1. History

2. Claustre Major - The Cloister

3. Capella de la Sapiència - The Chapel

4. Paraninf - The Academic Theatre

5. Sala de Codices - The Codex Room

The origins of the Universitat de València date back to the late fifteenth century when the Juries of the City decided to gather togetherthe different centres of higher learning on one site. To this end, severalhouses were purchased, situated where the historical seat of the universitystands today and Pere Compte (famous as the architect of la ‘La Lonja’ and for his work on the Cathedral and ‘La Generalitat’) was appointed in1498 to convert these buildings into the ‘Estudi General’.

The statutes of the ‘Estudi General’ were drawn up in 1499 and in 1502,with the approval of Pope Alexander VI and King Ferdinand II‘El Catdlico’,the title of ‘University’ was conferred.Overthe centuries the Universityhas knowon periods of great splendour, amomgitsstudents and professorswe can find thinkers of international renown:the philosopher Luis Vives,the humanists Rojas Clemente and Honorato Juan,the naturalistCavanilles,the scientist Corachdn, the mathematician TomdsVicente Tosca andthe scholarsGregorio Mayans and Francisco Perez Bayer.

The university building suffered considerable damage in 1808 when itwas bombed by Napoleon~s troops
commanded by Suchet. The ensuing fire destroyed the library, leavingthe chapel and the ‘Paranimf’ as the only remains.

The laborious work to restore the building continued throughout theninenteenth century.
In 1844 the ‘Universitat’ lost its economic and institutional autonomybecoming dependent on the central state: its professors were then civilservants. The library was renewed and enriched with collections of books coming from the convents which were secularised and disentailed in 1836.A Natural History museum was also created which was destroyed by fire in1931.

As time passed, the dzffe rent falculties began to develop around thepresent campus, leaving the historic seat of the ‘Universitat’ historic headquarters. The faculty of Economic Sciencies was the last to leave in1974.

Today, the building houses the ‘Rectorat’, a museum, a library, andadministrative and cultural services.

The construction of the ‘Claustre Major’ began in 1840. It was designedby Timoteo Calvo, who devised its trapezoid ground plan. He installed thecolumns corresponding to the ‘Paranimf’ and ‘Aula Magna’.

Around 1870 Sebastidn Monleön took over the work and finished the rest ot the lower colonnade. The statue of Luis Vives, work of the sculptor José Aixa, was erected in 1880.

The medallions were placed on the walls in 1900: we can find the portraits of
those who took part in the creation of the Tstudi General’, as well as the portraits of Vicente Blasco and San Vicente Ferrer.

The architect Javier Goerlich added the first floor Ionic colonnadeand the clock.

Theconstruction of the exterior façades began in 1840 following adesignby the architect
 
 
 
 

Joaquin Martinez, which had originally been drafted for the libraryin1790. The work supervised by several architects, went on until 1960culminatingwith the extension of the Patriarca Square and the fountaindecorated withstatues.
 

The only remaining part of this original altarpiece is the central panel which still presides over  thechapel but has been adapted to a Baroque altarpiece (1735-3 6) with Rococo elements and completed with paintings attributed to Evaristo Muñoz.

Towards 1780 the chapel was redecorated. it was then that the adjacent paintings were made by the most representative artists of Valencia at that time, José and Manuel Camardn, Luis Planes and José Vergara.

One finds stone sculptures in the firts two niches near the presbytery; the statue of San Bruno stands out (xviiith century), the work of Ignacio Vergara; it is an example of Hispanic Rococo. Under the chancel standsthe Infant Conception by Jerónimo J.Espinosa.

Since its foundation, the chapel has held religious ceremonies connected with University life, as well as the ‘Sabatines’ (scholasticdiscussionsbetween professors and students), conferring of degrees and otheracademicacts.
 

The Chapel has recently been completely restored (1985-1990) It wasreopened in 1990 and has been used both for cultural activities (concerts,recitals, etc) and for religious services.
 
 
 
 
 

Concepción Niña by J. J. Espinosa, XVIIth century

San Bruno by I. Vergara, XVIIIth century

Virgen de Ia Sapiencia, XVIcentury, (detail)

The Academic Theatre was used in the beginning as a chapter house. Academic debates, staff meetings and public events were held there. In the XVIIand xviiith centuries it was used to stage plays: comedies by Plautus andTerence were performed in their original language. Very important meetingsof great cultural and  politicalsignificance have occasionally taken place at the ‘Paranimf’. Today itis the venue for formal acts such as the opening of the academicyear orthe investiture of ‘Honoris Causa’ doctors.

The Taranimf’ was built in the mid-XVIIth century and thoroughly reformedby Sebastidn MonleJn in 1869, who gave the building its present appearance. It was also restored in 1985.

The ground floor of the theatre is trapezoid and has a projecting gallery at first floor level. Its wide vault is decorated with ‘trompe-l’oeil’ mouldings.
The seats are tiered with the presidenis seat located on the dais.The walls display portraits of well-know figures linked with the historyof the University. Dominating the theatre is a 1660 painting by JerónimoJacinto Espinosa representing the Immaculate Conception over an idealizedview of Valencia.
 

The Codex Room’s main contents are the books whose illustrations werecompleted in Italy by Early Renaissance artists for King Alfonso V ‘the Magnanimous. These classical and religions books were brought to the University from the San Miguel de los Reyes Monastery, as a result of the 1835 ecclesiastical dissolution.

We also find codices in miniature, geographical and botanic atlasesand a magnificent cartography map drawn up in 1546 by the Majoring Jacobus Russus.

The goldsmiths collection is impressive, together with the ceremonialmaces we find several liturgical objects from the university chapel; amongthem, the Renaissance chalice belonging to Pope Alexander vith wroughtin silver.
Some of the most outstanding samples of the archeological collectionare pre-columbian ceramic pieces from the ‘Protochimd’ period and Iberianand Roman bronzes.

The collection of coins and cut jewels is another example of the University art heritage. There are other noteworthy objecs such as a celestial sphere and a terrestrial globe made in Holland in the xviith century, and theValencian voluntary service flag representing the students who took partin the defence of Zaragoza in 1808.
 
 
 
 
 

Adress: Carrer de la Nau, 2 46002 - València Tel. 0034 96 3864100 Fax 0034 96 3864117