Church of Saint Nicholas of Bari and Saint Peter Martyr

The Iglesia de San Nicolás de Bari y San Pedro Mártir, also called Sant Nicolau de Bari i Sant Pere Màrtir, in Valencian, is one of the most visited religious buildings in Valencia, along with the Cathedral, which is only a few minutes away from it.

The Church, generally simply known as Iglesia de San Nicolás (Saint Nicholas Church, in English) is one of the oldest parishes in the city, established right after the Christian Reconquista.

However, the reason why it is so famous and its true value lies not simply in its antiquity, but rather in its unique combination and amalgamation of styles. The Church is a symbol of the passage of time, the mark of centuries layered on top of one another.

The final image is not like any of its individual components, but rather something new, a hydra, a creature with many heads. And depending on where you look, you’ll see one of the many faces of history.

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At first glance, especially from the outside, the building could pass as just one of the many Spanish Gothic churches, or even not be seen at all, as it is hidden among the surrounding houses and restaurants. But the truth is that this building bears the memory of the ages of history.

The many lives lived by the building span from the 8th century, with its origins, through a Gothic remodelling in the 15th century, and again a Baroque restyling in the 17th-18th centuries, up to modern-day, when it was finally renovated.

Its gem is the spectacular fresco of about 2,000 square metres (21,500 square feet) executed in perfect Baroque style, covering the previously Gothic vaulted ceiling. This is what earned the Church the nickname Valencian Sistine Chapel.

The intervention to renovate the Church, terminated in 2016, was cited as “the most important one carried out to date at an international level, both for the magnitude of the work and the techniques used” by the Hortensia Herrero Foundation .

All these elements are what make Saint Nicholas Church a site of immense artistic, historic, and architectural value, not to be missed on your visit to Valencia.

Tickets

Tickets can be purchased in person directly at the venue or online on the Visit Valencia website  or from the church’s website . All tickets include an audio guide available in English, Spanish, French, Italian, and Valencian.

If you have a Valencia Tourist card, you are eligible for a 15% discount. If you want more information about this card, you can check out our article about the Valencia Tourist Card.

A combined ticket for three visits is available. The three venues included are the Saint Nicholas Church Museum, the Silk Museum, and the Santos Juanes Church. The ticket allows you to visit all the buildings on the same day or on different days, if you prefer.

Opening Times

The Parish distinguishes between two types of visits, religious and cultural. During the hours of worship, the faithful come to pray and participate in the celebrations. Entrance to the Parish during these hours is free of charge and photography and filming are not permitted.

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Timetables are subject to possible modifications due to liturgical celebrations. If you’re not sure the Church is open for visits, you can check the official agenda .

Here you have a summary table of the usual Cultural visit opening times.

Location

Saint Nicholas Church is located right in the middle of Valencia’s city centre, in the Carmen neighbourhood. It is only a few steps north of the Lonja de la Seda and the Central Market, a few steps west of Plaça de la Mare de Déu and a few steps east of the Quart Towers.

Its entrance, in Calle Caballeros 35, is very understated and unassuming. Nestled between bars and houses, easy to miss, you’ll find the little black doorway to this gem of Valencia.

How to Get There

Because of where Saint Nicholas Church is located, if you already are 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 metro stops not far from the Church. Depending on where you are located, one or the other might be more convenient.

Àngel Guimerà and Turia are both 1.1 km from the Church. Àngel Guimerà is one of the most important stops in Valencia, as five lines (1, 2, 3, 5, 9) meet at this stop. Turia, located along the homonymous park, has lines 1 and 2.

The tram network’s line 4 stops quite close to the Serranos Towers, on the other side of the bridge. The stop is called Pont de Fusta, and it is about 1.2 km (0.6 miles) northeast of the Church (12-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 Church, there are various buses stopping not too far from it.

