get a view of the city from high above. But if you can, we recommend you try to synchronise your visit to the top with the bell tolls, which are every hour. The sound when you’re up in the tower will be very evocative.

Curiosities

Do you know why Valencians call the Cathedral la Seu? Or the reason we use the word cathedral at all? In this curiosities section, you’ll find out why. You’ll also be able to read about the Holy Grail and how it got here, or the Cathedral’s past as a Mosque.

The Holy Chalice

The Holy Chalice is probably the most famous and sought-after Christian relic to date. According to religious tradition, the Chalice is the cup from which Jesus drank at the Last Supper.

The Last Supper story and the goblet are referenced countless times in literature, art, and popular culture. The very ritual of the Eucharist in Christian churches, where wine and a chalice are used, is a reference to this incident.

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The Holy Chalice’s fame is mainly due to its great allegorical value, the pursuit of union with God, and its symbolic reproduction in the Eucharist.

Another contributor to the goblet’s popularity is also its association with the Holy Grail, a magical item in Arthurian literature . This prominence in popular culture has made it so that the two terms are commonly used interchangeably.

The cup you can see in the Cathedral’s Capilla del Santo Cáliz is made up of three different parts, the Holy Chalice itself at the top, the foot of the cup, and the decorations.

The Holy relic would be the polished red agate goblet at the top. Archaeological studies tell us that the origin of the relic can be traced back to a workshop in Egypt, Syria or Palestine itself, between the 4th century BC and the 1st century AD.

The second part, the foot of the cup, is an Egyptian or Caliphal vase from the 10th or 11th century, added to the cup around the 12th century. The pearls and precious stones that ornament the Chalice were likely added much later, in Spain.

The story of how the Chalice got to Valencia’s Cathedral is also heavily debated, but the most popular is the following. The goblet used by Jesus was taken from Jerusalem to Rome by St Peter, where it stayed in the hands of the various ruling popes.

In 258, the Pope’s deacon took the goblet to Huesca (in Aragón) to protect it from persecutors. The cup was then passed from hand to hand, and hidden in various monasteries and cities of the region throughout the centuries until, in the 1400s, it arrived in Valencia in the hands of the King Alfonso V of Aragon.

Finally, in 1437 the King passed the Holy Chalice back to the Christian Church in Valencia as a form of debt payment. Since then, it has remained in the city, with the exception of the Spanish Civil War. During that period, the Chalice had to be removed from the Cathedral for safekeeping purposes on two occasions.

The Rejection of a Muslim Past

Like many other buildings in Valencia (and throughout Spain), the Cathedral has a Muslim past, dating back to the Moorish rule, which lasted from 718 until 1238 in Valencia.

Following the reconquest, the Christians were eager to erase signs of a Muslim presence and character in the city. Imposing a strong Christian identity obviously had to start with the churches, and first among them the Cathedral. We can of course sense this in the fact that very little remains of the Great Mosque, but we can also find more subtle clues if we look closer.

One of these clues can be found in the orientation of the Cathedral. Mosques are oriented towards Mecca, as this is the direction of prayer. In Valencia, this means that a Mosque needs to be oriented south-east, as the Great Mosque in fact was. As you might notice, Valencia’s Cathedral is oriented northeast instead.

This is because the Christian architects decided to tilt the orientation of the church, using the foundations of the Mosque as transept (the crossing section), and orienting the main body of the church (the nave) towards the northeast. In doing so, they were rejecting and redacting the Islamic past of the building, while still (somewhat) keeping the Christian tradition of orienting a Church towards the east.

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Another clue of this erasure is in the style of the Almoina Door (also known as Puerta del Palau). This was the first one of the Cathedral’s entrances to be built, in Romanesque style (the most popular architecture form in Europe until the 12th century).

The problem is that none of the other early components of the Cathedral seems to be built in this same style. They rather present a Gothic taste (which substituted the Romanesque style in the 13th century).

There are a couple of hypotheses as to why this was. The first one has to do with the fact that for 24 years before the Cathedral proper was built, the Great Mosque that stood in its place was used by Christians as a makeshift church.

Before construction on the current Cathedral had begun, the Christians would have been eager to impose a Christian identity on the building. To do this, they rushed to open up the qibla wall, where the mihrab stood (the Mecca-facing wall). This opening in the wall could then become a Christian entrance to a now Christian building, and would thus have been built before any of the other elements in the Seu.

