Tower of Paterna

The Tower of Paterna, known locally as Torre de Paterna, stands as a monumental testament to the rich history and architectural prowess of Paterna, a town in the province of Valencia, Spain. This iconic structure, perched on a hill, is not just a defensive tower but a symbol of the town's resilience and historical significance.

The History of the Tower of Paterna

The Tower of Paterna is a fortification that dates back to the late 11th and early 12th centuries. Originally constructed to protect the inhabitants of the town and as part of a defensive ring around the city of Valencia, it is one of several towers, including those in Museros, Moncada, Cuart, Torrente, and Silla. The tower is strategically positioned on a hill near the old castle of Paterna, now located north of the Town Hall and surrounded by the Coves de la Torre, a collection of cave dwellings that emerged around it from the 18th century onwards.

Initially, the tower was square-shaped, but it underwent significant transformation following the Christian conquest, acquiring its distinctive truncated cone shape in the 14th century. The tower stands 19.5 meters high, with a lower diameter of 12.70 meters and an upper diameter of 9.60 meters. It comprises three floors (the first two with a square base and the third with an octagonal base) and a circular terrace that offers panoramic views of the Huerta de Valencia.

Architectural Features

The ground floor of the tower likely served as a cistern, collecting water from the terrace. Its ceiling consists of two lowered barrel vaults, dividing the floor into two sections. A central pilaster supports two perpendicular lowered arches, providing structural integrity. The second floor, the current entry point to the tower, has a square base with sides measuring approximately 5 meters. This floor features a more complex architectural design, with an octagonal vault that connects to the square base through squinches resolved by half-vaults in its four corners. The walls are made of mortar and reach heights of 3 to 3.5 meters. The west side houses the door leading to the next floor, with the staircase incorporated into the wall's width.

The third floor has an octagonal base and mirrors the elements of the floor below. From here, visitors can access the terrace via a staircase covered by three small groin vaults made of bricks. The circular terrace is surrounded by eight overhanging parapets with embrasures, leaving space for eight battlements.

Defensive and Structural Modifications

Traditionally, access to these towers was through a movable staircase leading to the second-floor entrance for defensive purposes. However, in 1971, an architectural intervention led by Vicente García altered the tower's image by adding an external spiral staircase from the ground to the first-floor entrance. This restoration also included the reconstruction of the cornice's machicolations, enhancing the tower's historical appearance.

The restoration was prompted by the tower's designation as a historical-artistic monument. In the 1980s, the tower housed the Paterna Ceramics Museum, which is now located in the old Town Hall of Paterna.

The Cave Dwellings

The caves surrounding the Tower of Paterna are dwellings excavated into the hillside to the north and east of the tower. While some of these caves date back to the Muslim invasion, their primary use was between the second half of the 18th century and the 19th century, during a period of significant population pressure and the need for new habitats for laborers and workers. In Paterna, communal areas like Bovalar were utilized for this purpose.

The number of caves increased considerably in the 19th century, peaking in the first half of the 20th century. By 1940, there were 495 caves, housing 23.39% of Paterna's population. However, historical and urban changes, especially the construction of housing groups following the 1957 flood, led to the abandonment and decline of these cave dwellings.

The caves in Paterna exhibit various architectural styles based on the excavation direction: horizontal, vertical, and mixed. The mixed system, predominant in Paterna, begins with a vertically excavated patio leading to a new horizontal plane. Once walls are formed around the perimeter of the void, horizontal excavation continues, creating a cave similar to one dug into a mountain. This type, known as cova enclotada, is centered around a communal square for a few caves, with ramp access and no street-facing facade. These caves offer unique living conditions, maintaining a comfortable temperature year-round.

The geological conditions of the terrain are ideal for cave excavation. The upper layer consists of a thin layer of soil, followed by a compact, impermeable calcareous rock layer 20 to 30 centimeters thick, serving as the cave's ceiling. Below this is a 40 to 50-centimeter-thick porous calcareous layer, easily worked with picks, and finally, a layer of easily workable clay. This stratigraphy is perfect for cave excavation, with the compact upper layer providing a solid roof and the lower layers being relatively easy to excavate.

The Tower of Paterna and its surrounding caves offer a fascinating glimpse into the region's history and architectural ingenuity. This site is a must-visit for anyone interested in the rich cultural heritage of Valencia and the unique living conditions of its past inhabitants.