Day 2-Streets of Valencia 12/12/2018

More streets...

From the tower of Serrans Gate we walking back to the heart of the Old town.  These are streets along the way...

This is Carrer dels Serrans

We are on Calle Concordia

A nice square...

We are headed to Plaza del Virgen

Basilica de La Virgen de los Desamparados

Basilica de La Virgen de los Desamparados (Basilica of the Forsaken and/or Forgotten).  We passed by the first day we arrived in Valencia and today we are going to go inside.

The Virgen de los Desemparados Basilica is dedicated to the patron saint of the city and is the most important religious building in Valencia from the 17th century. It was also the first new Baroque construction of its time. Built between 1652 and 1667 by Diego Martínez Ponce de Urrana, it is the only church in the old part of the city that was built new from the foundations up, and not on an existing parish church or convent.

Two of the Basilica’s doors face the Plaza de la Virgen while the other links the basilica to the cathedral through an impressive archway.

The basilica’s facade is made up of several layers, including grey stone and boasts an impressive dome.

There was a mass in progress and there a lot of people attending.

Sermon in progress..

The dome with beautiful frescos.

You can see the beautiful frescoes, which decorate the dome. Cordoban painter Antonio Palomino, the official painter in the court of Charles II, painted the dome’s frescos in 1701.

 People attending mass under the dome.

Because a mass is going on we could not really walk around and take pictures you decided to leave quietly so we do not disrupt the mass..

Church of St. Martin

The Iglesia Parroquial de San Martin Obispo y San Antonio Abad commonly known as Church of San Martin is one of the oldest churches in the city. 

Built in the 14th century on top of the remains of a mosque.  The has gone through various expansions and renovations over the years and took it final shape in the mid-18th century.  Recently, a government funded team of specialists called La Luz de las Imagenes worked to restore the church's Baroque interior to it original glory.

Portal at the entrance of the church.

Statue above entrance door.

The most striking feature in this church is the dome above the altar whose curved grid features 164 distinctive carvings. 

 The carvings range from biblical scenes and various saints to floral designs and angels.

White and gold dominate the interior with bright golden designs to ornate the ceilings. The paintings, sculptures and walls have all been renovated or restored and the way the church was originally built.

Wooden benches

Side of the Church with lots of sculptures.

Clove view of the main altar.

There church is really bright with lots of lights coming in.

The wall are really ornate and very richly decorated.

One of the smaller chapel inside the church.

Another small chapel for praying.

We are now leaving the church..

Next.. Patacona beach/Lunch