The convent of Sant Doménec or Sant Domingo is one of the most important Gothic buildings in the city of Valencia. It is not often open, except when exhibitions are held in the great hall. Let us take a look inside...

Report by Karla Ingleton Darocas (KarlaDarocas.com) (c) SpainLifestyle.com

It was founded by the Aragonese king Jaume I (1208-1276) and was the home of the Valencian Dominican preachers Sant Vicent Ferrer (1350-1419) and Lluís Bertran (1526-1581)

It was visited and protected by the Kings of Aragon and the House of Austria, and served several times as the seat of the Valencian courts.

It has been a historic-artistic monument since 1931, but it is not a well-known building due to the restricted visiting hours, as the Captain General of Valencia has resided here since 1840. This post was created after the end of the War of Succession in place of the Viceroy of Valencia.

THE GRAND CLOISTER

The cloister of Sant Domingo is one of the most outstanding architectural beauties of the city boasting fabulous flamboyant "ogival" style arches.

Inaugurated at the beginning of the fourteenth century, the cloister is square (34 m from one side to the other) and has six pointed "ogival" arches on each side, except on the north side, which has five.

The uneven number of arches is due to the fact that the entire construction of the monastery was based on donations from private individuals and could therefore only be extended when the funds were available.

In the centre is a garden with a channel-shaped fountain, which for safety and convenience has a brocal or solid parapet surrounding the fountain on the surface.

On the east side there are Gothic flamboyant, floral and trilobate tracery, different in each arch, reminiscent of the Royal Isabelline architecture that dominated the 15th century era.

The second floor of the cloister is in the Baroque style, which was very popular in Valencia in the 17th century. Numerous round brick arches are arranged between classical pilasters and are finished off by a cornice supported by ornate corbels, probably by Francisco Padilla, the same author who carried out the Baroque remodelling of the church attached to the convent.

The galleries are covered by simple stone nerve vaults with polished tiles.

All Photos Copyright: Karla Darocas

CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE