Trinidad – The Almudín

Our tour begins at the Torres de los Serranos, a Gothic monument of the fourteenth century. It is one of the fortified gates of the medieval city, which still stands today since it survived the urban plans that demolished the wall in the nineteenth century. It is highly recommended to visit its interior and climb to the highest part to enjoy beautiful views of the city.

From Calle Comte de Trénor we cross on the other side of the old riverbed by the Trinity Bridge, the oldest in our city and the first to be made of ashlar stone replacing an old wooden one. Its construction began in 1401, although it had to be rebuilt in the sixteenth century after a flood. It takes its name from the Trinity Monastery, which is located a few meters away.

This monastery, built in the thirteenth century, declared an Asset of Cultural Interest, has a flamboyant Gothic style façade. For its part, the façade, the cloister and the refectory of the church are of Valencian Gothic style while its decoration is baroque.

From this point, we continue along the bank of the old river towards the Jardins del Real. Before arriving, an obligatory stop is the Museum of Fine Arts San Pio V, where we can enjoy an extraordinary selection of masterpieces of Valencian painting that bear the signature of Ribera, Sorolla, Pinazo… apart from paintings by Velázquez, Murillo and other classical references.

We leave the museum behind and immediately arrive at the Jardins del Reial or Vivers, as most Valencians know this urban park, one of the green lungs of the city. Without a doubt it is the most emblematic garden of Valencia, for its extension, its history, its landscape value, botanical variety… A much-loved and frequented place.

This second route of our route begins in Calle Salvador. Before we will have crossed the Trinity Bridge again towards the historic center. In a couple of minutes we will turn down Calle de la Va Unido and exit to Plaza de San Lorenzo. In this square we will find the Benicarló Palace or Borgia Palace. Here the Valencian Parliament meets every day. This building, built between the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, mixes Gothic and Renaissance styles.

Almost opposite is the Church of San Lorenzo (XIII century), built on an old mosque and one of the first ten churches in the city. The current temple obeys the works developed in the seventeenth century, an example of the Baroque.

Taking Carrer dels Franciscans, we turn off slightly to visit the Palau dels Català de Valeriola (fifteenth century), which today is used by the Valencian government for different administrative tasks. Another example of the civil Gothic style.

Then we will return to Calle Salvador by Samaniego Street and once there we will access Trinitaris Street. At number 1 we find the Church of the Saviour (XIII century), declared a National Historic-Artistic Monument. This was the first church to be built in Valencia after the conquest of James I in 1238.

Very close to this church we have the Old Seminary (S. XIX), which today, apart from functioning as an ecclesiastical residence, houses the Faculty of Theology.

If we go down Plaza Conde del Real and continue along Calle del Conde de Olocau, we will arrive in a couple of minutes at Plaza de San Luis Bertrán. Here we will find the last destination of our route: L’Almudí, an old large wheat warehouse whose origins date back to the fourteenth century. This space is currently a centre for art exhibitions.