As Architects in Valencia, we could be talking about the architecture and buildings in the city of Valencia all day long, but this time we are going to restrain ourselves and give you some very interesting facts about the Quart Towers in Valencia.
The Quart Towers are majestic towers that once guarded one of the entrances to the old city wall and have now become an emblematic monument. But if you imagine it, you can see how these towers were one of the ancient entrances to the medieval Christian city.
Curious facts about the Quart Towers in Valencia
These towers used to be called ‘Torres de cal’ (lime towers) because it was through this gate that the lime transported into the city.
The Quart Towers, together with the Serranos Towers, are considered to be surviving towers because in the 19th century the Civil Governor Cirilo Amorós, for health reasons (and because he believed in the need for Valencia to grow) ordered them to be destroyed. Out of a total of 12 towers, 10 were destroyed.
After being used to defend the city from attack, it became a women’s prison.
On the façade of the towers you can see 132 marks of cannon shots fired by Napoleon’s armies.
Architecture of the Quart Towers
The Quart Towers are two towers approximately 34 metres high that we recommend you visit to imagine what the city of Valencia was like in the past and how many people would have entered and left the city through these gates.
The towers are cylindrical on the outside and flattened on the inside. It is a late Gothic military construction with Provençal influence, possibly imitating the Arc de Triomphe of the Castle of Naples.
The two towers are built with mortar and lime using the boxed system and are joined by a central body composed of a round arch on the ground floor and a pointed arch on the first floor. The layout consists of a ground floor, two upper floors and a terrace offering views over the city of Valencia.
Remember that they are open to the public, so if you like architecture and history, we encourage you to visit the Quart Towers in Valencia.
About the author: José Antonio Velló
Architect registered with the COACV and co-founder of Velló Monfort Arquitectes. He has over 20 years of experience in the design, renovation and technical management of residential and public projects in the Valencian Community.
Specialist in urban planning regulations, energy efficiency, and comprehensive construction management for individuals, developers, and public entities.