Historic Xàbia

The Fortress-Church of San Bartolomé, built between the 14th and 16th centuries and expanded in the 18th and 19th centuries, is a prominent example of Isabelline Gothic and was declared a National Artistic Monument in 1931. Its history began in 1304 with the presbytery, and due to population growth and attacks by corsairs, it was enlarged in 1513 under the direction of Domingo Urteaga. It features a large Gothic nave with an apse and three side chapels. The 17th-century bell tower also served as a watchtower. Its roof has ribbed vaults, and it is built mainly of rough stone. Beneath the building lie crypts and 16th-century funerary vessels that have yet to be uncovered.