Plaza del Ayuntamiento

Valencia’s Town Hall Square, Plaza del Ayuntamiento (or alternatively Plaça de l’Ajuntament, in Valencian), is a hive of activity, a busy but never overwhelming place where you can take the city and its people in.

At first almost completely occupied by a monastery, the space slowly evolved with the passing of the years, becoming a public open space in the middle of the city. The strongest push for the introduction of urban reforms came with the relocation of the Town Hall’s administration to the Casa Consistorial (commonly referred to simply as Ayuntamiento). The square was then destined to become the new civic centre of the city.

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With this came many renovations and alterations to the existing space, including the dismantling of some streets, as well as a fair amount of expropriations and demolishment of buildings.

Not all the changes were welcomed by the people of Valencia, so much that some reforms had to be undone just a few years after their completion. What we have today is a fairly open square, free of visual clutter. The main decoration comes from the surrounding architecture and the trees, as well as the round fountain.

In any case, the intentions of the Municipality for the Plaza de Ayuntamiento to become an urban centre were realised. This was in part thanks to the advantaged position of the square as a connection point between different areas of the city centre.

Plaza del Ayuntamiento is in the southernmost section of the Old Town, the Sant Francesc area, which is directly north of Estación del Norte, the main train station. As a matter of fact, it’s hard to avoid passing by the square when walking around Valencia’s city centre.

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Many public and folkloric events are held here year-round. Even when there are none, the square is a lively yet relaxing place to be, always bustling with people, bicycles and skateboarders gathering from all over the city centre. As locals would agree, Plaza del Ayuntamiento is the perfect place to relax after a long day and people watch while having some drinks and food.

Location

The Town Hall Square is located in Valencia’s city centre, the Old Town. The square is the point around which the Sant Francesc neighbourhood revolves. It is only a few steps north of the Estación del Norte, just south of the Central Market and the Lonja de la Seda.

Its shape can be roughly defined as a triangle, with the two streets leading up to its base being Avenida del Marqués de Sotelo (from the train station) and Passeig de Russafa.

How to Get There

Because of where Plaza del Ayuntamiento is located, chances are you will pass by it or have already done so, whether you are walking or taking a bike.

If you are in a different part of the city, you might want to take public transport.

By Metro or Tram

The Town Hall Square is in a great position to be reached by metro or tram, as there are various stops nearby. Depending on where you are located, one or the other might be more convenient.

The closest stations are:

Xàtiva: metro stop in front of the main train station.

Colón: metro stop in the commercial area.

Alacant: tram stop between the train station and the bullring.

The metro stations are respectively 200 m south (3-minute walk, a little over 0.1 mile) and 500 m away (6-minute walk, 0.3 miles) from the square. The same three lines (3, 5, 9) stop at both stations.

The tram network’s line 10 stop called Alacant is about 400 m (5-minute walk, a little over 0.2 miles) south of the Plaza.

For detailed information about how this system works, you can read our article about the metro and trams in Valencia.

By Bus

The Town Hall Square is a key point in the urban bus network, so there are quite a few buses stopping right by it.

By Taxi

Cabs are obviously the most expensive option to move around the city, and they might not always be the most comfortable way to get to your destination.

As Plaza del Ayuntamiento is so central, we would only recommend this means of transport if your departure point is quite far from the old quarters, maybe in the outskirts of the city. 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 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.

On the same map, you will also see that there are two Valenbisi stations in the Plaza itself (one on the southern side, one on the western side of the square), and many others not too far away. If your tyres are flat, there’s even an air pump in the square for public use.

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 Plaza del Ayuntamiento itself, but you can always park your scooter nearby. It will be sufficient to leave your scooter just outside the no-park zone that you will see on your app’s map.

On Foot

Given that Plaza del Ayuntamiento is so central, it is normal that reaching it on foot is not difficult at all, so if you are in the Old Town, going on foot is the easiest option. In fact, if you will find yourself passing by the square many times during your stay.

