The Monasterio de Santa Maria is a Gothic-style church and Renaissance-style monastery located in the town of El Puig.
In 1237, King Jaume I built a church on this hill, when the priest Peter Nolasco found hidden under a fallen bell, a Byzantine icon of Our Lady of the Angels (Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles). Assuming this had survived the Moorish occupation, a church was completed by 1240 and affiliated with the Mercedarian order. Soon the church was insufficient for the flood of pilgrims seeking favors from the patroness of the Kingdom of Valencia, and in 1300, the present gothic church was built. In 1588 the imposing monastery was built.
From the monastery, one can visit the cloisters; the Salón Real, used by monarchs on their visits to Valencia; the Salón Gótico of Jaume I; and the Salón of Ceramics.
References:The Jacques Cartier Manor House is the only existing property wich belonged to Cartier, the discoverer of Canada, in 1534. It’s a rare example of a great 16th century explorer’s home. Jacques Cartier opened up the North American continent to the French via the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. The manor house has been restored and furnished to illustrate both the everyday life and the travels of its famous owner. From the kitchen with its red clay floor, to the explorer’s bedroom, this museum has lost none of its period charm.