Attraction
City of Arts and Sciences
Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela's futuristic complex at the eastern end of the Turia riverbed, with a science museum, IMAX cinema, aquarium and opera house.
Torres de Serranos
The best-preserved gate of Valencia's medieval walls, built by Pere Balaguer between 1392 and 1398, with views over the Turia garden from its battlements.
At a glance
- Type
- Medieval city gate
- Area
- Ciutat Vella (El Carmen), Valencia, Spain
Good to know
- Rooftop views
- Historic monument
Why we recommend it
The Torres de Serranos are the grandest surviving gate of Valencia's medieval Christian wall, which once had twelve entrances. The Valencian authorities commissioned the master builder Pere Balaguer, and the gate was built between 1392 and 1398 in Valencian Gothic style, with stone clad in limestone from Alginet to give it a more refined finish. It guarded the road north towards Serranos, Morvedre (today's Sagunto) and Barcelona, and it doubled as a triumphal arch for important arrivals.
Its later history is as interesting as its architecture. After a fire destroyed one of the city's prisons in 1586, the towers became a jail for knights and nobles, a role that lasted until 1887. During the Spanish Civil War, paintings from the Prado Museum were stored inside to protect them from bombing, and the building was reinforced for the purpose. A long restoration directed by the sculptor José Aixá ran from 1893 to 1914, and the stonework was cleaned in 2000.
Today the main interest is climbing up. Steep stone staircases lead through the vaulted rooms to the upper terraces, where you can walk along the battlements and look down over the Turia garden, the Serranos bridge and the rooftops of the Barrio del Carmen. The steps are uneven and the parapets are low in places, so keep a close eye on young children. There is no lift, so it is not suitable for wheelchair users.
A visit takes 30 to 45 minutes. Late afternoon light on the stone is particularly good for photographs from the garden below. The towers also have a place in Valencia's calendar: on the last Sunday of February the Fallera Mayor opens the Fallas festival from a stage in front of them, in a ceremony called the Crida, and the square fills with people. Opening times and prices are published on the city council's monuments website and are worth checking before you go.
The gate sits at the northern edge of the old town, where the Serranos bridge crosses the Turia garden. From here it is a pleasant walk to the Plaza de la Virgen and the cathedral, and the narrow streets of El Carmen, with their cafés and street art, start just behind the towers. The Torres de Quart, the other surviving gate, are about 15 minutes' walk to the west.
Torres de Serranos FAQs
When were the Torres de Serranos built?
Between 1392 and 1398, by the master builder Pere Balaguer.
Can you go up the towers?
Yes, stone staircases lead to the upper terraces, which give views over the Turia garden and the old town.
How long does a visit take?
About 30 to 45 minutes.
Is it accessible?
No, access to the upper levels is by steep stone stairs only, with no lift.
Is it safe for children?
Yes with supervision; the steps are uneven and some parapets are low.
What happens here during the Fallas?
On the last Sunday of February the Fallera Mayor opens the festival with the Crida, held in front of the towers.
Were the towers ever a prison?
Yes, from the late 16th century until 1887 they served as a prison for knights and nobles.
What is nearby?
The Turia garden, the Barrio del Carmen, the Plaza de la Virgen and the Museum of Fine Arts across the river.