Torres dels Serrans

The Torres de Serrano are an important historic city gate in the north of Valencia's Old Town, standing right on the drained riverbed of the Turia. Built between 1392 and 1398 in the Valencian Gothic style, the structure originally served as the main entrance for travelers from the Los Serranos region. The symmetrically laid-out, pentagonal towers rise about 33 meters (108 feet) and are connected by a two-story central section with a round-arched gateway. While the northern facade is richly decorated, underscoring the gate's ceremonial character, the southern side is missing because the city wall was demolished in the 19th century, leaving the interior rooms with their rib vaults open to the city. The building served for a time as a prison before being declared a monument in 1931. Today the well-preserved towers are a major landmark and serve as an observation platform, and they traditionally mark the start of the Fallas festival.