From Estación del Norte, located at the southern end of the city centre, the Town Hall Square is only 200 m away (3-minute walk, a little over 0.1 mile). To reach it you will simply have to walk north, following Avenida del Marqués de Sotelo.

From the Torres de Serranos, at the northern edge of the centre, you will only have to walk 1 km (12-minute walk, about 0.6 miles). This time, you will find the square south of your position.

Historical Buildings and Elements

The lively Plaza del Ayuntamiento is characterised by its (mostly) modernist buildings, some of which act as headquarters of public institutions, such as the Town Hall and the Post Office building, built during the first half of the 20th century.

The current triangular layout of the square is inherited from the 1933 reforms, although no construction dating back to the intervention remains visible.

Town Hall (Ayuntamiento)

Valencia’s Municipal Council (Ayuntamiento de Valencia) is based in the Casa Consistorial, commonly known as the Town Hall building.

The City Council is based there, and the building also houses the municipal archives, Valencia’s Municipal History Museum, and various administrative offices.

The construction is made up of two blocks: the older Casa de la Enseñanza, and the newer, annex part that acts as a façade to the whole building.

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The Casa de la Enseñanza (House of Education) used to be, as the name suggests, a school. Having been built in the second half of the 1700s, its style is Neoclassical and academic, way less monumental and sumptuous than the newer complex.

The newer block, which includes the grandiose façade overlooking the square, was an extension made to the building in the early 1900s. This addition had the double purpose of providing the complex with enough space to run the Municipal Council smoothly, while at the same time conveying the urban importance of the building.

To achieve this, the annex was given a monumental and sumptuous tone, even ostentatious. The style used was a mix of Renaissance and Baroque.

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If you’re interested to learn more about this building, you can do so by reading our article on the Ayuntamiento building.

Palacio de las Comunicaciones (Palacio de Correos)

The Palacio de las Comunicaciones (Palace of Communications) is Valencia’s historic mail service building.

For many years, it was known as Palacio de Correos (or simply Correos, meaning Post Office), but it has recently been declared public heritage and no longer functions as a post office in its entirety. A small section is still dedicated to mail services, but the rest of the building can be visited as a tourist sight.

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The façade is characterised by a central, taller body where the entrance stands. This section is framed by ionic columns and a semicircular arch, and crowned by allegorical figures.

The group on the left is on a locomotive, while the group on the right is on a ship. These represented the only two means of postal delivery (land and sea) available at the time of construction.

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Inside, you’ll find an oval hall surrounded by eighteen Ionic marble columns and arches supporting a two-storey structure. The hall receives natural light through a magnificent iron and stained-glass skylight.

When you visit the building, you’ll be able to admire the beautiful architecture, as well as enjoy any events, exhibitions, or conferences that the Municipality plans to host in this cultural centre.

If you want to send mail or buy stamps, you can still do it in the remaining functioning section of the post office, which you can access in Calle Correos (to the side of the building).

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If you’re interested to learn more about this building, you can do so by reading our article on the Correos building.

Fountain

The fountain in Plaza del Ayuntamiento, inaugurated in 1963, is one of the most well-known ones in the city. It is one of the few architectural decorative elements in the square, while other decorations are all provided by the surrounding monuments and the natural landscaping elements.

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The structure of the fountain is very simple, with a large circular basin of water from which various, soft jets of water spout. Throughout the day and at night (when the fountain is illuminated) locals of all ages can be seen enjoying the sound of the flowing water in the square.

Flower Market

The Flower Market is an old tradition in Plaza del Ayuntamiento, and the stalls have had their space in the square since the early 20th century.

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Over the years they were moved and the Plaza was even remodelled to make room for an underground flower market. Today, the flower stalls resembling newsagents kiosks can be found above ground at the southern edge of the square, between the Town Hall and the Post Office building.

