Serranos Towers
Just a short way from our apartment in Valencia was a famous landmark, the Torres dels Serrans (Serranos Towers), a rare surviving remnant from the medieval wall built in 1392-1398. The wall once had twelve gates, and the Serranos Towers gate was the northern and primary entrance to the city. In addition to their role as a fortification, the twin towers were used to welcome royalty, as a prison for knights and the nobility, and (during the Spanish Civil War) as a place of safekeeping for masterpieces from the Prado Museum. Today, the Serranos Towers are open to the public, and official ceremonies are conducted there, such as the opening of The Fallas festival.
Admission to the Serranos Towers was free. A wide stone staircase led to the first level. We had to pay close attention, because the steps were very steep and of uneven heights, and there was no handrail. Another staircase, even narrower and steeper, took us to the top, about 100 feet above the street. There, we took in the panoramic views. To the north was the old riverbed, now Turia Garden, stretching in both directions, with the Serra Calderona mountains in the distance. To the south was the Ciutat Vella (old town). We could easily see our apartment, just a block away. And bonus - a mother and daughter in traditional costume were having photo shoot. Beautiful Valencia!
