Santa Catalina Church

The Church and Tower of Santa Catalina is located in the Lope de Vega Square, nearby La Plaza de Reina.

This construction is one of the oldest monuments of Valencia and is an important place to visit since its history goes back to the time of the Reconquest. It was built on top of a mosque and has been through several fires and multiple reconstructions throughout history.

Santa Catalina Church first caught on fire in 1548, after which it was only partially rebuilt. In 1936 it was stormed and burnt down by Republican militiamen, essentially destroying the entire building. Then, in the 1950s it was rebuilt again, restoring its original Gothic physiognomy by stripping the walls from the baroque and neoclassical ornaments it sustained in the Sixteenth Century.

Equally as important is the church’s bell tower, built by Juan Bautista Viñes between 1688 and 1705. It is considered as a masterpiece of Valencian Baroque.

If you are still trying to figure out what to do in Valencia, Santa Catalina Church is another factor in our list.