Editing Valencia (section)

===Cathedral===
[[File:Cimbori almoina abril 1.jpg|thumb|upright|Northern view of the cathedral: dome, apse, and the Basilica of Our Lady]]
The [[Valencia Cathedral]] was called ''Iglesia Major'' in the early days of the ''Reconquista'', then ''Iglesia de la Seu'' (''Seu'' is from the Latin ''sedes'', i.e., (archiepiscopal) See), and by virtue of the papal concession of 16 October 1866, it was called the ''Basílica Metropolitana''. It is situated in the centre of the ancient Roman city where some believe the temple of Diana stood.{{Citation needed|date=January 2022|reason=Need a source for this statement.}} In Gothic times, it seems to have been dedicated to the Holy Saviour; [[El Cid|the Cid]] dedicated it to the Blessed Virgin; King [[James I of Aragon]] did likewise, leaving in the main chapel the image of the Blessed Virgin, which he carried with him and is reputed to be the one now preserved in the sacristy. The Moorish mosque, which had been converted into a [[Christian Church]] by the conqueror, was deemed unworthy of the title of the cathedral of Valencia, and in 1262 Bishop Andrés de Albalat laid the cornerstone of the new Gothic building, with three naves; these reach only to the choir of the present building. Bishop Vidal de Blanes built the chapter hall, and James I added the tower, called [[Miguelete Tower|El Miguelete]] in [[Castilian Spanish]] or Torre del Micalet in the [[Valencian language]] because it was blessed on St. Michael's day in 1418.{{Citation needed|date=January 2022|reason=In working the new Miguelete article, I did not see a source for this.}} The tower is about {{convert|58|m|ft|abbr=off}} high and is topped with a [[bell tower|belfry]] (1660–1736).

In the 15th century the dome was added and the naves extended back of the choir, uniting the building to the tower and forming a main entrance. Archbishop Luis Alfonso de los Cameros began the building of the main chapel in 1674; the walls were decorated with marbles and bronzes in the [[Baroque architecture|Baroque]] style of that period. At the beginning of the 18th century, the German Conrad Rudolphus built the façade of the main entrance. The other two doors lead into the transept; one, that of the Apostles in pure pointed Gothic, dates from the 14th century, the other is that of the Palau. The additions made to the back of the cathedral detract from its height. The 18th-century restoration rounded the pointed arches, covered the Gothic columns with [[Corinthian order|Corinthian]] pillars, and redecorated the walls.

The dome has no lantern, its plain ceiling being pierced by two large side windows. There are four chapels on either side, besides that at the end and those that open into the choir, the transept, and the sanctuary. It contains many paintings by eminent artists. A silver [[reredos]], which was behind the altar, was carried away in the war of 1808, and converted into coin to meet the expenses of the campaign. There are two paintings by [[Francisco Goya|Francisco de Goya]] in the San Francesco chapel. Behind the Chapel of the [[Blessed Sacrament]] is a small [[Renaissance]] chapel built by [[Pope Calixtus III|Calixtus III]]. Beside the cathedral is the chapel dedicated to the Our Lady of the Forsaken ''([[Virgen de los Desamparados|Mare de Déu dels Desemparats]])''.

The ''Tribunal de les Aigües'' (Water Court), a court dating from Moorish times that hears and mediates in matters relating to irrigation water, sits at noon every Thursday outside the ''Porta dels Apostols'' (Portal of the Apostles).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.realitysense.com/valencia-water-court-tribunal-de-las-aguas/ |title=Valencia's unique 'Water Court' |date=25 September 2009 |publisher=Reality Sense |access-date=31 January 2011 |archive-date=21 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101021221049/http://www.realitysense.com/valencia-water-court-tribunal-de-las-aguas |url-status=live}}</ref>