Co-Cathedral of San Nicolás de Bari

You’re now standing in front of the Co-Cathedral of San Nicolás de Bari, one of the largest churches in Alicante, and dedicated to the city’s patron saint, Saint Nicholas. It was built in the 17th century over the remains of a medieval temple, which served as a parish church in the 13th century constructed on the site of an old Moorish mosque. Its understated Baroque design is a Spanish style known as Herrerian, from the final stage of the Spanish Renaissance. The name comes from the architect Juan de Herrera, whose style was based on geometric purity. He’s the one behind the famous El Escorial Monastery, the largest Renaissance building in the world. The church in front of you was built according to plans by Agustín Bernardino, a disciple of Herrera. It’s a co-cathedral, which refers to a church that has been granted cathedral status by the Holy See, even though it isn’t the seat of a diocese. It’s not a very clear concept! Although its exterior may seem a little austere, the co-cathedral is well worth a visit. Step inside to find the Chapel of Communion, one of the finest examples of Spanish Baroque. You’ll also see the 15th-century reliquary of Saint Felicitas of Alicante, the altarpiece of the souls by Nicolás Borrás, and the Christ of the Good Death by Nicolás de Bussy. The elevated organ is the largest and oldest in the entire Valencia region, and one of the oldest in all of Spain, dating back to the 1500s. If you happen to be in Alicante during religious celebrations like the Santa Faz pilgrimage in April or Holy Week at Easter, this is where you’ll catch the heart of the festivities!