Plaza del Ayuntamiento (Town Hall Plaza), Valencia (must see)
At the heart of Valencia鈥檚 southern Historic Center lies Town Hall Plaza鈥攁 lively space that blends elegance with everyday city life. It鈥檚 flanked on two sides by two of the city's most impressive Neo-Classical buildings: the Town Hall and the Central Post Office, each offering its own visual delights.
In front of the Town Hall, a statue just beneath the clock tower features the city鈥檚 coat of arms held by two nude female figures and topped by a bat. While that may seem an odd choice of mascot, the bat has been a symbol of Valencia since the 13th century. Legend has it that during the Christian reconquest in 1238, a bat landed on the helmet of King Jaime I of Arag贸n as he prepared to take the city from Moorish control. The event was seen as a sign of good luck, and the bat has remained an emblem of the city ever since. Nearby, four statues representing Prudence, Fortitude, Justice, and Temperance embody the civic virtues that guided the city鈥檚 leaders.
On the opposite side of the plaza, the Central Post Office commands attention with its refined 20th-century design. The cast-iron telegraph tower makes it easy to spot, while the fa莽ade dazzles with symbolic sculptures. Five figures represent the continents鈥擡urope, Asia, Africa, America, and Oceania鈥攆lanked by angels delivering messages by train and ship. Down at street level, bronze lion heads serve as dramatic letterboxes, roaring silently as they guard the mail. Inside, a spectacular stained-glass dome brings color and light to the central hall, decorated with the shields of all 48 Spanish provinces.
The square鈥檚 centerpiece is a large circular fountain, surrounded by flower stalls that have been a tradition for over a century. More recent updates have turned the area into a more walkable and welcoming space, with broad pathways, shaded benches, and a large 鈥淰AL脠NCIA鈥� sign perfect for snapping a souvenir photo.
In front of the Town Hall, a statue just beneath the clock tower features the city鈥檚 coat of arms held by two nude female figures and topped by a bat. While that may seem an odd choice of mascot, the bat has been a symbol of Valencia since the 13th century. Legend has it that during the Christian reconquest in 1238, a bat landed on the helmet of King Jaime I of Arag贸n as he prepared to take the city from Moorish control. The event was seen as a sign of good luck, and the bat has remained an emblem of the city ever since. Nearby, four statues representing Prudence, Fortitude, Justice, and Temperance embody the civic virtues that guided the city鈥檚 leaders.
On the opposite side of the plaza, the Central Post Office commands attention with its refined 20th-century design. The cast-iron telegraph tower makes it easy to spot, while the fa莽ade dazzles with symbolic sculptures. Five figures represent the continents鈥擡urope, Asia, Africa, America, and Oceania鈥攆lanked by angels delivering messages by train and ship. Down at street level, bronze lion heads serve as dramatic letterboxes, roaring silently as they guard the mail. Inside, a spectacular stained-glass dome brings color and light to the central hall, decorated with the shields of all 48 Spanish provinces.
The square鈥檚 centerpiece is a large circular fountain, surrounded by flower stalls that have been a tradition for over a century. More recent updates have turned the area into a more walkable and welcoming space, with broad pathways, shaded benches, and a large 鈥淰AL脠NCIA鈥� sign perfect for snapping a souvenir photo.
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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Plaza del Ayuntamiento (Town Hall Plaza) on Map
Sight Name: Plaza del Ayuntamiento (Town Hall Plaza)
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.
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
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