Valencia Cathedral & Micalet
Catedral de València / Micalet
A cathedral blending Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque styles, housing a stone cup that many regard as the “Holy Grail.” The bell tower offers views over the old town.
Valencia Cathedral was built between the 13th and 15th centuries on the site of a Roman temple and later a mosque. Its three doors are therefore in different styles: the Romanesque Palace Door, the Gothic Apostles’ Door and the Baroque Iron Door. The cathedral’s most famous feature is the Chapel of the Holy Chalice, which houses an agate cup. Church tradition holds it to be the Holy Grail (Santo Cáliz), the cup used at the Last Supper. Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI both used it during their visits. The apse vault features Renaissance angel murals by a 15th-century Italian painter, and the museum holds works by Goya. The octagonal bell tower, called the Micalet, is about 51 metres tall. Climbing its 207 spiral steps gives a 360-degree view of the old town and of the City of Arts and Sciences in the distance (ticket around €2–3). Every Thursday at noon, the Water Tribunal (Tribunal de las Aguas), a thousand-year-old tradition, takes place in front of the Apostles’ Door. Representatives of local farmers settle irrigation disputes in the Valencian language. It is recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. The cathedral ticket costs about €9 and includes an audio guide. Visits are not permitted during religious services. Next door, Plaza de la Virgen is the most beautiful square in the old town. It is home to the Basilica of Our Lady of the Forsaken. Getting there: take metro lines 3 or 5 to Colón, a walk of about 10 minutes.
Opening hours
Mon–Sat approx. 10:30–18:30; open Sunday afternoons; clock tower approx. 10:00–19:00
Nearby sights
- Plaza de la Virgen & Basilica of the Virgin
- L'Almoina Archaeological Centre
- Palace of the Marqués de Dos Aguas (National Ceramics Museum)
- Barrio del Carmen & Torres de Serranos
- La Lonja de la Seda
- Church of San Nicolás de Bari and San Pedro Mártir
- Church of the Santos Juanes
- Mercado Central