The opening times vary from seller to seller, but most of them are open throughout the week (Monday-Friday) in the morning.

Services and Experiences of Interest

In Plaza del Ayuntamiento you’ll also find a few spots that, while not historical bTourist ofuildings or sights of interest like the Post Office or the City Hall and its Historical Museum, might still be of interest to tourists. This is because they either offer a service or an interesting experience to visitors.

Tourist Office

Tourist offices offer support and information to all visitors coming to Valencia. At these offices, you’ll find all the regular services tourist offices generally offer, like information on transport, sights, museums, and accommodation. Additionally, you’ll be able to purchase tickets for many venues or Valencia Tourist Cards.

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The Valencia Tourist Card gives you free transport and access to Municipal museums, as well as discounts on other tickets and venues. If you’d like to know more about this card, you can check out our article about the VTC.

The full address for this office is Plaza del Ayuntamiento, 1 bajo, 46002, which is right next to the Town Hall itself (view map).

If you need more information about these offices, you can check out our article about Tourist Offices in Valencia.

Ateneo Sky Bar Restaurant

The Ateneo Sky Bar is a rooftop bar and restaurant that acts for many as a viewpoint to admire Plaza del Ayuntamiento. It’s up to you to decide whether you want to go up just for the view or for a few drinks as well.

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The fee for the rooftop is €3.00, but part of the fee is deducted from your bill if you decide to consume something at the bar. If you get a cocktail €2.00 will be deducted from your bill, if you get any other item on the menu (except for water or hot tea) €1.00 will be deducted from your bill.  

Fallas

The Fallas festival takes place every 1st-19th March in Valencia. At this time, sculptures made of wood and papier-mâché are built and placed all over the city and fireworks are set off every day and night.  If you’d like to learn more about this event, you can check out our article about Fallas.

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Normally, the biggest and most impressive sculptural group is located in the middle of the Town Hall Square. You can normally see the sculptures between 16th and 19th March. On top of this, some of the most important events of the festival take place in Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

For example, from March 1st onwards, the Mascletà (firework display) is fired daily in the City Hall Square, usually at 2:00 pm. On the night of the Cremá (the last night of the festival), the sculptures are burnt. The last ones to be burnt, thus concluding the festival, are always the ones in Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

Christmas Town

In the winter months, especially during the Christmas period, Plaza del Ayuntamiento gets dressed up for the occasion, with decorations and events.

If you pass by here between the last week of November and the first week of January, you’ll see an ice skating rink, Christmas lights all around the square, an artisanal crafts market, and a large Christmas tree.

To enjoy these winter events, we suggest you pass by the square after dark, when the lights and the markets are most enjoyable. Keep in mind that in Spain sunset is much later than in a lot of other European countries. In Valencia, in December, you can expect it to be dark at about 6:00 pm.

Cine Rialto

The Cine Teatro Rialto, or for short Cine Rialto is an historic cinema and theatre. It currently hosts a small room for theatrical performances, a music hall, the Rialto Theatre, and a screening room dedicated to theFilmoteca.

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The Filmoteca is a Valencian institution dedicated to cinematographic heritage and culture. If you are a cinephile, you’ll enjoy going to their screenings, most often showing recovered, restored, and conserved audiovisual material (both feature-length and short films).

The projections are usually in Spanish, so we recommend you check before going if your Spanish isn’t great.

Useful Tips for Your Visit

Here are our recommendations and tips to ensure that you make the most of your experience and that you don’t miss out on anything Plaza del Ayuntamiento has to offer.

