Església de Sant Feliu (San Félix)

On the hillside climbing towards the castle of Xàtiva, the Església de Sant Feliu (San Félix) is one of the oldest churches in the former Kingdom of Valencia. It was built in 1265 on the remains of an earlier Visigothic cathedral, which makes it a Romanesque rarity in a land where Gothic predominates. It keeps a quiet, almost rural atmosphere away from the bustle of the town.

History

It went up shortly after the Christian conquest, reusing the site of an earlier Visigothic-era temple, a common practice in the medieval period. Its plain lines and solid mass place it in the transition between Romanesque and Gothic that marks the kingdom's earliest churches.

What to see

The most distinctive feature is the side porch, held up by six reused Roman columns, no two alike, a reminder of the hill's long history. Inside are 14th-century Gothic wall paintings and a fine group of altarpieces by the so-called Valencian 'primitives'.

Tips for your visit

• Combine it with the climb up to the castle of Xàtiva, since it's on the way.
• The views over the town from around the church are worth a short stop.
• Check opening hours before you go; they tend to be limited.