The Benifaió Plaça Tower, a construction dating back to the 11th and 13th centuries, is situated in the town of Benifaió, Valencia Ribera. It was once part of the defensive wall of the city of Valencia, but we've omitted the redundant mention of other towers for brevity. The tower served as a refuge for inhabitants of nearby alqueries, a granary, and a prison. Its base is 11 meters wide on each side. The tower stands at a total height of approximately 23 meters and has a total of four floors.
The upper part of the tower features seven merlons on each side. Its walls, 1.30 meters wide, were built using the (tapial de morter de calç i pedra) system. The outer walls contain loopholes and windows for illumination of the three upper floors. The lintel and the muntins of the entrance were made with monolithic blocks of limestone.
In the interior, four parallel walls are raised between which the staircase of high steps is located. The internal vaults of the different floors were built with cane and clay hoops. The first floor has a barrel vault and no windows in the walls. The second floor has a vault divided into four sections, solved with arches made of bricks that rotate with the vault. The third floor is similar to the second in terms of layout and dimensions, but the vaults and corresponding arches rotate in the opposite direction. The fourth floor offers a surprising depth, with arches that arise from the corners of the central nucleus, but with the particularity of having four other arches, a total of eight, covering each with a different barrel vault. The architectural solution of this floor produces a greater compartmentalization of the space.
The restoration of the Benifaió Plaça Tower (1994-1996) implies the final valuation of this emblematic construction, after the year 1978 it was separated from the old Town Hall. It is now only united to the palace house of the Falcó, barons of Benifaió, with which it forms the ancient feudal fortress.
We hope this pre-moderated article piques your interest and adds to your knowledge of the history and architecture in Valencia, Spain.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nik Frost
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