The closest bus stop is probably Carda - Moro Zeit (bus 73), about 300 m away (less than 0.2 miles). You’ll find other stops by the Central Market (450 m south, almost 0.3 miles) and by the two Towers (Quart and Serranos). The Towers’ stops are both about 550 m (a little over 0.3 miles) from the Church, respectively west (Quart) and north (Serranos) of it.

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 Saint Nicholas Church 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 four Valenbisi stations close to the Church (one in each direction), and many others not too far away.

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, you are not allowed to park in the Old Town, where Saint Nicholas Church 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 Saint Nicholas Church 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 Church is only 1.2 km away (15-minute walk, a bit over 0.7 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 500 m (6-minute walk, about 0.5 miles). This time, you will find the Church south of your position.

Useful Tips for Your Visit

Here are our recommendations and tips to make sure that you make the most of your experience and that you don’t miss out on anything Saint Nicholas Church has to offer.

• As we have mentioned in other sections of the article, the entrance to the Church is not obvious at first sight and can be easy to miss. We highly recommend you visit this church in Valencia, and it’s not likely you’ll see it just wandering around. You can look up on a map Calle de Caballeros 35, where the tourist entrance to the Church is. It just looks like a plain, small, black door, but trust us, it’s truly worth it.
• If you want to take pictures inside - although they might not do it justice - you can. Just keep in mind that tripods are not allowed and remember to turn the flash off. It won’t be needed anyway, as the works are well lit.
• Make sure you listen to the audio guide. It really adds to the visit and it is very informative.
• To enjoy the audio guide don’t forget to bring your earphones, as the guide will be available on your phone via a QR code.
• Remember not to skip the museum either, it has many interesting artefacts.
• Remember that the Church is closed for visitors on Mondays, but it remains open for worship. Pictures and videos are not allowed at those times, and you won’t be able to wander around and visit the museum.

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Curiosities

In this section you can find some curiosities and stories linked to San Nicolás Church and its patrons. For example, you can read some anecdotes about the restoration of the frescoes that embellish the ceiling of the Church or learn some (rather grim) stories about Saint Nicholas and Saint Peter.

The Restoration

In 2013, the largest pictorial ensemble in Spain was restored in an architectural, ornamental and pictorial intervention that lasted three years and involved hundreds of artists.

This Baroque work of art, designed by Antonio Palomino and executed by his disciple Dionís Vidal in 1700, covers about 2,000 square metres (over 21,500 square feet) on the ceilings of the Saint Nicholas Church. To bring it back to its original splendour, a multidisciplinary team from the Polytechnic University of Valencia was put together.

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The team treated not only the frescoes, but also the chapels, facades, and glass windows present in the Church. For the restoration of what has been called the Sistine Chapel of Spain, an unprecedented workforce was mobilised.

The artists put in more than 41,000 hours of work, used 6,000 sheets of Japanese paper, 10,000 litres of distilled water (more than 2,600 gallons), 500 brushes, and 100 kg (220 pounds) of cotton wool.

A multitude of advanced techniques were used in the project. To re-establish the colours and contrast of the paintings, for example, laser beams and laboratory-trained bacteria were used.

On site, the bacteria ate away at specific materials without damaging the paintwork. Thanks to this excellent work we can now enjoy the spectacular view inside Saint Nicholas Church.

Saint Nicholas’ Many Names

Although the church officially maintains the title of Saint Nicholas of Bari and Saint Peter Martyr (San Nicolás de Bari y San Pedro Mártir, in Spanish), it is popularly known simply as Saint Nicholas Church.

Saint Nicholas himself is known either as Saint Nicholas of Myra (the place of his death and where he practised his office, in Turkey) or Saint Nicholas of Bari (the place where his remains were transferred after his death, in Italy).

He is mostly known as the latter in the West. Because of the numerous miracles attributed to him he is also known as Nicholas the Wonderworker.

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In his life, he had been a bishop. After his death, in 345, he famously became the inspiration for Santa Claus. The change of names comes from a linguistic shift: from the German Sankt Niklaus and then Dutch Sinterklaas later came Santa Claus.

