SANTIAGO APOSTOL CHURCH: Begun to build in the 14th century, its current appearance dates from the 16th century, being one of the most important Gothic-Renaissance complexes in the Valencian Community. Its three-nave plan and its torso columns, similar to those of the markets of Valencia and Majorca, can be considered typical of the Catalan Gothic, although they acquire greater monumentality here. At the end of the 15th century, with the patronage of the illustrious Medina family from Villena, the expansion that will cover the entire 16th century begins, introducing at this time the most outstanding Renaissance elements of the church such as the access door to the sacristy and the chapter room, the baptismal font and the two windows on the first floor of the tower, all from Murcia tradition and attributed to Jacobo Florentino and Quijano. The remains of the grate carved in 1553 stand out at the foot of the altar. Two marks were engraved on the outer face of the apse wall at a distance that corresponds to the size of the tahúlla. It was declared a National Historic-Artistic Monument in 1931.
Location: Plaza de Santiago, 5.
Contact: Tel 965803893. Email: crv.villena@gmail.com
Hours: Monday to Thursday, Saturdays and holidays before 11 am to 2 pm. Friday from 13 to 14 h. Sundays and holidays from 10 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. Visits from Tourist Info (Plaza Santiago).
Admission: € 1.5 (includes guided tour). Discounts: 25%: Children from 7 to 14 years old and people over 65 years old. 20%: groups (+15 pax), people with disabilities, i-más business card holders and unemployed with accreditation. 50%: Travel Agencies, tour operators and any other tourist brokerage company. 15%: Visiting three or more paid tourist spaces (discount cumulative to the previous ones).
