The Micalet refers to a 51-meter tall octagonal tower in Valencia, Spain, with 207 steps to the top. Is it worth the walk? The view from up there is spectacular, and there are bells.
Time your trip to coincide with the top of the hour. The name “Micalet” actually refers not to the tower itself, but to the giant bell suspended atop it. When Little Michael strikes the hour, the ringing can be heard all around the old town… and should you be standing directly underneath, it’s deafening. While atop the tower, our favorite pastime is to pick out the people who clearly aren’t expecting it, and then watch them jump in terror at the sudden thunder-strike.
Better yet, try to time your visit for a holiday, when the bells peal out more elaborate tunes. Mike Powell and Jürgen Horn were there for All Saints Day and were invited to stay at the top of the tower and watch the bell ringers perform.
Read about the Micalet and the Santa Catalina (the other bell tower in downtown Valencia), with lots of pictures at For 91 Days.