The city tour is marked with scallop ceramics.
Xàtiva awaits us with the walls in the foreground, on the other side of Plaza España. Cross to the left to look for the fountain of the 25th pipes and the street of San Pedro, street of the Angel and Moncada street. Turn left at Peris Street to access La Seu and the old Pilgrims’ Hospital.
Iberians, Romans, Goths and Arabs magnified Xàtiva. This city participated in the Councils held in the city of Toledo until the sixth century. It had a hospital run by the friars of the Penance of Jesus Christ. The current building dates from the 15th century and on its façade you can see a pilgrim under the protection of the Virgin.
This city is a small jewel and it is worth stopping a little and going around its places:
The Church of San Francisco (14th century) has been declared a National Monument, as well as the Palace of Alarcón (18th century), today the Palace of Justice. The Collegiate Church (16th century) is today a Basilica. The Pilgrims’ Hospital (15th century), the church of San Feliu (13th century), the castle, the Almudín (16th century), today the Municipal Museum, the Gothic fountain of La Trinitat (15th century), the Baroque fountain of San Francisco (from the middle of the 18th century), the Palace of the Marquis of Montortal (15th century), the fountain of Aldomar (18th century), the fountain of the 25 spouts (1794), the Market Square, the Church of San Pedro, are well worth a visit. From the Hermitage of San José, (18th century) on the way up to the castle, you can see a beautiful panoramic view of the city.
If you don’t want to walk any more, you should know that from Jaume I avenue there is a tourist train that takes you to visit all these wonders, and it’s always better that than not seeing anything.
The Moors lived in this city on the outskirts of San Juan, beyond the Plaça de Sant Jaume and were expelled in 1609 with serious economic consequences. It should also be noted that Xàtiva was known in the West and East for the paper it manufactured, of unrivalled quality. In 1150 the first European paper factory appeared in Xàtiva, paper made from rice straw that replaced papyrus and parchment.
Some Setabenses occupied the Chair of St. Peter and many were those who achieved the dignity of cardinal and episcopal. Their knights are very many among the teachers and commanders of the Military Orders of Saint John, Saint James, Montesa and Calatrava.
- Town Hall: Avenida Jaume I, 35. Tel: 962 289 800
- Youth hostel “Casa del Cigroner”: C/ San Domènech, 26 tel.: 675 786 041 www.casadelcigroner.com Hab de 2, 3, 4, 5 beds
- Hotel La Maga Rooms: Tel: 962 288 292
- Bar El Lleó: Portal del Lleó, 10
- Hotel Murta: Calle Angel Lacalle, 3. Tel: 962 276 611
- Aldomar House: C/ Bosch, 11. Tel: 962 276 563 – 650 235 071
- Local Police: Avinguda Cavaller Ximén de Tovía, 9. Tel: 962 049 899