Valencia Cathedral

One of the high points of our visit to Valencia is a trip to the Valencia Cathedral. This is an amazing place with a mix of Gothic, Baroque, Romanesque, Renaissance,  and Neoclassical styles.



It was largely completed between the 13th and 15th centuries in a Gothic style and this has been added to and modified in the centuries since. As you can see below, it has the characteristic ribbed vault and tall pointed-arch windows.

At the crossing of the transept and the nave is the dome. In this case it is a "lantern" dome...a tall cylindrical structure with widows all around letting in lots of light.

The real masterpiece here is the Baroque apse and the huge altarpiece there. And it is all covered with a dome painted the blue of heaven.

In the image of the lantern dome below, you can just see small passages between the sides on the lowest level. There was a time when small boys were marched onto this scary ledge to sing.

Standing off to one side to break the symmetry makes an interesting image.

The gilt work on the busy baroque decorations in the apse are really wonderful.

I think it would be really great to hear this pipe organ played. I'm sure it has inspired many a transcendent experience.

The transept has huge wooden doors at each end.

Looking across the transept you can see the airy feeling the dome brings to the space.

Behind the apse is the ambulatory, a semi-circular passage that connects the two side of the transept. In the center, behind the altar is a small cave-like Capilla de Resurreccion carved in alabaster. In front of the stonework is a reliquary containing the right arm of St. Vincent Martyr. Pretty impressive, eh?

From the Cathedral web page we have:

St. Vincent served as a deacon of the Bishop of Saragossa, St. Valerious. During the persecution of the Emperor Diocletian, both of them were imprisoned in Valencia where he was tortured to death (22 January 304), while St. Valerious was exiled. He is the main patron saint of the diocese and Valencia. The left arm of this saint is venerated in the ambulatory of this Cathedral. His day is celebrated on 22 January.

This says left arm, but is sure like a right arm to me.

The real star is in not the arm of the saint, but the Holy Grail itself. Yes indeed, here we have what many claim is the cup used by Christ. There is a somewhat better photo of the chalice below.

It is placed in its own chapel with an intricately carved screen surrounding it.

This chapel has a ribbed ceiling with apostles places in the roses and the intersections of the ribs.

Here you can just see the chalice. From the Cathedral website:

Indeed, the relic is the upper part, which is a cup of dark brown agate finely polished. It is an “Alexandrian vessel” that archaeologists believe it to have an oriental origin (100 - 50 BC). This is the conclusion of Professor Antonio Beltrán, published in 1960 under the name of  “El Santo Cáliz de la Catedral de Valencia” (“The Holy Chalice of the Valencia Cathedral”). It was never refuted and is the base of the increasing respect and knowledge of the Holy Chalice.

The handles came later as well as the chalice's stem made of exquisitely engraved gold. Its alabaster base of Islamic art is different from the vessel. All of it, together with the jewels decorating the stem belong to the medieval period. It is 17 cm. high and 9 cm. wide, and the elliptical base measures 14,5 x 9,7 cm.

It is all a beautiful and well cared-for space. The main space is ringed with many chapels which I have not shown here. Each is interesting. I decided to stay with the main attractions. You really should see this place.