Exploring Valencia

The fourth day arrived and my excitement of exploration within it. Today I was visiting the famous Torres de Serranos and The Valencia City Hall (Ayuntamiento de Valencia).

Torres de Serranos

The Serranos Towers or Serranos Gate are one of the two fortified gates of the medieval wall of Valencia (Spain) that still remain standing. The complex is made up of two polygonal towers joined by a central body, where the door itself opens, topped with a semicircular arch. It has been an Asset of Cultural Interest since 1931.

The name of the gate seems to come from its location to the northeast of the old town, as a natural entrance that communicated with the roads that went to the Los Serranos region (the royal road of Zaragoza, which also converged at this point with the royal road from Barcelona). Another theory supposes that it could have taken the name of the main family that lived on the homonymous street.

In the Serranos Towers, the composition of the bulk of the walls is made of very solid masonry, since their main function was to serve as fortification. Later it was covered with limestone ashlar facings, mainly from Alginet, to give it the sumptuous finish that the other representative function required.

The towers have a polygonal plan towards the outside of the city and are chamfered or flattened towards the inside of the wall, unlike the Quart Towers, which are cylindrical. The towers are made up of three vaulted floors. The exterior Gothic decoration stands out from the central body.

In the part that faces the interior of the city, there are a series of open rooms, covered with ribbed vaults.

The Serranos Towers were used both for defence and as triumphal arches. Currently, the most important event taking place at their feet is the Crida, a call from the Fallera Mayor of Valencia, on the last Sunday of February, to invite Valencians and tourists to welcome the Fallas festival.

Ayuntamiento de Valencia

One of the places you should definitely visit, the entry is free and you can also explore the surroundings, The Valencia Football Club is nearby, and the train station.

The Valencia City Council is the organization in charge of the government and administration of our municipality.

The Valencia City Council organizes and acts in compliance with the Law and the Law, and exercises its powers under full jurisdiction provided by the Spanish Constitution, in the basic state legislation on local regime, dictated by article 149.1.18ª CE, and in the local regime legislation approved by the Valencian Community in the area of its powers.

I wasn’t expecting to find the Fallas at the entrance, probably they are not there all the time, my favourite part was the parliament room!