Importance of the bat in Valencia

If you have visited Valencia, you will have noticed that the bat is a constant in the city's symbology: on the coat of arms of both the city and the football team, on prominent 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 wall, a bat landed on the royal tent. James I ordered the troops to treat it with kindness, as it was a sign of good omen.

During that early morning, the Muslims tried to launch a surprise attack on the Christians. However, thanks to the bat that warned the Christians by hitting the drum repeatedly, the Christians woke up and were able to win the battle. James I carried it on his helmet and his royal shield.

As a gesture of gratitude for this highly significant moment in the reconquest of Valencia, the animal appears both on the coat of arms of the city of Valencia and on that of other cities that, at the time, were part of the Crown of Aragon (Palma de Mallorca). It symbolizes greatness, protection, and vigilance.

There are many opinions and even studies that contradict the veracity of this legend. The figure of the bat appears on some shields from the 16th century, and from the 17th century, it became official and began to appear on all official prints. Whether it is true or not, 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 regarding 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 on the coat of arms of the Generalitat Valenciana.

According to this theory, it would be a visual error that interpreted it as a bat when, in reality, it would be the dragon typical of the Crown of Aragon (from King Peter the Ceremonious).

The truth is that, either way, the importance of the bat in Valencia is still present today. A symbol of proud heritage and identity of the city that represents the strong bond between its past and present.

For this reason, we encourage you to stay alert and look for it during your visit to Valencia. Likewise, if you are looking for accommodation in Valencia, Sea You Apartamentos Port Saplaya is the ideal option as it is near Valencia and well-connected via public transport.