Saint Nicholas and the Children’s Meat

There is a macabre story told about one of the many miracles that Saint Nicholas supposedly performed.

Although the story is apocryphal (meaning not accepted in the Roman Christian canon), it is alluded to on one of the exterior arches of the Church and on the frescoes inside.

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According to the story, Saint Nicholas was travelling and stopped at a tavern for supper. The innkeeper (a precursor to Sweeney Todd, we might think) served him a plate of meat. When the Saint went to bless the dish he realised that the meat he had been served was human flesh.

In the tavern keeper’s cellars, the remains of three teenagers were found. It is added that the three miraculously rose from the dead at the Saint’s command. For this reason, you might find Saint Nicholas at times depicted with a cauldron from which the three resurrected children emerge.

Saint Peter’s Knife

The lesser-known of the two saint patrons of the Church is Saint Peter Martyr, also known as Saint Peter of Verona. He was born and died in northern Italy, he was a Dominican friar and priest, not to be confused with Saint Peter the Apostle.

Saint Peter Martyr was murdered by a heretical conspiracy in 1252 by a blow to the head with a knife (or axe, depending on the version you’re reading).

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It is then told that Peter rose to his knees, and recited the first article of the Apostles’ Creed (a statement of faith). Allegedly, he then dipped his fingers in his own blood and wrote on the ground Credo in Deum (the first words of the Apostles’ Creed, meaning I believe in God). In somewhat gruesome taste, he is often depicted with said knife lodged in his head.

Brief History

Like so many other churches in Spain, the story of Saint Nicholas Church begins under Muslim rule. At the time, the site was occupied by a mosque, which was later removed to make room for a parish, after the Christians reconquered Spain. Later on, this parish too was rebuilt into the church we can see today.

However, many of the features we can appreciate in the present day were only added centuries after the initial structure was built.

Mosque (Before 1200)

Moorish rule in Valencia lasted for about five centuries. During this time, on the site, a mosque was built. Some even believe that before that, on the same site stood a Roman temple.

Primitive Church (1242-1245)

A primitive parish was built on the site of an ancient mosque. In fact, this was one of the first churches established after the Christian Reconquista.

Gothic Transformation (1419-1454)

The pre-existing church began undergoing transformations that brought it closer to the Gothic style popular in Valencia at the time. This happened under the orders of Alfons de Borja, then bishop of Valencia, and later Pope Callixtus III.

Expansion (1455)

The base of the church was enlarged to occupy the plot of land where the parish cemetery (fossar) stood. A ribbed vault was added to the nave. The rose window was made.

Remodelling (16th - 18th centuries)

Alterations and expansions would continue all throughout the 1500s, 1600s, and 1700s. Tabernacle rooms, side chapels, passageways, towers, and other elements were added at various points.

Baroque decoration (1690-1693)

The Gothic interior was covered with Baroque decorations, in keeping with the taste of the period. These changes included the replacement of the Gothic vault with an encamonada, a false vault, as well as churrigueresque additions. Churrigueresque is the typical Spanish Baroque, lavish and ornamented.

Frescoes (1700)

On top of the architectural changes, fresco paintings were added to the vaults, pillars, and ceilings by Dionís Vidal.

Bell tower (1757)

The dome, acting as the top of the bell tower, was completed in 1757.

Neo-Gothic additions (1864)

The other door and façade overlooking Plaza de San Nicolás, are neo-Gothic creations by Joaquín María Calvo Tomás.

Civil War (1936-1939)

During the Spanish Civil War, all the bells except the Vicent (dating back to 1755) disappeared. They were later replaced with four new bells.

National Monument (1981)

The Church was declared a National Historic and Artistic Monument.

Renovations (2000s)

The bell tower was restored in 2007. The frescoes were brought back to their original splendour in 2016 in a massive feat of restoration.

Architectural elements and style

The Iglesia de San Nicolás y San Pedro Mártir is probably the best example of the coexistence of a 15th-century Gothic structure with 17th-century Baroque decoration in Valencia.

