Plaza del Tossal and the Islamic Wall Gallery
Why is it significant?
Stand in the bustling, irregular opening of Plaza del Tossal, where sunny cafe terraces now spread across ground that once formed the heavily fortified perimeter of Islamic Balansiya.
Key Facts
| Place | Plaza del Tossal and the Islamic Wall Gallery |
|---|---|
| Address | Plaça del Tossal, 3, 46001 València, Spain |
| Geo Coordinates | 39.47600, -0.37980 |
| Part of Walk | Valencia Old Town: The Silk Exchange, Medieval Towers, and Holy Grail Cathedral |
| Generated | Generated |
Stand in the bustling, irregular opening of Plaza del Tossal, where sunny cafe terraces now spread across ground that once formed the heavily fortified perimeter of Islamic Balansiya. The word tossal is an ancient Valencian term signifying a gentle hill or elevation, describing the natural mound upon which the Arab settlers constructed their second line of defense in the eleventh century under the reign of King Abd al-Aziz. Today, this square acts as the vibrant cultural crossroads between the bohemian lanes of El Carmen and the bustling markets to the south.
Beneath your feet lies the Galería del Tossal, an underground archaeological museum excavated in 1997. Descending into its subterranean chambers reveals a twenty-meter stretch of the original eleventh-century Islamic curtain wall, crafted from compacted rammed earth and lime mortar, along with the foundational arches of a defensive square tower. You can also view the stone channel of the Rovella irrigation ditch, one of the eight historic water canals of the Turia River that powered city mills and supplied drinking fountains for over a millennium.
The plaza is framed by elegant nineteenth-century bourgeois townhouses with arched ground-floor masonry, now occupied by trendy tapas bars, artisanal ice cream parlors, and vintage boutiques. At dusk, the terraces fill with locals enjoying a cold craft beer or a refreshing glass of horchata accompanied by savory cod croquettes, surrounded by an eclectic mix of historic architecture and energetic urban life.
Peer through the thick glass pavement prisms embedded in the center of the square: they channel natural daylight down into the subterranean archaeological chambers, illuminating the eleventh-century Islamic tower foundations and water conduits without requiring you to purchase an admission ticket to descend into the gallery.
Walk westward along Calle de Caballeros toward the monumental twin towers of Quart, bearing the scars of French cannons.