Importance of the bat in Valencia

If you have visited Valencia you will have noticed that the bat is a constant in the symbolism of the city: on the shield of both the city and the football team, in important buildings, in cultural associations, etc. In fact, at Sea You Hotel we already told you a little about it in our post about curiosities about Valencia.

To explain the importance of the bat in Valencia, it is important to take into account the legend behind Lo Rat Penat , as the heraldic representation of the bat on the royal crown is known.

At that time, under Muslim rule, a prophet predicted that as long as these animals flew over the city, the Christian army would have no chance of reconquering it.

However, one night, when the Christians were outside the city walls, a bat landed on the royal tent. James I ordered the troops to treat it kindly as it was a sign of good omen.

During that night, the Muslims tried to attack the Christians by surprise. However, thanks to the bat that warned the Christians by repeatedly beating the drum, the Christians woke up and were able to win the battle. James I wore it on his helmet and on his royal shield.

In gratitude for this significant moment in the reconquest of Valencia, the animal appears on the coat of arms of the city of Valencia and on those of other cities that, at the time, formed part of the Crown of Aragon (Palma de Mallorca). It symbolises greatness, protection and vigilance.

There are many opinions and even studies that contradict the truth of this legend. The figure of a bat appears on some 16th century coats of arms, and from the 17th century onwards it became official and appeared on all official printed materials. Whether or not it is true, what is clear is that the bat remains a key representation of Valencia for its inhabitants today.

After having talked about the importance of the bat in Valencia, we are going to comment on the controversy over which animals are representative in Valencia.

Some authors consider that the origin of the bat has more to do with the dragon that we can still see in many representations such as the shield of the Generalitat Valenciana.

According to this theory, it would be a visual error to interpret it as a bat when, in reality, it would be the dragon of the Crown of Aragon (of King Pedro the Ceremonious).

The truth is that, whatever the case, the importance of the bat in Valencia is still present today. A symbol of the city's proud heritage and identity that represents the strong link between its past and present.

For this reason, we encourage you to be alert and look for it during your visit to Valencia. Also, if you are looking for accommodation in Valencia, Sea You Hotel is the ideal option as it is close to La Marina de Valencia and well connected to the historic centre.