The Names

The Cathedral of Valencia, like many other Cathedrals in Cataluña and Aragón, is known as the Seo (or Seu, in Valencian).

These words come from the Latin word sedes, meaning seat. This is not just intended in the physical sense, as “chair”, but also in a broader sense of “main building”, “headquarters”. This came from the idea that those who ruled sat on a throne. Hence then, the name for the main residence of the bishop, a seat, a Seu.

Funnily enough, the origin of the word cathedral has the same exact meaning. It comes from the Greek word καϑέδρα (cathedra), meaning chair, seat, or post.

The Cathedral’s bell tower (Campanar Nou de la Seu, in Valencian) is known as Micalet (Valencian) or Miguelete (Spanish). The name derives from the bell that is placed at the top of the tower, called Miquel (or Miguel, Spanish correspondent of Michael). The bell itself was named after the saint that was supposed to protect the city from evils and disasters.

Brief History

The Cathedral, like many other buildings in the city, evolved and was repurposed, rebuilt, and renovated throughout history, according to the norms and architectural trends of the time.

Visigothic cathedral (5th century - 718)

On the site, the Visigoths - a Germanic population that invaded the Iberian peninsula at the time - constructed a primitive cathedral.

Mosque (718 - 1238)

The site was then transformed into the Great Mosque of Valencia under Moorish rule. It is not clear when this transformation began.

Consecration of the site (1238)

James I the Conqueror, immediately after entering the city he had just taken from the Moors, went to the Great Mosque. The site was purified and consecrated as the new Cathedral.

The building itself remained that of the Great Mosque, which was used as a Christian church until the present cathedral was built.

Puerta del Palau (1238-1262)

The Romanesque entrance was opened on the qibla wall (the wall that indicated the direction of prayer in the old mosque). This happened either between 1238 and 1262, before construction actually began on the site, or around 1270.

Beginning of construction (1262)

The Great Mosque was demolished and works to build the new Cathedral on the same site began. The date is certain because of the incision on the foundation stone, located at the head of the Cathedral.

Puerta de los Apóstoles (1300)

The Gothic entrance was built probably around 1300

Lantern tower and Miguelete (14th - 15th century)

The octagonal tower was built in two parts. The first, the lower body, is from the 14th century. The second, the upper body, was built around 1430.

The belltower, called Miguelete, was built between 1381 and 1429.

Holy Chalice (1437)

The Holy Chalice was brought to the Cathedral.

Baroque additions (1674-1741)

Many elements of the Cathedral were modified or added in Baroque style, in keeping with the trends of the time. This includes the Puerta de los Hierros, built on the site of a previous, smaller entrance.

Neoclassical reform (Second half of 18th century)

The Cathedral was covered with decorations in Neoclassical style, many of which were later removed.

National Monuments (1931)

The Cathedral and Miguelete were elected National Historic-Artistic Monuments.

Architectural Elements and Style

The Seu’s construction, like that of other buildings of this magnitude, took many years to complete. As a result, the structure of the church changed over the years, parts were added and others were removed or remodelled in a variety of styles.

Nevertheless, the transition from one style to another is almost seamless. The Cathedral’s range of architectural styles is exemplified by the three doors: the Puerta de los Apostoles is Gothic, the Puerta de los Hierros is Baroque and the Puerta del Palau is Romanesque.

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The Structure

The building’s floor plan is in the shape of a Latin cross (resembling a crucifix). Three naves make up the vertical section of the cross, while the transept is the shorter, horizontal section. The side naves have four chapels on each side.

The Cathedral also has a chancel (the area used by the clergy) and an ambulatory (a semicircular corridor behind the chancel) with radial chapels. The roof is covered with four-part ribbed vaults in brick masonry, with pointed arches.

Two elements of the construction you’ll surely notice are the towers. One is the Miguelete, the belltower to the side of the Cathedral. The other one is the lantern tower, inside the Cathedral proper. A lantern tower is a tall construction elevated above the junction of the cross-shaped church, with the purpose of shining natural light down inside the building.

The Styles

Overall the space has a fairly open and horizontal appearance, typical in Valencian Gothic architecture. This is the predominant style in the structure of the cathedral, as the main nave and chapels were the first to be built. Other Gothic elements in the church can be found in the Puerta de los Apóstoles.

