{"id":3277,"date":"2026-08-12T20:41:35","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T18:41:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/?p=3277"},"modified":"2026-08-12T20:41:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T18:41:36","slug":"gandia-city-walls-history-torreon-del-pino-remains","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/gandia-city-walls-history-torreon-del-pino-remains\/","title":{"rendered":"Gandia&#8217;s city walls: history, the Torre\u00f3n del Pino and surviving remains"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gandia&#8217;s <strong>city walls<\/strong> tell the story of how a medieval town beside the Serpis became a ducal city equipped for artillery warfare. The <strong>Torre\u00f3n del Pino<\/strong>, the stretches of wall near the river and several remains incorporated into the Centre Hist\u00f2ric still reveal the enclosure&#8217;s two main periods.<\/p>\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most of the defences disappeared as the town expanded in the 19th century, but their outline survives beneath streets, buildings and squares. Reading these fragments helps us understand the <a href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/history-of-gandia-through-the-centuries\/\"><strong>history of Gandia<\/strong><\/a>, from the foundation of the Christian town to the splendour of the Borgias.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_86 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Contenidos<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a8a48e942085\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #e41725;color:#e41725\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #e41725;color:#e41725\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a8a48e942085\"  aria-label=\"Alternar\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/gandia-city-walls-history-torreon-del-pino-remains\/#The_first_wall_the_medieval_town_beside_the_Serpis\" >The first wall: the medieval town beside the Serpis<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/gandia-city-walls-history-torreon-del-pino-remains\/#Francis_Borgia_and_the_Renaissance_enclosure\" >Francis Borgia and the Renaissance enclosure<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/gandia-city-walls-history-torreon-del-pino-remains\/#The_demolition_of_1880_and_the_modern_town\" >The demolition of 1880 and the modern town<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/gandia-city-walls-history-torreon-del-pino-remains\/#The_main_surviving_sections_of_Gandias_city_walls\" >The main surviving sections of Gandia&#8217;s city walls<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/gandia-city-walls-history-torreon-del-pino-remains\/#A_walking_route_around_the_vanished_enclosure\" >A walking route around the vanished enclosure<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/gandia-city-walls-history-torreon-del-pino-remains\/#A_protected_monument_that_continues_to_emerge\" >A protected monument that continues to emerge<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_first_wall_the_medieval_town_beside_the_Serpis\"><\/span>The first wall: the medieval town beside the Serpis<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After the Christian conquest of the territory, the population moved down from the area around the Castell de Bair\u00e9n to the plain. The new settlement had no natural defences, so the Crown promoted the construction of an enclosure around the Vila. In <strong>1255<\/strong>, Jaume I assigned a levy of 3,000 sueldos to the work; in <strong>1308<\/strong>, Jaume II granted tax concessions to help bring it to completion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/jaume-i-gandia-bairen-medieval-town\/\"><strong>Jaume I and the birth of the medieval town<\/strong><\/a> explores the move from Bair\u00e9n to the new urban centre in greater depth. The first fortification had a roughly rectangular layout, rammed-earth walls, a moat and square or rectangular towers. Its entrances included the <strong>Porta de la Mar<\/strong>, connected to the road towards the coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Francis_Borgia_and_the_Renaissance_enclosure\"><\/span>Francis Borgia and the Renaissance enclosure<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Population and economic growth spread beyond the medieval perimeter during the 16th century. The Vila Nova extended outside the protection of the walls, while corsair raids and the use of gunpowder called for different defences. As the fourth Duke of Gandia, <a href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/who-was-saint-francis-borgia\/\"><strong>Saint Francis Borgia<\/strong><\/a> promoted an expansion begun in <strong>1543<\/strong> and documented as complete in <strong>1564<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second enclosure used stone and lime-mortar masonry, circular towers with sloping sides and gun ports for artillery pieces. It also protected the area around the future university and opened entrances such as the portals of Benipeixcar, Sant Llu\u00eds, Sant Dom\u00e8nec and Val\u00e8ncia. Defensive architecture shifted from tall medieval walls to forms capable of withstanding and returning cannon fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1390\" height=\"1085\" src=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026-08-12-muralla-gandia-grabado-antiguo-1.webp\" alt=\"Old engraving showing a southern view of Gandia surrounded by its city walls\" class=\"wp-image-3280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026-08-12-muralla-gandia-grabado-antiguo-1.webp 1390w, https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026-08-12-muralla-gandia-grabado-antiguo-1-300x234.webp 300w, https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026-08-12-muralla-gandia-grabado-antiguo-1-1024x799.webp 1024w, https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026-08-12-muralla-gandia-grabado-antiguo-1-768x599.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1390px) 100vw, 1390px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Southern view of Gandia, with the walled enclosure surrounding the urban centre.