CO-CATHEDRAL OF SAINT NICHOLAS OF BARI: A RENAISSANCE JEWEL IN ALICANTE

The Co-Cathedral of Saint Nicholas of Bari, situated in the heart of Alicante’s old town, is one of the city’s most outstanding religious monuments. Built between the 17th and 18th centuries, this majestic building combines the simplicity of the Late Renaissance with the early influences of the Baroque. Designed by the architect Agustín Bernardino, a pupil of Juan de Herrera, this religious building stands on the ruins of an ancient mosque and an earlier Gothic church, elements of which are still visible in the cloister.

Inside, visitors can admire the Chapel of the Communion, considered one of the finest examples of Spanish Baroque, and works of art of great artistic value, including the altarpiece of Saint John of Nepomuk, created by Agustín Espinosa in the 18th century.

The dome, the work of the Alicante-born architect Miguel del Real, is one of its most striking features, reaching a height of almost 45 metres and crowned by an oculus that bathes the interior in light, creating an atmosphere of serenity and solemnity.

One of the co-cathedral’s greatest treasures is its organ, which dates from the 16th century. It is the oldest in the Valencian Community and one of the oldest in Spain, and its historical and musical value is incalculable.