The Renaissance period (15th and 16th centuries) is not reflected clearly in the architecture, but rather in the pictorial decorations. Here, the most notable features were more classical and rounded shapes, vegetation, garlands, and cushions. We can find signs of this in the altar and the minor chapels.

We can find traces left by the Baroque period (17th until the mid-18th century) in the Puerta de los Hierros and the Main Chapel’s decorations.

The typically Baroque features we can observe here are the grandiose tone, the extremely rounded and rich shapes, the figures of angels and wings, the Corinthian capitals, the stone friezes, and the heavy decorations with books, vases, crosses, bells, garlands, and trophies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here you can find quick answers to all of your questions. Linked, you’ll find the articles or the sections of the articles that can give you more detailed information.

What is Valencia’s Cathedral known for?

Valencia’s Cathedral, also known as La Seu, is the most visited religious building in Valencia. It is famous for its bell tower, the Miguelete, and for being home to the Holy Chalice.

Where is Valencia’s Cathedral?

Valencia’s Cathedral is in the Seu neighbourhood, in the middle of the Ciutat Vella district. In fact, it is the Cathedral itself that gives its name to the neighbourhood.

What’s the style of Valencia’s Cathedral?

Valencia’s Cathedral presents a blend of Gothic, Baroque, and, to a lesser extent, Neoclassical and Romanesque elements.

When was Valencia’s Cathedral built?

The Cathedral’s construction began in 1262. It kept being reformed, remodelled and expanded until the second half of the 18th century. However, the site was previously occupied by a Mosque that had been there at least since the 1200s, if not before.

Is the chalice inside Valencia’s Cathedral the real Holy Chalice?

According to the Roman Catholic Church, yes. Since Mediaeval times, the chalice in Valencia is considered to be the one used by Jesus Christ during the Last Supper.

You can read more about this relic in the relevant section of the article.

What is the best way to get to Valencia’s Cathedral?

If you are in Ciutat Vella, the best way to reach Valencia’s Cathedral is probably to go on foot, or if you prefer, on a bike. If you’d like to know more about transport, you can check out the relevant section of this article.

What are the Valencia’s Cathedral opening times?

The Cathedral’s opening times are quite complicated. However, if you go between 10:30 am and 4:30 pm from Monday to Saturday you will normally find it open.

If you want to have a look at the exact opening times, you can check them in the relevant section of this article.

How much does it cost to visit Valencia’s Cathedral?

A regular ticket to Valencia’s Cathedral costs €8.00, but discounts (including Valencia Tourist Card discounts) can apply.

You can check them in the relevant section of this article.

Can I bike to Valencia’s Cathedral?

Of course you can. Valencia is an extremely bike friendly city, and on the official map, you’ll see that there are bike paths circling the city’s old quarters. You can also cycle in the city centre and its pedestrian zones, as long as there is enough room for people to walk.

If you’d like to know more about traffic rules and norms in Valencia, you can check out our article about cycling in Valencia.

What buses take me to Valencia’s Cathedral?

Lines C1, 7, 27, 28, and 73 all drop you off close to the Cathedral.

If you’d like to know more about Valencia’s bus system, you can check out our article about it.

What metro lines take me to Valencia’s Cathedral?

The metro is not the best way to reach the Cathedral, as the stops are not extremely close to the building.

However, you can take metro lines 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 9 to reach it. Depending on where you are located, one or another stop might be more convenient. Your options are Àngel Guimerà (lines 1, 2, 3, 5, and 9) or Colón (lines 3, 5, 7, and 9).

If you’d like to know more about Valencia’s metro system, you can read our article about it.

What tram lines take me to Valencia’s Cathedral?

Trams are also not your best option to get to Valencia’s Cathedral. The closest stop is line 4’s Pont de Fusta.

If you’d like to know more about Valencia’s tram network, you can check out our article about it.

Are there any Valenbisi stations near Valencia’s Cathedral?

Of course. There are two Valenbisi stations around Saint Nicholas Church, and many others not too far away.If you’d like to know more about Valenbisi, you can check out our article about it.

Can I drive and park an electric scooter near Valencia’s Cathedral?

Generally, you are not allowed to park a rental electric scooter in the Old Town, where Valencia’s Cathedral is.

You will thus need to park nearby, just outside the no-park zone that you will see on your app’s map.

You can learn more about electric scooters and how to get one in Valencia in our dedicated article.

Nearby Places of Interest

Being in the very heart of the Old Town, the Cathedral is rather close to many of Valencia’s landmarks and important buildings.