Valencia Cathedral

Valencia cathedral was begun in 1262 on the site of the main mosque, itself built over a Roman temple, and the long construction left it a mixture: a Romanesque door, a Gothic body, a baroque main facade and an octagonal bell tower, the Micalet, of 1381 to 1429, climbable by 207 steps. Its most visited object is in a side chapel: an agate cup of the first century BC to first century AD, mounted later in gold, which the Vatican has permitted to be venerated as the Holy Grail and which several popes have used to celebrate mass. Archaeologists agree the cup is ancient and Middle Eastern; the identification beyond that is tradition. The cathedral also holds two Goya paintings in the chapel of San Francisco de Borja.

What you actually see

• The Holy Chalice - an ancient agate cup in its own chapel.
• The Micalet tower - an octagonal bell tower of 207 steps.
• The Goya paintings - two works in the Borja chapel.
• The mixed styles - Romanesque, Gothic and baroque in one building.

When to go

Spring and autumn; Valencia is hot in summer and the tower climb is unshaded. The cathedral closes for services and the Micalet keeps separate hours. March brings Las Fallas, when the square outside fills daily.

Honest expectations

The Grail identification is religious tradition rather than established fact, which the cathedral presents with some care. The tower climb is a narrow spiral of 207 steps with no lift. Tickets for cathedral and tower are separate.

Nearby

The Plaza de la Virgen and the Llotja silk exchange are minutes away; the Turia gardens ring the old town.