Fortalessa Arxiprestal de l’Assumpció Church

This building, in the Valencian Gothic style, is one of the most important in the city.

It was located between two access gates to the town and formed part of the defensive wall. The exterior of the church complex follows a functional, military-inspired layout, as Vinaròs had neither a castle nor a fortress to protect the city. In fact, the building served defensive purposes during the expulsion of the Moriscos, under the reign of Philip IV, as protection against Turkish pirates and corsairs, during the Carlist wars, and in the last quarter of the 19th century, when the church was converted into barracks by order of General Jovellar.

The trompe-l’oeil architectural paintings that cover the walls create a three-dimensional effect. They are exceptional and the only ones of this scale in the Valencian Community.

One of the most notable elements of the ensemble is the baroque altarpiece-style façade that forms the main entrance to the building. It has been listed as a Historic-Artistic Monument since 1978.