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Despite the numerous transformations undergone by Valencia cathedral, in which elements of various styles were adopted, this building has a clear Gothic character. Built over a former mosque, which was in turn built over an ancient Roman temple, the first stone of this cathedral was laid in the year 1262. The instigator behind its construction was Brother Andrés Albalat, a Dominican monk from Aragon, the King's Chancellor, a great traveller and knowledgeable about France and Italy.

The first architect of this Gothic building with low naves - the main one is 12 metres high and the side ones are 8 metres high - was Arnaldi Vitalis; although many more took part until it was the turn of Antonio Gilabert, who gave it the finishing touches at the end of the 18th century.

The highlight of this cathedral is the Capitulary Room, which was built by Andreu Juliá: it is spacious and covered by an eight-point vault containing the relic of the Holy Chalice. Another relevant feature in the cathedral is the Door of the Apostles, a door from the first third of the 14th century where the members of the Water Tribunal meet every Thursday that is not a religious feast. Another important door is the Palau, the oldest one in the cathedral, which was built by Catalonian artists in the Romanic style and with Mudéjar elements.

Finally, also worthy of mention is the Miguelete Tower, an emblematic monument for the city located beside the main door of the cathedral. It was built in 1381 according to a project drawn up by Andreu Juliá, who gave it a characteristic Valencian Gothic style. The stone tower has an octagonal floor plan with four solid bodies. The first three do not have windows and are very simply decorated, while the fourth has ogival windows. The structure is crowned with a stone belfry dating from the 18th century.

The province of Valencia is located in the east of the Iberian Peninsula. It is bordered on the north by the provinces of Castellón and Teruel, on the south by the province of Alicante, on the east by the Mediterranean Sea and on the west with the provinces of Albacete and Cuenca. The city of Valencia is the third-ranking capital city in Spain in terms of the number of inhabitants and is located near the delta of the river Turia, beside the Mediterranean Sea.
The city of Valencia is located in the province by the same name, in the east of the Iberian Peninsula. The city is closely linked to the river Turia, whose delta is nearby, as well as with the Mediterranean Sea. It is the third-ranking Spanish capital in terms of the number of inhabitants.

Valencia Cathedral is located right in the city centre, on the small square Plaza de la Reina s/n. The building is very close to the Central Market and not too far from the City Hall.

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The city and its history

According to Tito Livio, the city was founded by the Romans in the year 138 A.D., by consul Décimo Junio Bruto. Although as a Roman city it was of secondary importance due to the heyday of the nearby Sagunto, it became the first coastal location in importance in the 3rd century A.D..

Scarcely influenced by the Visigoths, the city went through a period of splendour with Islam and even became the capital of one of the taifa kingdoms that arose when the Muslim kingdom was divided.

Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar tried unsuccessfully to conquer Valencia and it was Jaime I, King of Aragon, that finally reconquered it in 1238.

Pedro IV the Ceremonious (1336-1387) embellished this Mediterranean city and brought it into a period of great prosperity. In 1609, during the reign of Phillip III, the moriscos were expelled, leading to a negative effect on the economy of Valencia.

In the 18th century, Phillip V signed the New Plan Decree by which the Valencian forums were abolished and the kingdom of Valencia was done away with. Therefore, after a century - the 19th - full of economic crises and peasant unrest, the 20th century was to see the stage set for conflicts between various ideological currents.

Finally, the 70s brought with them the boom of the Valencian economy, cultural activities and economic growth.

The city today

In 1982 , the foral traditions of the former kingdom of Valencia were recovered after the Statute of Autonomy was passed. The autonomous government has its headquarters at Palau de la Generalitat, which governs the destinies of three provinces: Valencia, Castellón and Alicante.

Nowadays, Valencia is a city that is undergoing a total transformation with great possibilities in the tourism sector. Major public works have been built, as well as very interesting buildings by major architects. The city has undergone a major urban planning transformation, opening itself to the sea. It is now the chosen destination for important congresses, exhibitions and fairs.

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