Plaza del Ayuntamiento (Town Hall Plaza), Valencia (must see)

Stand near the large circular fountain at the center of Town Hall Plaza and take a slow look around. This is one of Valencia’s grand urban stages, where some of the city’s most important buildings gather around a broad, open space filled with flower stalls, pedestrians, and the occasional determined pigeon...

First, look toward the largest building on the western side. The one with the clock tower rising above its roofline is Valencia’s Town Hall. Its pale façade, balconies, and prominent tower make it easy to identify. Take a moment to admire the sculptures beneath the clock.

You’ll see the city’s coat of arms supported by two female figures and crowned by Valencia’s famous bat. According to local legend, a bat landed on the helmet of King Jaime I before the Christian reconquest of the city in 1238, and so this nocturnal creature has remained Valencia’s unlikely mascot ever since. Nearby stand four statues representing Prudence, Fortitude, Justice, and Temperance—the virtues city leaders hoped to embody, at least on their better days. The building itself is worth appreciating from the outside, particularly for its elegant façade and tower, which help define the skyline of the square.

Now turn to the eastern side of the plaza. The building crowned by a slender iron tower is the Central Post Office. The telegraph tower is your easiest clue that you are looking at the right structure. Move closer to examine the richly decorated façade, where sculptures represent Europe, Asia, Africa, America, and Oceania. Angels carrying messages by train and ship remind visitors of a time when communication traveled at the speed of steam rather than instant notifications. Before entering, look down at street level to find the bronze lion-head letterboxes. They may be the most intimidating mailboxes you will ever encounter...

Step inside if the building is open. The highlight is the magnificent stained-glass dome above the central hall, decorated with the shields of Spain’s provinces. It is one of the most beautiful interiors in the city and well worth a brief detour.

Before leaving the square, return your attention to the fountain and surrounding flower stalls, a tradition here for more than a century. Recent renovations have widened the pedestrian areas and added shaded seating, making this an excellent place to pause, take photographs, and enjoy a front-row seat to everyday life in Valencia.