The Valencians mostly know this Catholic church with the name of Church of San Martín, however its official name is that of Parish Church of San Martín Obispo and San Antonio Abad.

It can be found on Calle San Vicente and is considered an Asset of Cultural Interest and a National Historic-Artistic Monument, as well as being one of the oldest churches in the city of Valencia.

Its construction dates back to the reconquest of James I, who took advantage of one of the existing mosques in 1238 to found this parish church.

However, as the dimensions proved to be insufficient as the years went by, it was decided to build the new church, which presents most of its current structure. In 1372 is when construction began on this church with a Gothic style and new floor.

Currently, the Church of Sant Martí has a single nave and chapels between the buttresses, with a polygonal head. As an architectural curiosity, its irregular floor plan stands out, motivated by the necessary adaptation to the existing streets at the time of its construction.

Despite the elapsed time, the Church of Sant Martí retains from its Gothic period the exterior walls with the blinded oculus of its façade. To highlight in this space is the work of Pierre Van Béckere, imported in 1494, which represents sculpted in bronze a scene of Saint Martin and the Poor.

In the corner of the façade there is also a remarkable tower, whose construction dates back to the seventeenth century.

The Gothic style blurs into the interior, as subsequent ornaments have taken over more and more space. For example, the vault with houses in the apse that corresponds to the Renaissance.

The cladding of the nave is also from another period, made by the architect José Herrero and the sculptor Francisco Vergara between 1735 and 1753.

The irregular floor plan of the Church of Sant Martí was regularized over the years. For this, the crossing vaults of the central nave were covered with another barrel vault and domes were erected in the chapels, some of them oval.

On the walls there are imposing helical columns with jasper bases, which open to the arches overlooking the chapels. It is possible to see above these arches posters with canvases in which the life of the saints is recounted. There is also a cornice with ecclesiastical symbols that was created by Francisco Vergara.



Dades bàsiques

Direcció:

San Vicente Mártir Street, 11
46002 Valencia

Més informació:
Telephone: 963 52 29 52