• Plaza del Ayuntamiento is extremely central and a major hub for both pedestrian and vehicle traffic. For this reason, you’ll probably end up here many times while on your stay in Valencia, so there’s no need to plan for a dedicated visit.
• If you have to pick a time, our suggestion is that you keep away from the hottest hours of the day. The best times to visit are probably in the morning - when you’ll be able to see all the stalls open at the Flower Market - and at dusk and night, when locals come out for a stroll and relax on the benches.
• When you do get there, we recommend taking some time to relax and people-watch in the square. Being the biggest square in the city centre, the area is always bubbling with activity, so you might see locals of all ages going for a stroll, demonstrations, street vendors, skateboarders, families, or one of the many fairs or festivals.
• If you get hungry, the area is surrounded by food and drink venues. There are plenty of benches, so you can have a snack or a sweet treat while enjoying the breeze.
• Consider going to the Municipal History Museum inside the Town Hall building if you are interested in original artefacts, manuscripts, and historical objects.
• To get a nice view over the square remember to go to the Town Hall’s ornate balcony or the Ateneo Sky Bar.
• If you need it, you’ll find a public air pump to inflate your bike’s tyres in front of the Ay unt amiento building (the northern edge).

Curiosities About the Plaza del Ayuntamiento

In this section, you can find out about events that take place in the square and curiosities about its past appearance and how it has changed through the years.

Events

While Fallas is surely the most renowned event to take place at the Town Hall Square, there are many other events that take place here, either partly or in their entirety.

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On the occasion of the Día de la Comunidad de Valencia (Valencian Region Day), every 9th of October processions, music, dances, and fireworks take place in the square.

In December, during the Christmas festivities, Plaza del Ayuntamiento is adorned with lights, a massive Christmas tree, an ice skating rink and a Christmas market.

Mushroom Stands and Underground Flowers

As mentioned in the previous section of this article, the Flower Market is an old tradition in Plaza del Ayuntamiento. However, as much as the presence of the market has been a constant in the square, its appearance has changed greatly over the years.

On 6th June 1924, several stalls with mushroom-shaped roofs were inaugurated in the square. The stands, dedicated to flower sellers, were beautifully decorated with colourful ceramics from Manises (a nearby town, where Valencia’s Airport is now located).

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In the 1930s, the whole square was remodelled, and with this came a new design for the flower stalls. The centre of the square was raised by a few metres, creating an underground space for the flower stalls. A large central skylight surrounded by a balustrade provided ventilation and light to the market. Fountains were also strategically placed to provide water for the plants.

However, the traders objected to their customers having to go down a basement to purchase the flowers, and the underground Flower Market was dismantled in 1944.

The platform in the square itself was much criticised and was eventually taken down in 1961. In the meantime, it had managed to earn itself the nickname tortada, aimed at making fun of its shape and thickness, which resembled that of a cake.

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The Flower Market is today on the surface of the square, not in mushroom-like stalls, but rather in ones that resemble newsagent kiosks.

Brief History

Built on the site of an old monastery, Plaza del Ayuntamiento is the biggest square in Valencia’s centre. Throughout the decades, many renovations and changes to its appearance have made it a focal point in Valencian life and the crossroads of many of the main streets in the city.

Monastery (1239)

King James I the Conqueror granted permission to the Franciscan congregation to build a monastery on the site of a then pleasure house (this would be right where the square is today). The convent remained within the inner city after the construction of the new city walls in the 14th century.

Passageway (1805)

By this time, the wall of the convent’s garden had been demolished (without the monks’ permission), in a spontaneous attempt at urban reform. The intention was that of opening up a passageway that would allow citizens to go from one side to the other without having to go around the entire convent.

Cavalry Barracks (1835)

The monks were forced to abandon the convent and the building was converted into cavalry barracks.

Empty Plot (1892)

Due to the deterioration of the convent-barracks, the building was demolished, leaving in its place a large plot of land.

Park (Late 1800s)

Various trees, gardens, and hedges were planted in the large empty space. A park began to take shape, becoming a place for Christmas fairs, circus shows, or travelling theatres.

Municipal Investment (Early 1900s)

The Municipal Council had been transferred (at first temporarily, then definitely) to the building it currently occupies, the Casa Consistorial. With the transfer, the authorities began to be interested in using the square as a commercial and administrative centre.

