Torres de Serranos

The Torres de Serranos or Torres dels Serrans, in Valencian (Serranos Towers in English) are a duo of mediaeval defensive towers. They were once part of Valencia’s fortifications. This fortification system consisted of a defence wall and twelve entrance gateways to the city.

Today, the Puerta de Serranos (Serranos Gate, in English) is one of the only two left standing. It is a significant testament to what Valencia used to be in its Mediaeval era and the importance it had in the Mediterranean.

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Throughout the centuries, the Serranos Towers have had many functions, which are likely the reason why they managed to survive to this day largely intact.

Even though the gate was built for defence purposes in case of attacks or sieges, no military action ever took place in its immediate vicinity. Instead, the gate was often used for formalities such as official welcoming ceremonies and grand entrances into the city by ambassadors and kings.

Over time, it became the most important gate along the old wall that surrounded Valencia, being considered the main entrance to the city.

It is estimated that at a certain point, up to 95% of visitors in the city passed through this gate. In the 15th century, customs duty was even established for those who wanted to pass through here with goods to sell and exchange.

Nowadays, you can appreciate this important piece of Valencian history from up close, climbing the steps of the Towers and enjoying the panoramic view over the city. What you will find inside, rather than opulent furniture or paintings, will be a blend of military and ceremonial architecture, in all its Gothic grandeur.

The monument is a gate to the old Valencia, standing between its ancient quarters and the old Turia riverbed, now a public park. Thanks to its advantaged position, the Serranos gate can be as easily integrated into a tour of Valencia’s old quarters, as it can become part of a walk along the Turia park.

Tickets

Like any other Municipal Museum in Valencia, the entrance ticket to the Towers is normally very affordable, and even free on Sundays.

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If you have a Valencia Tourist card, your entrance is free at any time. If you want more information about these discounts, you can check out our article about the Valencia Tourist Card.

Being listed as a Municipal Museum, the ticket to the Torres de Serranos is rather affordable.

Opening Times

While you can pass through the gate at almost any time and day (except during the Fallas festival, when a platform is erected in front of them), you can also visit the inside of the Towers during the week and early hours on Sundays.

The visit normally does not take long, from 15 to 30 minutes.

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Keep in mind that in case of adverse weather, like strong rain or wind, access to the Towers is prohibited for safety reasons.

Here you have a summary table of the usual opening times.

Location

The Torres dels Serrans mark of course the entrance gate to the city of Valencia, or at least its ancient core.

If we consider this central part of the city to be an oval of sorts, the gate stands at its northern end, right in front of the middle sections of the Turia gardens, which hug the old quarters from that side.

The park-facing side (the northern one), is found along Carrer de la Blanqueria, right in front of Puente dels Serrans. The interior, which faces the Old Town, to the south, looks at Plaça dels Furs and Carrer dels Serrans behind it.

How to get there

Because of its position, the gate is rather easy to reach, whether you are in the city centre (in which case we suggest you walk there) or in other parts of the city (there you might want to take public transport).

By Metro or Tram

There aren’t many metro stops close to the Serranos gate. In fact, the closest one would be Alameda, about 1.1 km (0.7 miles) away (14-minute walk).

This modern metro station was designed by Santiago Calatrava , the same architect who designed the City of Arts and Sciences itself. Lines 3, 5, 7, and 9 all stop here.

The tram network’s line 4, however, passes rather close to Torres dels Serrans, just on the other side of the bridge (view map). The stop is called Pont de Fusta, and it is about 500 m (0.3 miles) away from the Towers (6-minute walk).

By Bus

There are numerous buses stopping by the Serranos gate.

If you need to get there from other parts of the city centre, especially along the old walls of the city, your best options are buses C1, C2, and 28. If instead, you are located along the Turia park, buses 94 and 95 will work perfectly for you. Buses 6, 11, 26, will mostly be used by those that are north of the city centre.

Here you have a summary of the bus lines, routes, and stops you should use to reach the Torres de Serranos.

By Taxi

Cabs are obviously the most comfortable option to move around the city, but they are also the most expensive.

As the Serranos gate is so central, we would only recommend this means of transport if your departure point is quite far from the old quarters. Who knows, you might even get some good recommendations from the driver.

It is normally quite easy to hail a taxi in the street in Valencia, but other options are also booking through a mobile app or through a phone call.

By Bike

Valencia is a very bike-friendly city, so we always recommend exploring it this way.

On the official map, you’ll see that there is a bike path circling the city’s old quarters that can lead you right to the Torres. You can also cycle in the city centre and its pedestrian zones, as long as you leave enough room for people to walk.

On the same map, you will also see that there is a Valenbisi station right by the Torres, as well as others in the vicinity.

Remember that the gate is located in front of the Turia gardens, which means you can always cycle through the park to get to the Puerta de Serranos.

This complex is also a very popular stop for many bike tours offered in the city. This way you won’t be able to stop and get inside the Towers, but you’ll see how to get there from other parts of the city centre.

By scooter

Electric scooters are an ever-more popular transport solution in Valencia. They are ideal if you want to move independently around the city and you don’t want to get stuck in traffic, but you don’t like cycling or walking. Many scooter-sharing companies offer rental plans that let you pay per minute of use and nothing else.

You can park and drive your scooter within a designated area in the city’s urban zone. Generally, you are not allowed to park in the old quarters of the city, but luckily Torres de Serranos are just at the edge of the Old Town, so you can park nearby.

If you want to know more about this, you can check out our article about electric scooter rentals in Valencia. In the article, you’ll find step-by-step instructions and video guides to help you through the rental process.

On Foot

Given that the Porta de Serrans is an old entrance gate to the city, it is normal that reaching it on foot is not difficult at all. In fact, if you are in the old quarters of the city, going on foot is likely the easiest option.

Even from Estación del Norte, which is located precisely at the other end of the city centre, the gate is only 1.4 km away (18-minute walk, about 0.9 miles). To reach it from the train station, you will only need to go straight, crossing the centre in its entirety.

If you are located anywhere along the Turia park, reaching the Towers will be very easy. You will just need to follow the course of the urban garden towards its centre, and soon enough you will find the ancient gate standing at the entrance of the city’s old quarters.

Brief History

The history of this important landmark dates back to the late Middle Ages. The period between the 14th and the 15th century was a time of great economic expansion for Valencia, so much that the period is now considered the Valencian Golden Age.

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This development led to demographic and urban expansion, which brought the need for city walls and gateways. From then on the Torres de Serranos have stood through the centuries, until they got to us, in the present day.

Commissioning of the Towers (Late 14th Century)

The Towers were commissioned by the Valencian government as one of the 12 gates along the city’s defensive walls.

Construction Site Opens (1392)

In April 1392 construction began on the site of an old gateway. The architect, Pere Balaguer, took inspiration from other Gothic gates with polygonal towers.

Completion of the Towers (1398)

The Towers were finally completed after six years, on 19th March.

Towers Become a Prison (1586)

In 1586, one of the main prisons in Valencia was destroyed by a fire. The Serranos Towers were then repurposed as a prison for knights and nobility.

The adjustments that had to be carried out to adapt the Towers disfigured the building. These modifications included the installation of iron gratings that damaged the walls, new walls and windows, and even the piercing of some Gothic decorations.

Demolition of the Old City Walls (1865)

In 1865, the ancient city walls started being dismantled to allow for the expansion of the city. Only three gateways were saved from this at the time, the Quart Towers, the Judíos gate, and the Serranos Towers.

Maintenance Work (1871)

The city council decided to fill in the ditch in front of the gate, which affected the appearance of the building.

Prison Gets Moved Away (1888)

The Towers ceased to act as prison in 1888 when the prisoners were moved to the San Agustín monastery.

Restoration Works (1893-1914)

The Towers were restored between 1893 and 1914.

Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)

During the Spanish Civil War (1936 to 1939), works of art from the Prado Museum were stored in the building, making a number of modifications necessary.

Cridà (1954)

The official opening ceremony of the Fallas festival was moved to the Serranos Towers.

Additional Renovation (2000)

In 2000, the stone surfaces were cleaned, giving the building its current appearance.

Architectural Elements and Style

The Serranos Towers are one of the many examples of Valencian Gothic style, which we can easily recognise in the many pointed arches and decorative choices.

The Structure

The towers, built to flank the main gateway to the city, are 33 metres high (about 108 feet), symmetrical and polygonal in shape, topped by crenellations. The towers have three floors with vaulted ceilings each. The central body that joins them is made up of two floors and a terrace on top.

As the intended function of the gateway was defensive in nature, the first element to be put in place was a solid structure, made up of a thick masonry wall. Later, to give the construction a more formal appearance, stone ashlars were used to cover the wall.

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You will notice that while the front of the Towers looks pretty impenetrable, the back is unprotected, and you are clearly able to see the three floors that make up the tower.