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_demolition_of_1880_and_the_modern_town\"><\/span>The demolition of 1880 and the modern town<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Over the centuries, the walls lost their military purpose and eventually restricted Gandia&#8217;s expansion. Their demolition began in <strong>1880<\/strong> as part of urban expansion and sanitation works. The opening of the Passeig de les Germanies and growth towards the Pla\u00e7a del Prado changed the relationship between the historic centre and the outer districts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The demolition did not remove the entire defensive system. Some sections became party walls or load-bearing walls, while others remained beneath the paving. Urban excavations have documented foundations, stretches of wall and the base of a Renaissance tower on the Passeig de les Germanies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_main_surviving_sections_of_Gandias_city_walls\"><\/span>The main surviving sections of Gandia&#8217;s city walls<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/torreon-del-pino-visit-gandia-1024x576.webp\" alt=\"Gandia's Torre\u00f3n del Pino, with the pine tree above the circular tower\" class=\"wp-image-3271\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/torreon-del-pino-visit-gandia-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/torreon-del-pino-visit-gandia-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/torreon-del-pino-visit-gandia-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/torreon-del-pino-visit-gandia-1536x864.webp 1536w, https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/torreon-del-pino-visit-gandia.webp 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Torre\u00f3n del Pino, a surviving section of Gandia&#8217;s Renaissance wall. Photo: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgandia.com\/poi\/67\/6\/4491\/folder\/asc\/torreon-del-pino.html?lang=10\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Visit Gandia \u00b7 Ajuntament de Gandia<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Torre\u00f3 del Pi or Torre\u00f3n del Pino:<\/strong> this is the most recognisable surviving feature of the Renaissance enclosure. It stands between Carrer Sant Rafael and Carrer Alzira, next to the Escuelas P\u00edas, and retains its circular form and artillery gun ports. The pine tree crowning it is part of its popular image; the current specimen was planted in 1989.<\/li><li><strong>Wall beside the Serpis:<\/strong> behind the Palau Ducal and the Monestir de Santa Clara, a stretch of the medieval enclosure and a tower survive. They can be seen from the area around the Avinguda d&#8217;Alacant and the Mirador del Serpis.<\/li><li><strong>Hospital de Sant Marc and Porta de la Mar:<\/strong> today&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/gandia-archaeological-museum-maga\/\"><strong>Gandia Archaeological Museum (MAGa)<\/strong><\/a> occupies a building historically joined to the fortification. Its courtyard preserves medieval stretches of wall, and the complex incorporates the area of the former gateway.<\/li><li><strong>Carrer P\u00e9rez de Cull\u00e0:<\/strong> several remains were incorporated into buildings and party walls, including fragments associated with the Torreta.<\/li><li><strong>Carrer Duc Alfons el Vell:<\/strong> the route near the Palau Ducal preserves traces and structures that help identify the town&#8217;s historic boundary.<\/li><li><strong>Pla\u00e7a del Tirant and Passeig de les Germanies:<\/strong> modern building works documented remains below ground. The finds beneath the Serpis car park do not form an archaeological site open to visitors.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_walking_route_around_the_vanished_enclosure\"><\/span>A walking route around the vanished enclosure<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The walk can begin at the <strong>Torre\u00f3n del Pino<\/strong> and continue towards P\u00e9rez de Cull\u00e0 and Duc Alfons el Vell. From the Palau Ducal, the route reaches the river to view the Serpis section of wall and ends at the former Hospital de Sant Marc. Some remains can be seen from public streets; others are incorporated into buildings or lie below the paving, so the signs deserve a careful look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/borgia-urban-route-gandia\/\"><strong>Borgia Territory urban route<\/strong><\/a> connects the fortifications with the Escuelas P\u00edas, the Palau Ducal and other places in the ducal town. Surfaces and access conditions can vary from street to street, so it is advisable to check accessibility requirements before setting out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_protected_monument_that_continues_to_emerge\"><\/span>A protected monument that continues to emerge<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The remains of the walls are protected as a <strong>Bien de Inter\u00e9s Cultural<\/strong> (Asset of Cultural Interest), in the Monument category. This protection covers both visible structures and hidden archaeological traces, which are essential for reconstructing the perimeter of the two fortifications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The exterior can be visited freely, but admission to MAGa and occasional openings of the Porta de la Mar depend on their programmes. Check current opening times and prices on the <a href=\"https:\/\/maga.gandia.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>official MAGa website<\/strong><\/a> and complete your plans with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitgandia.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Visit Gandia<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover the history of Gandia&#8217;s medieval and Renaissance city walls, the Torre\u00f3n del Pino and the remains still visible in the historic centre.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3263,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"borgia26_language":"en","borgia26_translation_group":"murallas-gandia","footnotes":""},"categories":[11,201,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3277","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-historia","category-informacion","category-visitas-y-monumentos"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3277","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3277"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3277\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3282,"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3277\/revisions\/3282"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3263"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3277"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3277"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotelborgia.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3277"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}