The Jesuit Church, built in the late 18th century, is a magnificent church in Valencia and one of the region’s most significant examples of Neo-Byzantine architecture. Its original use as the chapel of the Colegio de San José meant it went largely unnoticed, but it is now open to the public and serves as the venue for Candlelight concerts.
This incredible monument by architect Joaquín María Belda is located near the Botanical Garden and the Jardín de las Hespérides, at the intersection with one of the city’s main avenues, the Gran Vía Fernando el Católico. A location that captivates everyone—and one you can easily reach by getting off at the Ángel Guimerá metro stop.
Facts, trivia, and interesting tidbits about the Jesuit Church
1. It features over 165 m² of stained-glass windows
Without a doubt, this is one of the features that make the Jesuit Church the beautiful sanctuary we know today. Its stained-glass windows—whose artist cannot be identified with certainty—were crafted from glass—such as “ancient cathedral glass” and “ancient hand-blown glass”—that is highly regarded, and all of them contribute to a stylistic coherence based on geometric patterns that achieve perfection.
2. Restoration work revealed artifacts, artistic details, and architectural remains
That’s exactly what happened. When restoration work began in 2020, various secrets that had gone unnoticed were revealed. For example, in an arch of one of the chapels, a “repentance”—that is, a modification indicating that its decoration was changed from a border of red fleurs-de-lis to the current blue and brown border—was discovered.
Well-preserved remnants of the church’s original façade were also discovered, including steps, decorative elements, and the door frames, as well as a very peculiar object found in the vault: a piece of a French newspaper dated May 2, 1939, tucked inside a slab.
3. It features extraordinarily well-concealed false ceilings
Inside the Jesuit Church, there are several plaster false ceilings designed to mimic wooden coffered ceilings. They were painted with absolute realism and meticulous detail, which is why it’s hard to tell them apart from a real wooden coffered ceiling.
Candlelight Concert at the Jesuit Church
The Candlelight concert series will illuminate the Jesuit Church, transforming it into the perfect setting to celebrate Warner Bros.’ 100th anniversary. A very special tribute to the most iconic soundtracks will magically transport you to the scenes of your favorite movies amid thousands of flickering candles.
What else can you do at the Jesuit Church?
In addition to religious ceremonies and services, the Jesuit Church also aims to organize activities, presentations, events, and lectures so that the citizens of Valencia can enjoy this harmonious space in a different way.
The Candlelight musical experience brings its magic to Valencia’s most unique venues. Among them is the Jesuit Church, which you can now admire in all its splendor under the twinkling light of thousands of candles.
