Saint Andrew’s Church: the Magic of Rococco in Valencia

The Church of Saint Andrew—today known as Saint John of the Cross—is one of the oldest churches in Valencia. Its origins date back to the Reconquest under James I, although little of the original medieval structure remains. The present walls reflect the Counter-Reformation transformation of Valencia’s churches led by Patriarch Juan de Ribera, later enriched by the personal vision of Giner Rabassa de Perelló, the third Marquis of Dos Aguas, who introduced the church’s striking Rococo elements.

Despite suffering severe damage during the Spanish Civil War, the church preserves one of the finest collections of ceramic plinths in Spain—decorative glazed tile panels that line the lower walls of the church—along with paintings by some of the most distinguished Valencian academic artists.

The visit is further enhanced by a vivid projection-mapping experience in which light animates the interior architecture, drawing attention to key features such as the sculptural relief La Benignidad…