This design served defence purposes, as well as making the interior of the gateway a balcony and viewpoint over the city. This came in handy during ceremonies and royal visits, giving the gateway a triumphal and monumental character as a symbolic entrance to the city.

As the gate became an important venue for such events, other decorative elements were later added. These ornaments followed the aesthetic canons of the time, of clear Gothic inspiration. Unfortunately, many have been lost to time.

Decorations

The entire part facing the outside of the city is topped with crenellations, while a border decorated with floral elements runs around the entire perimeter of the Towers.

In the central section is the entrance gate, formed by a large, slightly pointed semicircular arch. Above the doorway, we can see various coats of arms, including that of the Kingdom of Valencia in the centre.

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This panel above the doorway is the only place where we can find decorative elements that break the military aesthetic of the work, at least on the north-facing side of the gateway. This decoration is limited to a delicate ornament made up of a series of blind pointed arches. Above this decorative work and joining the towers is the barbican (walkway above the gate).

The part facing the interior of the city clearly shows the different levels through large arched openings. All the chambers have vaulted ceilings, whose ribs rest on corbels often decorated with floral themes.

On the interior façade, we can also see four gargoyles, all of which are copies of other copies. The originals have unfortunately been lost.

Accessibility

Being an ancient construction, the Puerta de Serranos is not very accessible.

The halls and towers can only be accessed through steps, there are no lifts. The stairs are divided into sections, the longest of which contains 43 steps, each measuring 20-23 cm in height.

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Curiosities

Do you know where the name of the Towers comes from? And do you know what popular saying people believe to be referring to Valencia’s gateways? In this section, you can find out about some curiosities and myths linked to the Torres de Serranos, as well as read about the many functions this construction had over the centuries.

The Name

The term Torres de Serranos (or Serrans in Valencian), comes from the travellers that used to enter the city from the gate. The gate is in fact located at the northern edge of the Old Town. Travellers from the Serranía area, also calledSerranos, used to be the most frequent users of this entrance, so the gate and the Towers themselves became “of the Serranos”.

Serranía is one of the most mountainous regions of the Valencian Community, located northwest of Valencia. It is crossed by the river Turia, which flows in several stretches through narrow gorges, creating scenic landscapes.

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The same name was later passed onto the bridge that stands in front of the gate as well. The bridge, now called Puente de Serranos, dates back to the 16th century. However, some maintain that in the same location there used to be another bridge dating back to Roman times.

Valencia’s Moon

You might have heard a Hispanic person say estar en la luna de Valencia (to be on Valencia’s moon) to mean that someone is not focused or absent-minded. Many believe this saying has to do with Valencia’s gateways.

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The popular belief is that in the past, when the walls of Valencia still stood and the gateways were the sole entrances to the city, there used to be a curfew of sorts. This meant that the gateways would be closed for the night after a certain time.

Many distracted and forgetful people would not arrive in time to enter the gates, and thus had to sleep outdoors. In the streets, outside the city walls, the moon would look at them and remind them of their absent-mindedness.

A Prison for Noblemen

Between the 16th and 19th centuries, the Towers were used as a prison for nobles. In fact, we can still see a bell on the south-facing side of the gateway, the one that faces the Old Town. This bell was used to warn the population in case a prisoner managed to escape, which was not as uncommon as one might think.

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However, over the years, the sad appearance of the Towers converted into prisons and the unhealthy conditions in which the inmates were kept, repeatedly moved the people to protest. The inmates were finally transferred to better conditions in 1888.

A Safe House for Paintings

During the Spanish Civil War, the Towers were used to save several artworks from the Prado Museum in Madrid. Of course, measures had to be taken to prevent damage to the pieces.

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First of all, the paintings were placed on the lowest floor, to avoid damage in case of a collapse or bombing. A vault was then built over this floor. This consisted of a 90-centimetre layer (about 3 feet) of reinforced concrete, covered by one metre (about 3.3 feet) of rice husk, and another one of soil.

Another metre (3.3 feet) of soil was laid on the second floor, and the terrace was covered with sandbags. Finally, an automated humidity and temperature control system was installed.

The Crida

At present day, the Serranos Towers are open to the public, but they are also used for some official Valencian ceremonies. The most famous of these is the Crida, the official opening ceremony of the Fallas festival.

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On the last Sunday of February, the Fallera Mayor (the elected “queen” of the Fallas festivities) declares the opening of the festival from a platform erected in front of the building.

You can read more about this event in our article about the Crida.

