Reial Col·legi Seminari de Corpus Christi, Renaissance seminary museum in La Xerea, Valencia, Spain
The Reial Col·legi Seminari de Corpus Christi is a Renaissance seminary museum in La Xerea that spreads across a full city block. At its heart, a central courtyard organizes the church, multiple chapels, library, and teaching spaces that form the core of the building.
Archbishop Juan de Ribera founded the institution in 1583 and oversaw its construction between 1586 and 1615 across from the Universidad Literaria. The building rose according to Renaissance principles and created an important center of learning for that period.
The name references the Corpus Christi feast and reflects the original spiritual mission of the place. Within the rooms, visitors encounter paintings by masters such as Caravaggio and El Greco that reveal the artistic sensibilities of that era.
Guided tours run Monday through Saturday for those interested in a structured visit, while religious services occur multiple times on Sundays and holidays. It helps to confirm times in advance so you can plan your visit accordingly.
The building preserves the only surviving copy of a world map made by astronomer Petrus Plancius in 1592. This rare cartographic document offers insight into the geographical knowledge and discovery history of that age.
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