Ermita de Santa Cruz, Chelva, Valencia, Spain

Ermita de Santa Cruz, or Hermitage of the Holy Cross, originally the Benaeca mosque, built 1370, in the Barrio Morisco, or Barrio Arrabal, the Moorish quarter of the village of Chelva, in Los Serranos, Valencia, Spain. This would originally have been the prayer hall, with pillars supporting arches and a pitched timber roof. The mosque became a church in the 16th century when an altar and belfry were added. The building was restored 2004-7 and is now a cultural centre. The town developed in the 11th century under Moorish rule, when a citadel was built and the settlement was fortified with walls and 4 entrance gates. Picture by Manuel Cohen

Picture No

13807357

Media ID

45414254

Size

7087px x 4618px (7.8MB)

Credit

Manuel Cohen / Mary Evans

Source

Photograph by Manuel Cohen

Date

2009