Church of the Saviour

Church of the Saviour (Iglesia del Salvador) is the parish church of Godella, a small town in the L'Horta Nord area just north of Valencia. It stands on a hill overlooking the surrounding plain, and its history runs far deeper than the current building — this has been a place of worship, in one form or another, since the medieval period.

How old is this church, really?

The site itself was occupied long before any church stood here — researchers point to possible Iberian or Roman remains beneath the current structure. The first written record of a hermitage dedicated to the Saviour (El Salvador) dates back to 1428, and 16th-century ecclesiastical visitation records confirm it was in good repair and regularly open for worship at that time. The building visitors see today, in a late Baroque style, was raised between 1720 and 1730 on the foundations of that older hermitage — this is the structure still standing on the hill.

Why is the church up on a hill instead of in the town centre?

The hilltop position isn't accidental. Older hermitages and chapels in this part of Spain were often placed on isolated, visible high ground, easy to spot from the surrounding countryside. A historic Calvary path leads up to the church, the route pilgrims and townspeople traditionally walked on foot before reaching the entrance — that layout has survived and is still part of visiting the site today.

What happened to it during the Civil War?

The 20th century wasn't kind to the building. During the Spanish Civil War it suffered serious damage, and the interior lost a large share of its religious images and decorative elements. The people of Godella rallied to rebuild it, however, carrying out major restoration work in the 1950s and again in the 1980s. As a result, the church kept both its function and its architectural form, even though much of what fills the interior today reflects that mid-to-late-20th-century restoration rather than the original 18th-century Baroque decoration.

What protection does the church have today?

Given its historical and architectural value, the church has been granted full (level 1) heritage protection under Godella's General Plan — the highest protection status the town can assign to a building. It still functions as an active parish church, part of a parish that also covers Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados in nearby Campolivar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Church of the Saviour the same building some sources call the "ermita"? Yes — "ermita" (hermitage) refers to the earlier history of the same site, before the building took on parish-church status. The structure standing today, built between 1720 and 1730, sits on the foundations of that older hermitage.

Can you walk to the church from central Godella? The church sits on a hill and is linked to town by a historic Calvary path traditionally covered on foot — it's a popular walking route for both locals and visitors.

Does the interior still have its original 18th-century decoration? Not entirely. Civil War-era destruction claimed much of the original imagery and decorative work. What's visible today largely reflects the restoration carried out in the 1950s and 1980s.

Is the church a protected heritage site? Yes, it holds the highest possible protection status (level 1) under Godella's General Plan, reflecting its historical and architectural importance to the town.