Torres de Serranos

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Torres de Serrano
Representative north facade of the building

Representative north facade of the building

Data
place Valencia , Spain
builder Pere Balaguer
Architectural style Valencian Gothic
construction time 1392 to 1398
height 33 m
Coordinates 39 ° 28 '45.3 "  N , 0 ° 22' 33.7"  W Coordinates: 39 ° 28 '45.3 "  N , 0 ° 22' 33.7"  W.

The Torres de Serrano (German: Serranos towers , Valencian: Porta dels Serrans ) form a city gate in the Spanish city ​​of Valencia . The building is now considered one of the most important sights in Valencia.

location

The Torres de Serrano are located on the northern edge of the historic old town of Valencia directly on the drained river bed of the Turia . The Pont dels Serrans bridge crosses the river bed and ends in Puente De Serranos, north of the towers. To the south, the towers are bordered by the Plaça dels Furs .

history

The Torres de Serrano were built between 1392 and 1398 as one of the main gates of the medieval city wall by the builder Pere Balaguer. The name of the towers goes back to the Los Serranos region, from which most of the people who entered Valencia through the city gate came from. The royal roads from Saragossa and Barcelona led through this region to the Torres de Serrano. Between the 16th and 19th centuries the structure served as one of the city's prisons. The prison was closed in 1888 due to protests against the inhumane conditions in the towers. In 1865 the city wall was torn down. The back masonry, which faces the city, was removed from the building that was thus freestanding. During the Spanish Civil War , works of art from Madrid's Museo del Prado were kept in the towers for protection. The towers were never part of a military conflict and are therefore still in very good condition today. In 1931 the towers were declared a historical and artistic monument.

In addition to the Torres de Serrano, only the Torres de Quart city ​​gate remains from the original twelve city gates. Today the towers are an important sight in Valencia and serve as observation towers. The start of the Fallas , also known as La Crida , is traditionally celebrated in front of the towers.

architecture

The Torres de Serrano were built in the Valencian Gothic style. The structure is constructed symmetrically. The two 33-meter-high pentagonal towers are connected by a two-story central section. The central building contains a round arched gate. The northern facade facing the former river is richly decorated with ornaments. This still indicates the representative purpose of the towers in addition to the defense tasks. Due to the demolished city wall, the towers still lack the southern facade. The five halls of the building with pointed arches and ribbed vaults are therefore open to the city side.

gallery

  • Open south facade of the building

  • Detailed view of the north facade

  • View from the towers towards the old town

  • Torres de Serrano by night

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Sightseeing in Valencia. Retrieved May 21, 2020 .
  2. ↑ a b c Serranos Towers (Torres de Serranos). Retrieved May 21, 2020 .
  3. ^ A b Daniel Tomás: Las Torres de Serranos de Valencia. In: Las Torres de Serranos de Valencia. Retrieved May 21, 2020 (Spanish).
  4. ↑ a b c Stories and Curiosities of the Torres de Serrano. June 18, 2018, accessed May 21, 2020 .
  5. ^ A b Hans Diego Rose: Torres de Serranos Valencia. February 16, 2015, accessed May 21, 2020 .
  6. ↑ a b Serranos Towers. Retrieved May 21, 2020 .
  7. ↑ Tradition - Falles from Valencia. Retrieved on May 21, 2020 (German).
  8. ↑ TURESPAÑA: Sights in Valencia, Spain: Puerta de Serranos. April 23, 2007, accessed on May 21, 2020 (German).