Useful Tips for Your Visit

Here are our recommendations and tips to make sure that you make the most of your experience and you don’t miss out on anything the Torres de Serranos have to offer.

• Check the weather for the day before you head off to the tower, as on particularly windy or rainy days, the tower will be closed off for safety reasons.
• You can get in for free if you come on a Sunday, but remember that on those days the Towers are only open from 10:00 am to 1:30 pm, and they are also busier than usual. If you want to enjoy the monument in tranquillity, we recommend you go during the week.
• There are quite a few steps to reach the top of the tower, so come prepared and bring some water along.
• If you are susceptible to the heat, we recommend avoiding the hottest hours of the day (1:00 pm - 4:00 pm) during the summer months.
• The climb is worth the impressive aerial view that you will get at the top. Remember to bring your camera with you!
• Even just from the outside, from the bridge, you’ll get great photos of the Towers. To avoid having the sun in your face and ruining your photos, it’s best to come early in the morning, before the sun is too high, or later in the evening. This way you’ll enjoy the golden hues of the stone even more.
• Even on less windy days, the top of the tower can be windier than ground level due to its height. You should come dressed accordingly if you don’t want your clothes or accessories to fly off in the wind.
• The climb is split into sections, so don’t forget to go to both sides of the tower, as you get totally different views. One is over the Old Town, and the other is over the park and its surroundings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here you can find quick answers to all of your questions. Linked, you’ll find the articles or the sections of the articles that can give you more detailed information.

What are the Torres de Serranos?

The Torres de Serranos are two mediaeval defensive towers that used to stand as a gate to ancient Valencia.

What are the Torres de Serranos known for?

Torres de Serranos is one of the only two old defence gates left standing in Valencia. The Towers today represent a salient example of ceremonial and military Gothic style and a viewpoint for visitors.

Where are the Torres de Serranos?

Valencia’s Torres de Serranos are in the northeastern section of the Carmen neighbourhood, in the Ciutat Vella district of Valencia.

What’s the style of the Torres de Serranos in Valencia?

The Serranos Towers are a variation on the Valencian Gothic style. This influence can be recognised in the many pointed and ogival arches, steep staircases and vaults, as well as the decorative elements that were added to the structure to make it apt for its ceremonial functions.

When were the Torres de Serranos built?

The Serranos Towers were built between 1392 and 1398. You can read more about this in the history section of this article.

What is the best way to get to the Torres de Serranos?

If you are in Ciutat Vella, the best way to reach Valencia’s Torres de Serranos is probably to go on foot, or if you prefer, on a bike. If you’d like to know more about transport, you can check out the relevant section of this article.

What are the Torres de Serranos opening times?

The Torres de Serranos are open Tuesday to Sunday year round.

The towers open every day at 10:00 am and close at 7:30 pm during the week, and at 2:00 pm on Sunday.

You can have a look at each of them in the relevant section of this article.

How much does it cost to visit the Torres de Serranos?

A regular ticket to the Torres de Serranos normally costs €2.00.

Various discounts (including Valencia Tourist Card discounts) can apply, so have a look at the various ticket options and their prices in the relevant section of this article.

Can I bike to the Torres de Serranos?

Of course you can. Valencia is an extremely bike friendly city, and on the official map, you’ll see that there are bike paths circling the city’s old quarters. You can also cycle in the city centre and its pedestrian zones, as long as there is enough room for people to walk.

What buses take me to the Torres de Serranos?

Bus lines C1, C2, 6, 11, 16, 26, 28, 94, and 95 all stop very close to the towers, along the main street in front of them.

What metro lines take me to the Torres de Serranos?

Metro lines 3, 5, 7, and 9 all take you close to the Torres de Serranos. The closest stop for all these lines is Alameda. However, we recommend other methods of transport that have closer stops to the monument.

What tram lines take me to the Torres de Serranos?

The tram network’s line 4 passes rather close to Torres dels Serrans, just on the other side of the bridge. The stop is called Pont de Fusta.

Are there any Valenbisi stations near Torres de Serranos?

Of course. There is a Valenbisi station right by the Torres de Serranos and many others not too far away.

Can I drive and park an electric scooter near the Torres de Serranos?

Generally, you are not allowed to park a rental electric scooter in the Old Town. This means that you should park on the northern side of the Torres de Serranos. You can see the no-park zone on your app’s map.

Nearby Places of Interest

Given the Porta dels Serrans position, at the very entrance of the city’s old quarters, the construction is within walking distance of many important and historically significant landmarks.