We went for a walk and came across the “Serranos Gate”, in Valencia. So we thought why not check it out and bought a ticket for the self guided tour of the tower.  Serrano gate was one of the twelve gates that formed part of the ancient city wall. It was built near the end of the 14th century between 1392 and 1398.  The Serranos Gate is more like a castle with defensive capabilities than a simple gate.

We walked up the stairs and began our self guided tour of the gates.

There are four different levels of the gate which required walking up a long set of steep stairs for each level. Once we reached the first level there were two sides to the gate. Each side was identical and mirrored each other. in each side there was a large room with a high arched ceiling with a stone ridge feature.

We walked around the first level and explored the rooms. There was no one else around and we had the place basically to ourselves. There were several wooden doors which were thick and had door knockers on them that were interesting.

We headed up the steep stairs to the next level. The stairs have a steel railing which is quite open and low. So we stayed closer to the wall than to the edge.

Once we got to the second level of the Serranos Gate, we were in a large open area. The opening allowed for a view of the city on one side while the exterior wall was obstructing the other side.

The next level had a narrower set of steep stairs and we were careful climbing up.

When we reached the landing of the split section of stairs there was a small door opening. We went through the opening onto a narrow  walkway.

We walked the full length of the walkway which provides a view of the exterior section of the city.  It also would have provide protection to any soldiers that were on the gates. Looking down we could see just how high we were.

We headed up to the top of the Serranos Gate which provided a large area with a beautiful view of the city of Valencia.

The view was spectacular from the top of the gate, we could see the skyline of Valencia.

The Serranos Gate was built as part of a wall system which surrounded and protected the city from thief and marauders. There was a total of 12 gates which allowed for access to the city. There are only two gates that remain the remainder of the gates and the wall has been destroyed over time. We had a great day climbing this medieval structure and exploring the Serranos Gate.

“Adios y que tenga un gran días”

We stopped into this quaint cafe in Valencia called “Cafe de las Horas” it was quite different and was decorated in a kind of baroque style. There were stars painted on the ceiling, a large chandelier and the whole cafe was filled with baroque art and design.

We came in and sat down at a small table and ordered a couple of drinks. We had just finished our two and a half hour walking tour and wanted to take a break. We enjoyed our drinks and relaxed looking around the room. We noticed the broken tile imbedded into the floor. It was a creative and a neat way to finish the floor.

The bar area of the cafe was full of ornate decorations and was a bit over the top with art and decorations.

Each area we looked at was unique and full of decorations. There was a small alcove that had a small table and chairs. It was decorated and full of baroque styled art as well.

It seemed that anywhere you looked there was no space or area not filled with art decorations. It kept you entertained just looking at the decor of the room.

We enjoyed our well deserved rest and finished our drink then headed out to our next adventure.

“adios y que tenga un gran días”

We took a “free walking tour” of Valencia. We all know that you don’t get anything for free and there is an expectation of some tip or gratuity at the end of the tour. In fact our tour guide made it clear a few times that you pay what you think the tour is worth at the end.

We started at the “Plaza de la Virgen” which is located in the old quarter of Valencia.  It is a beautiful square with a foundation, a great view of the Valencia cathedral and other historic buildings.

From the Plaza de la Virgen we did a walk throughout the old quarter stopping at certain key spots. Our guide would provide great details about the historic place we are standing at. We went to the central market of Valencia and did a walk through of the market. (We will do another post on the market)

The outside of the market is beautiful with ornate decorated architecture and stained glass windows. We then walked down some side streets of the old quarter and came across a wall mural that was quite interesting. The persons depicted on the wall is a cabaret dancer and was apparently quite popular when she was young. She is still working as a dancer at seventy plus years old.

We walked to another square in the old quarter which had several bars and cafes. In one particular area there was a sign “La Estrecha” which means “the narrow” in Spanish.  We were informed by the guide that this is the smallest home in Spain and arguably in the world. The width of the home was only 107 centimetres.  A few years ago the bar beside the “La Estrecha” bought it and made it part of their bar.

We walked  to the centre of the city “literally” which is a square that marks the centre of Valencia. It is not grandiose and is fairly small with a modern look to it.  The photo below shows Shelley at the centre of Valencia near the fountain.

We then worked our way back through the narrow streets to the Plaza de la Virgen. Along the way we saw some beautiful narrow streets, fountains and statues.

Some of the narrow streets had great atmosphere and looked like a scene out of a movie. Flowers on the windows, the sound of birds singing and the background noise of people laughing and playing music. A very unique and enjoyable experience.

We walked for two and half hours and took in many sites. It was a beautiful day and when we finished the tour  I watched as everyone in the tour paid something for the tour. Most people were quite generous and I think overall we had one of the best tours because of the size of the group and quality of our tour guide.

After the tour we headed back to the “Metropolitan Cathedral-Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady of Valencia” known simply as Valencia Cathedral to go inside and see the church. The subject of another post…

“Adios y que tenga un grand días”

We went to Toledo which has a very interesting history and is a beautiful town. It began as a Roman city, then became a fortress of the Emirate of Cordoba and then an outpost of the Christian kingdoms fighting the Moors. For a period of time it was the capital of Spain until the capital was moved to Madrid.

The old section of Toledo has narrow cobblestone streets and beautiful architecture. We were amazed at the beauty of Toledo.

The old section of Toledo is on top of a mountain and overlooks the region.

Toledo was one of the major centres of Christian cultures after the liberation of the Moors in 1085. It is believed that the saying “Holy Toledo!” originated from Toledo Spain. The Cathedral “Primada Santa María de Toledo”  is a 13th-century Gothic Cathedral, one of the largest in Europe, and is the seat of the Cardinal Archbishop of Spain.

There are some great historic buildings and structures in Toledo including a great stone bridge called “Puente de Alcántara” which provides majestic views of the area. The bridge is located near the Castillo de San Servant and spans the Tagus river. The bridge was built by the Romans after they founded the city.

Toledo is also known for its sword making and unusually hard steel. In approximately 500 BC the Roman empire began using the swords from Toledo and eventually it became the standard source of weaponry for the Roman Legions.

Today you can see numerous swords and knifes for sale in Toledo.

It was an interesting place and well worth a visit. Now I even know where the saying “Holy Toledo!” comes from.

“Adios y que tenga un grand días”