Serranos Towers in Valencia: History, the Crida and the Climb

The Serranos Towers (Torres de Serranos), Torres dels Serrans or Porta dels Serrans in Valencian, are a surviving gate of Valencia’s medieval walls. They stand on Plaza de los Fueros (Plaça dels Furs) on the northern edge of Ciutat Vella, above the old Turia riverbed. Together with the Quart Towers (Torres de Quart), they are one of only two gates left from the city wall, and a stop on every walk in our guide to things to do in Valencia.

History

The gate takes its name from the travellers and merchants of the Serranía, the serranos, who entered the city through it. Master stonemason Pere Balaguer built it between 1392 and 1398, in the late 14th-century drive to strengthen the walls. It was the main entrance from the road to Aragón and Catalonia, the way kings and ambassadors made their formal entry into the city. It was designed as much as a triumphal arch as a defence, modelled on the Royal Gate of the Poblet monastery, but larger.

In 1586, after a fire destroyed one of the city’s main prisons, the towers became a prison for nobles and knights. They were adapted for the role in 1589, and the prisoners were moved to the convent of San Agustín only in 1887. That use is largely why the gate survived when the city walls were demolished in 1865. Restoration followed from 1893 to about 1914, with the outer stair finished in 1917. During the Spanish Civil War, the towers stored masterpieces from the Prado Museum. They are a declared National Monument.

Architecture

The gate is a work of Valencian Gothic. On the outside, two large pentagonal towers flank a round arch of voussoirs. The city side is open, with arched galleries at several heights. Valencia’s leading families used them as stands for festivities and royal entries.

Fallas: the Crida

Every year on the last Sunday of February, the Fallera Mayor stands on the towers to open the Fallas with the Crida, the call to the festival: “Valencians i valencianes… ja estem en Falles!” Read more in our Fallas guide.

Visiting the Serranos Towers

The climb

Steep stone stairs lead up to the terraces, which look out over the city and the old Turia riverbed. Allow 1 to 1.5 hours for the visit. Visits depend on daylight and can be limited by rain, fog or strong wind.

Opening hours

• Monday to Saturday: 10:00–19:00
• Sundays and public holidays: 10:00–14:00
• Last entry 30 minutes before closing
• Closed on 1 and 6 January, 1 May and 25 December

Tickets

• General: €2
• Reduced: €1 for groups, students with Carnet Jove, pensioners and children aged 7–12
• Free on Sundays and public holidays
• Free with the Valencia Tourist Card

Pay by card or cash on site, or buy online through the city’s official Serranos Towers page. Address: Plaza de los Fueros s/n, 46003 Valencia.

Tours

Guided walks and bike tours of the old town pass the towers: see Valencia tours on GetYourGuide.

Nearby

• Quart Towers (Torres de Quart): the other surviving gate, from the 15th century, with the same ticket prices. See our Quart Towers guide.
• Turia Gardens (Jardín del Turia): directly below the towers.
• Cathedral (Catedral de Valencia): a few minutes south. See our Valencia Cathedral guide.
• Silk Exchange (Lonja de la Seda): the UNESCO-listed merchants’ hall.
• El Carmen: the old town district nearby.

For the city’s World Heritage listings, read our guide to UNESCO heritage in Valencia.