Demolishment of prostitutes’ neighborhood (1907)

The area where the Correos building is now located was cleaned up and the plot of land was emptied as part of the urban reforms. At the time, the area was known as Barrio de Pescadores (Fishermen’s Neighbourhood).

The place had originally been an actual neighbourhood for fishermen, but with the closure of the city’s brothel, prostitutes had begun to occupy the area and it had acquired a bad reputation as a result.

Urbanisation Project (1927)

Municipal architect Javier Goerlich Lleó was commissioned for the development and creation of a new square. For this new design, a street was demolished.

Inauguration of the New Square (1933)

The centre of the new square had been raised by about 4 m (13 feet), creating an underground space where the flower stalls (above ground up until then) were installed. This change was praised by some and criticised by many.

Demolition of the Platform (1961)

After many complaints from the citizens, the raised platform was demolished, leaving an empty space.

Plaza del Ayuntamiento (1987)

After having had many names, the square was finally given the name it still bears, Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

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 is Plaza del Ayuntamiento?

Plaza del Ayuntamiento is Valencia’s Town Hall Square.

What is Plaza del Ayuntamiento known for?

Plaza del Ayuntamiento is one of the city’s main meeting points and a hive of activity, as well as being a site of interest for tourists, due to the beautiful buildings that surround it.

Where is Plaza del Ayuntamiento?

Plaza del Ayuntamiento is in the southern section of the Ciutat Vella district, specifically in the San Francesc neighbourhood.

What’s the style of the Plaza del Ayuntamiento in Valencia?

Mostly developed in the 20th century, Plaza del Ayuntamiento presents a mixture of Neoclassical, Modernist, and Eclectic architectural styles.

When was Plaza del Ayuntamiento built?

Although a spontaneus square had been developing on the site since the 1800s, the Municipal investement that ultimately allowed for the Plaza to develop as it did was allocated in the early 1900s.

The rest of the square and the surrounding buildings were built over the course of the 20th century.

What is the best way to get to Plaza del Ayuntamiento?

If you are in Ciutat Vella, the best way to reach Valencia’s Plaza del Ayuntamiento is probably to go on foot, or if you prefer, on a bike.

If you need to use public transport, you can easily reach the square by metro.If you’d like to know more about transport, you can check out the relevant section of this article.

What are the Plaza del Ayuntamiento’s opening times?

Plaza del Ayuntamiento is always open.

The opening times of the individual venues vary depending on the day of the week.

How much does it cost to visit the Plaza del Ayuntamiento?

Access to the Plaza del Ayuntamiento is always free.

Access to the majority of the individual venues around are also free.

Can I bike to Plaza del Ayuntamiento?

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 Plaza del Ayuntamiento?

The Town Hall Square is a key point in the urban bus network. Buses C1, 6, 8, 11, 35, and 70 all stop in Plaza de Ayuntamiento.

If you’d like to know more about Valencia’s bus system, you can check out our article about it.

What metro lines take me to Plaza del Ayuntamiento?

The metro is one of the best public transport methods to reach the square. Lines 3, 5, and 9 all stop at the closest metro stations, Xàtiva and Colón.

What tram lines take me to the Plaza del Ayuntamiento?

The tram is also a good way to get to the square. Line 10’s stop Alacant is only 5 minutes away from Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

Are there any Valenbisi stations near Plaza del Ayuntamiento?

Of course. There are two Valenbisi stations around Plaza del Ayuntamiento, and many others not too far away.

Can I drive and park an electric scooter near Plaza del Ayuntamiento?

Generally, you are not allowed to park a rental electric scooter in the Old Town, where Plaza del Ayuntamiento is.

You will thus need to park nearby, just outside the no-park zone that you will see on your app’s map.

Nearby Places of Interest

Being in the very heart of the Old Town, Plaza del Ayuntamiento is rather close to many of Valencia’s landmarks and important buildings.