Overview
- AddressPlaça Nova
- Opening times
Closed to the public. Visits by arrangement - Telephone number965613014
- Pricefree
- Emailturismo@xixona.es
Description
According to tradition the construction of this church was ordered by king Jaume I (James I) possibly on the site of a thirteenth century mosque.
The Old Church in Gothic parish style is characterized by its rectangular floor plan with a single nave and chapels to the sides. These days the entrance to the church is still standing and is composed of slightly elongated arches with a group of figures in the tympanum. The group consists of Saint Mary supported by an angel with Saint Bartholomew on her right and Saint Barbara on her left. This sculpture consists of a mixture of masonry and clay work. The other parts of the building were made of clay as was the Muslim style. In 2008 work was carried out to prevent the deterioration of these archaeological remains. Heading in a southerly direction from the entrance you come to Calle Trinquet (Trinquet Street) where in times gone by a local type of handball was played and from where you can enjoy some spectacular views of the southern side of Xixona and of the coastline.
Very close by was the hospital building. This institution was created in the 14th century to look after travellers, mendicants and the poor travelling the road between Alicante and Valencia.