Route with the most beautiful frescoes
Art is everywhere in Valencia… even when you look up! The frescoes decorating walls, apses and vaults in many of the city's most notable churches and buildings will literally leave you speechless. We suggest a route through the churches that have the most beautiful frescoes so you don't miss the finest examples.
El Patriarca
Why not start with the largest group of frescoes not just in Valencia, but in all of Spain? You'll find it at the Real Colegio Seminario de Corpus Christi (La Nau, 2), better known as El Patriarca, a jewel of Renaissance architecture. The vaults and dome of its church and chapel of the Communion are covered by no fewer than 2680 m2 of paintings by Bartolomé Matarana. Don't forget that the College is home to a fabulous museum that houses works by artists such as Caravaggio, El Greco and many more, as well as a spectacular collection of Flemish tapestries from the 16th century. To make sure you don't miss a thing, book a guided tour.
Church of San Juan del Hospital
From the largest to the oldest fresco paintings. A short distance away is the church of San Juan del Hospital (Trinquete de Caballeros, 5), founded by the Knights of the Order of the Hospital of Jerusalem after the reconquest of Balansiya in the 13th century. The frescoes in the Chapel of San Miguel Arcángel are a unique example of the transition from Romanesque to Gothic. Equally exceptional are the remains of wall paintings in the arches that cover some of the tombs of its small adjoining cemetery, the only medieval urban cemetery in Valencia.
L’Almodí
Continue to El Almudín (Plaza de San Luis Beltrán, 2), a building of great importance in the Middle Ages, since it was used to store wheat for sale. This function is reflected in the frescoes on the walls of its interior, which depict the wheat being delivered, the guilds responsible for distributing it and other everyday and religious scenes from the 17th and 18th centuries. The current building, which dates from the 15th century, is also a regular venue for concerts. Don't forget to check the schedule!
Catedral of València
A group of musical angels on a starry blue background covers the dome of the Cathedral's main altar. This is the first example of Renaissance art in Valencia, commissioned by Rodrigo de Borgia (the future Pope Alexander VI) from Italian artists Francesco Pagano and Paolo San Leocadio in the 15th century. These beautiful frescoes were hidden for centuries behind a second baroque dome, which helped to preserve them better. They have now been found and restored, bringing the chapel back to its former splendor.
Basílica de la Virgen
The Basilica dedicated to the patron saint of Valencia, next to the Cathedral, also boasts an impressive fresco that decorates its grandiose dome. The work of Antonio Palomino from Córdoba, it is an excellent example of Spanish Baroque mural art. It depicts the Virgin pleading for the helpless before the Holy Trinity, among choirs of angels and up to 75 identifiable characters, including Saint Joseph and the Apostles.
Church of San Nicolás
Any tour of the best fresco paintings in Valencia has to include the so-called "Valencian Sistine Chapel". The decoration of the Church of San Nicolás (Caballeros, 35) is a masterpiece of Valencian Baroque. More than 1900 m2 of frescoes, the work of Antonio Palomino and his disciple Dionís Vidal, completely cover the interior with scenes from the lives of San Nicolás de Bari and San Pedro Mártir. Check the opening hours and book your visit with an audio guide here.
Church of Los Santos Juanes
We end the tour with a small preview of what will be another of Valencia's wondrous murals. The Baroque frescoes by Antonio Palomino that decorate the Church of los Santos Juanes (Plaza del Mercado), damaged in a fire in 1936, are being restored through 2026, and their original color and stunning scenes are already starting to shine through. To see the works yourself and learn about the history of this monument, you can book a tour with an audio guide.
And now that you know where the churches with the best fresco paintings in Valencia are, schedule your tour and enjoy!
