Saint Bartholomew’s Tower

You’re now standing before Saint Bartholomew’s Tower, which you may have seen when you first entered the street. To understand how it got here, we need to go back to the 13th century, when Valencia was reconquered by King James I of Aragon, ending centuries of Muslim rule. After reclaiming the city in 1249, the king converted its mosques into churches—including the one in front of you. The tower you see today was actually the bell tower of that former church, added in the 17th century. The church itself was demolished in 1944, but the bell tower was preserved and still stands in the heart of the historic centre. It has since been incorporated into a more recent building, explaining its unusual architecture.