Baroque architecture in Valencia

If you don’t know what to do in Valencia and you are a fan of architecture: definitely consider this tour in Valencia to discover the baroque architecture in Valencia.

During the 17th century, numerous Baroque style buildings were built in Valencia. Most of them had a religious purpose. They also transformed a lot of both the inside and the outside of the buildings that were made in a Gothic style.

Nowadays, the tourists in Valencia and the tourists can enjoy architectural monuments full of contrasts. Lights and shades. Whites and golds. Decorations and details.

The historical center in Valencia has the most Baroque monuments in the city. If you are a tourist, or even if you live in Valencia, and you didn’t get the opportunity to discover the Baroque style monuments yet, then all you have to do is visit the historical center. It is ideal, because you won’t need a car and you won’t have to pay for a bus ride or a metro ticket.

One of the advantages of the city of the Turia is that the city is quite ‘flat’ which makes it easy to discover the beauty of the city on foot.

The Baroque tour in Valencia starts at Virgen de los Desamparados Basilica, which is dedicated to the patron saint of the city. Virgen de los Desamparados represents an icon for the city and it is important for the inhabitants that they know religious events, such as the Fallas in Valencia.

Very close to the Virgen de los Desamparados you can find the Cathedral of Valencia. Their main door, know as the Door of the Irons, is a representation of the Baroque movement.

A few meters from the Cathedral of Valencia, you will find the Santa Catalina Church, which bell tower belongs to the Baroque style. Moreover, in the same Plaza del Carmen, you will find the Church and Convent of Carmen, the origin of the Baroque art in Valencia.

You will find the beauty of the Palace of Marqués de Dos Aguas in its Baroque facade, an impressive and festive reference to the una alusión agitada y festiva del marquesado.

The bell tower and he facade of the Santos Juanes Church will surprise the visitors with its many Baroque styled decorations. The inside of the church also has decorations, statues and El campanario y la fachada de la Iglesia de los Santos Juanes asombran al visitante por su elaborada ornamentación barroca. En su interior, la decoración, las estatuas y los frescos de Palomino aderezan el edificio.

Other buildings that are built in Baroque style that are located in the same area are: the Fine Arts Museum “San Pio V”, The Monastery of San Miguel de los Reyes and the Santa Domingo Convent.

Despite the fact that it’s not located in the same historical center, these three buildings are located close to the center (except the Monastery of San Miguel de los Reyes).

Because of the importance of the Baroque art in Valencia, the Luz de las Imágenes Foundation has organized an exhibition that was being held for almost a year in three churches in Valencia that have been built in a Baroque style.

‘La Gloria del Barroco’ (the glory of Baroque) was the name of the exhibition and the official opening was on the 15th of December in 2009. More than 300 works of art were exhibited in the churches San Esteban, San Martín and San Juan de la Cruz, and all of them are located in the historical center. All of these religious buildings hosted something in Baroque style.

A Valencian Baroque painting hung in the San Esteban church, a sculpture in the San Martín church and last but not least, they staged the devotion to Virgin Mary in the San Juan de la Cruz church.