Plaza Cisneros

The Plaza de Manises in Valencia, historically also known as Plaza Cisneros, is a central urban ensemble that has had its present form since the completion of the Palace of the Generalitat in 1952. The square links two important city axes, Serranos and Caballeros, and for centuries served as a junction between the religious and administrative center at Cathedral Square and the northern and western city gates. The open space originally came about when Muslim-era streets were opened up, and over time important institutions such as the city hall, the Generalitat and various noble palaces settled around it. This pattern of development reflects the historical shift in the city's political and economic centers of power.

Today the square is less a pure crossroads than an extended transit zone, and its original character as a social meeting place was badly compromised in the past by its use as a parking lot. The architecture here is especially varied, with buildings from different eras standing side by side. The square Palace of the Generalitat dominates, its construction begun in 1481 and not fully completed until the 20th century. Alongside it rise the Palace of the Baylía and the House of the Marquises of Scala, which gave the square its name and consists of two parts built at different times. The semi-palatial House of the Vallier, begun in 1883, also shapes the scene.

Another striking feature is the Tower of San Bartolomé, the only surviving remnant of the church of the same name, which was demolished in 1944. This square, three-story tower now stands attached to a neoclassical building dating from 1954. In the middle of the square is a monument unveiled in 1969. It shows a bronze statue of the conquistador Francisco de Pizarro on a Doric column that originally came from the old provincial hospital. Here you'll experience a place that condenses Valencia's complex history, from medieval urban planning to modern architecture.