El Miguelete (Miguelete Tower), Valencia
Rising next to the Cathedral in the heart of Valencia鈥檚 Old Town, this bell tower has been part of the city鈥檚 skyline鈥攁nd identity鈥攆or more than 600 years. Construction started in 1381 and wrapped up in 1429, with several master builders leaving their mark along the way. Shaped like an octagonal prism, it鈥檚 a textbook example of Valencian Gothic style, reaching a total of 63 meters including the belfry. The structure鈥檚 height and perimeter are nearly identical, creating a sense of architectural symmetry that feels rather deliberate.
Although it began as a standalone tower, it was eventually incorporated into the Cathedral complex during a 15th-century expansion. Back in the day, its bells signaled when the city gates should open and close鈥攆unctioning as both clock and public loudspeaker. The interior is divided into levels: the ground floor contains the staircase, the next level once served as a prison, followed by the bell-ringer鈥檚 living quarters, and finally the bell room itself at the top.
That upper chamber holds a collection of eleven bells, each with its own history and specific use. The star of the show is the massive Miguelete bell, cast in 1532 and weighing over 10 tons. It's so iconic, the entire tower took on its name. Some of the bells date back to the 14th century, and they鈥檙e still rung manually by the Cathedral鈥檚 dedicated bell ringers. With a bit of timing and luck, visitors can witness one of their traditional performances鈥攌nown as 鈥渢oques鈥濃�攚hich are still executed exactly as they were centuries ago.
Access to the tower is through the Cathedral. Climbing the 207-step spiral staircase is no small feat, but reaching the terrace is well worth the effort. From the top, you鈥檙e treated to sweeping views of Valencia鈥檚 historic center, the Turia Gardens, and on a clear day, even a glimpse of the Mediterranean shimmering in the distance.
Although it began as a standalone tower, it was eventually incorporated into the Cathedral complex during a 15th-century expansion. Back in the day, its bells signaled when the city gates should open and close鈥攆unctioning as both clock and public loudspeaker. The interior is divided into levels: the ground floor contains the staircase, the next level once served as a prison, followed by the bell-ringer鈥檚 living quarters, and finally the bell room itself at the top.
That upper chamber holds a collection of eleven bells, each with its own history and specific use. The star of the show is the massive Miguelete bell, cast in 1532 and weighing over 10 tons. It's so iconic, the entire tower took on its name. Some of the bells date back to the 14th century, and they鈥檙e still rung manually by the Cathedral鈥檚 dedicated bell ringers. With a bit of timing and luck, visitors can witness one of their traditional performances鈥攌nown as 鈥渢oques鈥濃�攚hich are still executed exactly as they were centuries ago.
Access to the tower is through the Cathedral. Climbing the 207-step spiral staircase is no small feat, but reaching the terrace is well worth the effort. From the top, you鈥檙e treated to sweeping views of Valencia鈥檚 historic center, the Turia Gardens, and on a clear day, even a glimpse of the Mediterranean shimmering in the distance.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Valencia. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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El Miguelete (Miguelete Tower) on Map
Sight Name: El Miguelete (Miguelete Tower)
Sight Location: Valencia, Spain (See walking tours in Valencia)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Valencia, Spain (See walking tours in Valencia)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Valencia, Spain
Create Your Own Walk in Valencia
Creating your own self-guided walk in Valencia is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Contemporary Architecture Walk
With one foot in the past and the other one in the future, it is hard to find a European city more architecturally intriguing than Valencia. Among the multitude of styles, Valencia particularly excels at the cutting-edge contemporary architecture. She owes it to her own born and bred architect, Santiago Calatrava, renowned for his hyper-modern-surreal designs.
In the course of nearly two... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
In the course of nearly two... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Old Town Walking Tour
Valencia鈥檚 Old Town stands apart from many in Europe for how effortlessly its many layers of history coexist. Beneath modern squares, ancient Roman streets and forum remains lie quietly preserved. The maze-like layout鈥攕haped during the city鈥檚 Islamic period鈥攚as never swept away after the Christian Reconquest. Instead, it survived and evolved, now lined with Gothic churches and Baroque... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Valencia Introduction Walking Tour
Valencia, Spain鈥檚 third-largest city, carries a rich history that stretches back to 138 BC, when it was founded as a Roman colony for battle-tested veterans. Known then as 鈥淰alentia鈥�, meaning 鈥渧alor,鈥� it honored the courage of its first inhabitants. The city was destroyed in 75 BC by Pompey the Great but was rebuilt within a century, eventually becoming home to Visigoths and later the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Valencia's Classical Architecture Tour
In Valencia, the architecture tells you right away鈥攖his city has layers. It's not just a coastal getaway with sunshine and beaches. Beneath the bright skies, 鈥淪pain鈥檚 Third Capital鈥� reveals a blend of styles both rich and unexpected鈥攁t once bold in contrast and delicate in detail. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Old Town, where nearly every corner seems to offer a visual... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles