Església de Sant Miquel de Benissivà

Església de Sant Miquel de Benissivà is an 18th-century parish church standing in the hamlet of Benissivà, one of the eight historic villages of the Vall de Gallinera in Alicante province, right next to neighbouring Benialí. Dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel, it is one of the best-preserved religious buildings in the whole valley and a regular stop on the route linking Gallinera's eight villages.

Where exactly is the church located?

Benissivà sits in the central part of the Vall de Gallinera, a mountainous valley known for its cherry orchards and hiking trails that connect eight historic settlements, Benialí among them. The church stands on the site of an earlier parish temple, around which settlement gradually re-formed after a long period of near-abandonment.

What is the history behind it?

Benissivà was once the seat of the so-called Curato de Gallinera, a parish established in 1575 that covered the valleys of Alcalà, Ebo and Gallinera, at a time when the area was inhabited by Moriscos. After the expulsion of the Moriscos in the early 17th century, the settlement remained largely deserted for decades; only the church and the priest's house survived from that earlier period. Resettlement of the valley began in the late 17th century, and construction of the current church followed soon after. Work started in the 1720s and was completed in 1744. The bell tower, however, is not entirely of that period — it was built on the base of an older Moorish defensive tower that had survived from before the expulsion.

How is the church built?

The church follows a Latin-cross floor plan with a clearly marked transept. The single nave is covered by a barrel vault resting on buttresses, with side chapels set between them. Above the crossing, on the gospel side, a dome rises on pendentives, while the presbytery and the epistle-side arm of the transept are covered with barrel vaulting. This layout — a single nave with side chapels and a domed crossing — is typical of the more modest rural churches built across the Marina Alta region in the first half of the 18th century.

What can visitors see inside?

The walls preserve ceramic tiles (azulejos) dating from the church's construction period in the 18th century — among the few original decorative elements that have survived intact. Together with the building's overall structure and its Moorish-rooted tower, these tiles are usually cited as the main reason to pause in Benissivà while touring the valley.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the church in Benissivà dedicated to? It is dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel (Catalan: Sant Miquel Arcàngel).

When was the current church built? Construction began in the 1720s and was completed in 1744, on the site of an earlier parish church.

Is the bell tower original to the 18th-century building? Not entirely — its base is an older Moorish tower that was later converted into the church's bell tower.

Are Benissivà and Benialí the same village? No, they are two separate, neighbouring villages, both among the eight historic settlements of the Vall de Gallinera.