Valencia: Guided Tour of the Cathedral, Saint Nicholas Church and Lonja

Overview

Embark on a historical and architectural exploration of central Valencia, accompanied by a professional art historian guide. This walking tour highlights the city's most iconic buildings, blending art, history, and local traditions. The itinerary includes access to three major sites: the Cathedral, the Lonja de la Seda (Silk Exchange), and Saint Nicholas Church. Please note that on Mondays, the visit to Saint Nicholas Church is replaced by a visit to Valencia City Hall. For travellers arriving by ship, a specific package is available. It includes pick-up from the Trasmed-Grimaldi cruise terminal, a panoramic bus tour of the city, and an extended duration of 4 hours. Two return options to the port are offered: either immediately after the tour at 1:30 pm, or later, around 3:00 pm, to explore the centre independently.

Itinerary

1. Torres dels Serrans

   Our fantastic tour start at Torres de Serranos, where we will meet to make an introduction of Valencian History, speaking about the old main gate of the medieval wall, the conexion with the Turia River and the diferents walls that Valencia had.

   · 20 min

2. Palau de la Generalitat

   Did you realaized how many palaces have Valencia? We will discovered why so many around Barrio del Carmen...

   · 20 min· Admission not included

3. Parroquia de San Nicolás de Bari y San Pedro Mártir

   Known as the "Valencian Sistine Chapel", San Nicolás is one of the most attractive temples in the city, with nearly 2,000 square meters of perfectly restored frescoes that leave visitors breathless. The spectacular paintings that decorate the vault represent the twice the surface area of ​​the frescoes in the Sistine Chapel in Rome. With more than 700 years old, Saint Nicholas, which was already a place of worship in Roman times before being a mosque and a Christian church later, is a clear example of coexistence perfect between a temple with a Gothic structure and a splendid baroque decoration.

   · 30 min· Admission included

4. La Lonja de la Seda

   It is a surprising Gothic building that puts to Valencia city on the list of World Heritage Sites. It is not easy to see large civil buildings of Gothic architecture, which in our imagination we have more linked to the great cathedrals of central and southern Europe. For this reason, in 1996 the Lonja de la Seda was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This international body justifies the declaration because it is an exceptional example of civil Gothic, and represents the strength of trade in Mediterranean cities during the time of its construction. It was built in just 15 years during the 15th century. We will enter to discover why it was so important with silk.

   · 30 min· Admission included

5. Valencia Cathedral

   Built on an old Roman temple that was later a mosque. In the Cathedral of Valencia we observe numerous elements from different periods, from the Romanesque to the Baroque. Construction began in the XIII century, having numerous reforms throughout the centuries we find this monumental building. Did you know that the Holy Chalice is in the Cathedral of Valencia? And that it also houses one of the most important pictorial works of the first Spanish Renaissance? History and art mix in the Cathedral. Its walls and doors also protect treasures as valuable as the Holy Chalice.Many studies think that the Grail of Valencia is the one that Jesus used at the Last Supper. Hence, Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI used this relic in the celebration of the Eucharist on their visits to Valencia. Another of the Cathedral's jewels are the Renaissance frescoes on the High Altar of the Valencia Cathedral, which were rediscovered ten years ago when the baroque vault that covered them was removed.

   · 30 min· Admission included

6. Plaça de la Mare de Déu

   Basilica and Cathedral in the same square, what a view! what a history! We will finish the tour here but discovering the last important points of our culture.

   · 20 min

7. On Mondays, the stop at San Nicolás is replaced by a visit to Valencia City Hall, whose monumental façade and centuries of institutional history bear witness to the city’s political and social life.

   · 1 min· Admission included

Meeting and end point

What to know before you go

• Accessible to people with reduced mobility.
• Pushchairs and prams are permitted.
• Public transport available nearby.
• Transport options accessible to people with reduced mobility.
• Fully accessible to people with reduced mobility.
• Suitable for all fitness levels.
• Children must be accompanied by an adult.
• Maximum capacity of 20 travellers per group.
• Immediate confirmation upon booking.

Travelers

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation for a full refund at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure date.

• No refund possible less than 24 hours before departure.
• The activity may be cancelled in case of bad weather or insufficient number of participants.

Who is it for?

• Travellers interested in art history and architecture.
• People with reduced mobility and families with pushchairs.
• Cruise passengers seeking port pick-up.
• Groups of up to 20 people.

What makes it different

• Accompanied by a professional art historian guide.
• Entrance tickets included for the main monuments visited.
• Specific option for cruise passengers including a panoramic bus tour and transfer.

Frequently asked questions

Reviews

Product code: 85805P2

Activity offered by Valencia & Go via Viator.