There can be no doubt this is one of the most distinctive buildings in the beautiful town of Jávea. The Fortified Church of San Bartolomé, built in the Gothic Isabelline style, has been declared a "National Artistic Monument", and a visit is a feast for the eyes, as are the surrounding buildings in the traditional local "tufa" undressed stone, with their Mediterranean feel.
Abahana Villas - Church of San Bartolomé in Jávea.
As soon as one steps into the square, the heart of the Historic Centre of Jávea, one is struck by the imposing architecture in its distinctive "tufa" stone. This is the Church of San Bartolomé, built in 1513 by the master builder Domingo Urteaga of Navarre.
The dominant style of the building is Gothic Isabelline, and it comprises a huge nave headed by an apse, with three chapels on each side divided by the buttresses.
The church stands out for the lack of ornamental elements both inside and out, the only features being the coats of arms above the entrance doors, and a few decorative floral motifs.
Alongside stands an 18th-century belltower, which was also used as a watchtower.
The complex, topped by battlements, also featured arrow loops and spaces for mortars, thereby perfectly fulfilling the needs of the local population of the era: religious requirements and defence against potential Barbary attacks.
One curiosity worth mentioning is that below the current flooring around the church there is an unknown and unexplored set of crypts, probably dating from the 16th century.
| Type | FORTIFIED CHURCH |
| Style | GOTHIC ISABELLINE |
| Opening hours | MON-FRI 08:00-20:00h / SAT-SUN 08:00-19:00h |
| Address | PLAZA DE LA IGLESIA. 03730 JÁVEA |
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