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Museum of the Valencia Cathedral
Museum of Antiquities 1761
The archbishop of Valencia Andrés Mayoral (1685-1769) established a library and an antiquities museum in the archiepiscopal palace in 1761. Despite the fact that it is a collection unrelated to the current Cathedral Museum, it is worth mentioning it as it was the first attempt to create a museum of ecclesiastical ownership in the Valentina diocese.
Picture: Archbishop Andrés Mayoral
Disappearance 1812
This first museum was in the archiepiscopal Palace until it disappeared during the French invasion in 1812.
Picture: The old archiepiscopal palace
The Cathedral Museum 1909
The New Chapter Hall, built by the architect Joaquín Tomás Sanz at the beginning of the 19th century, was used to house notable paintings as an picture gallery.
Diocesan Archaeological Museum 1922
The “Diocesan Archaeological Museum” was established at the end of 1922 by Cardinal Enrique Reig Casanova, who wanted to gather the works that were scattered throughout the diocese in a single organized and accessible collection.
Picture: Archbishop Enrique Reig Casanova
The Cathedral-Diocesan Museum 1954
The last period of the Diocesan Archaeological Museum is linked to the Cathedral of Valencia. In 1954, the Chapter and the Archbishopric created the Cathedral Museum, in order to catalogue and display in a more rational way than in their original location, some pieces of outstanding value from the cathedral collection.
Picture: “Large Hall” of the Museum in the Archbishop's Palace.
Diocesan Museum 1966
It was around 1966 when archbishop Marcelino Olaechea, arranged for the Cathedral Museum to also become a Diocesan Museum, merging both institutions into one, in which all the works were brought together.
Picture: Archbishop Marcelino Olaechea.
A new building 1966-2014
A new building was built, attached to the Cathedral and with unique access from inside. Located between the Old Chapter Hall, the chapel of Saint Francis Borgia and Barchilla street. In other words, it would be installed in what were once the canons’ changing room and treasury departments. The museum project was entrusted to the architect Vicente Traver.
Picture: The museum until 2015
Restoration 2015
The building that houses the Museum was restored in 2015 in order to expand the exhibition offer and at the same time improve the facilities of the Valencia Cathedral Museum.
Picture: The museum today
Benediction of the Museum 2016
The new museum of the Cathedral was inaugurated and blessed on June 7, 2016, by His Eminence and Reverend Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera, Archbishop of Valencia. Being dean-president the Most Illustrious Mr. Emilio Aliaga Girbés and director of the Museum, the canon curator of the Artistic Heritage of the Cathedral, Mr. Jaime Sancho Andreu. These restoration works were directed by the architect of the Cathedral, Mr. Salvador Vila Ferrer.