The Structure

The church has a single nave with six aisles and five shallow side chapels on each side between the buttresses (structures built against or projecting from a wall that serves to support said wall).

Saint Nicholas Church has six buttresses on each side, but the two in the middle (one per side) are occupied by the side entrance doors. At the foot of the building, on the western end, there are also two more chapels and another entrance door.

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The church also has a polygonal presbytery facing east - that is where the space reserved for the officiating clergy. The nave is covered with a simple ribbed vault. It measures 41 m in length (about 135 feet) and 13 m in width (about 43 feet).

Behind the main chapel (the most notable one, corresponding to the presbytery) we can find the tabernacle room.

The Style

What of course is most notable about the style of the Church is the coexistence of Gothic and Baroque elements. While the majority of the Gothic elements rest in the structure of the building, and are thus more visible from the outside, on the inside we can still appreciate the Gothic windows with pointed arches and polychrome stained glass.

In the same style, on the exterior, we can identify the simple doorway, formed by pointed arches and surmounted by an ogee arch. The flared archivolts rest on slender columns free of decoration.

Under the apex of the ogee arch, there is a curious relief, with a plate of meat, alluding to a grotesque story regarding one of Saint Nicholas’ miracles. Above all this, is a Gothic rose window, made in the likeness of the Star of David (also called Solomon’s seal), found on the Apostles’ door of Valencia Cathedral.

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In the interior, of course, the integration of Baroque decoration, made at the end of the 17th century, is much more evident. Typical of this style, and found in the frescoes of Saint Nicholas Church are greatly dramatic depictions, rich, deep colours, with intense lights and dark shadows.

The shapes of the figures depicted are full and the profusion of details is almost overwhelming, the eyes have nowhere to rest. Other Baroque elements can be found in the altarpieces made in gilded wood with excessive and overflowing decoration.

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 Saint Nicholas Church?

Saint Nicholas Church (actually called San Nicolás de Bari y San Pedro Mártir Church) is one of the most visited religious buildings in Valencia, along with Valencia’s Cathedral.

What is Saint Nicholas Church known for?

Saint Nicholas Church is famous for its blend of Gothic architecture and Baroque decorations, including its huge and astounding fresco ceiling.

Where is Saint Nicholas Church?

Saint Nicholas Church is in the centre of the Ciutat Vella district, specifically in the southern part of the Carmen neighbourhood.

What’s the style of Saint Nicholas Church in Valencia?

Saint Nicholas Church presents a blend of Gothic, Baroque, and to a lesser extent, Rococo style.

When was Saint Nicholas Church built?

Saint Nicholas Church was built continuously over the centuries. A primitive church was built on the site in the mid-13th century. Then the church kept being renovated, expanded and transformed throughout the 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th century.

What is the best way to get to Saint Nicholas Church?

If you are in Ciutat Vella, the best way to reach Valencia’s Saint Nicholas Church 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 Saint Nicholas Church opening times?

Saint Nicholas Church is open for visits Tuesday to Sunday.

The opening times vary depending on the season and day of the week, but if you go between 10:30 am and 6:30 pm you will generally find the Church 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 the Saint Nicholas Church?

A regular ticket to Saint Nicholas Church 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 Saint Nicholas Church?

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 Saint Nicholas Church?

Lines C1, 7, 27, 28, and 73 all drop you off close to the Church, although line 73 takes you the closest.

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 Saint Nicholas Church?

You can take metro lines 1, 2, 3, 5, or 9 to go to Valencia’s Saint Nicholas Church. 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 Turia (lines 1 and 2).

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 the Saint Nicholas Church?

Trams are not your best option to get to Saint Nicholas Church. The closest stop is line 4’s Pont de Fusta, which is about 12 minutes away from.

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 Saint Nicholas Church?

Of course. There are four 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 Saint Nicholas Church?

Generally, you are not allowed to park a rental electric scooter in the Old Town, where Saint Nicholas Church 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 Church is rather close to many of Valencia’s landmarks and important buildings.