Refugio Antiaéreo de la calle Serranos

The Refugio Antiaéreo de Serranos hides below an ordinary house in El Carme, a 1937 shelter built for 400 people. Thick concrete pillars still carry the ceiling, and the original art deco sign spelling Refugio survives. Going down is a quiet, queue free way to touch the bombing nights Valencia lived through as capital of the Republic.

Refugio Antiaéreo de Serranos, the war below the street

During the Civil War the city took air raids and neighbours dug shelters under streets and buildings across town. The Serranos shelter ranks among the best kept, and standing inside it sketches how hundreds waited below while danger passed overhead. A guide explains its wartime use and historical context.

Pillars, sign and low light

Three details fix the visit: the oversized concrete pillars, the deco lettering of the original sign, and room for 400 people in one breath of space. The shelter is compact, but dim light and silence do the rest, and small groups leave room for questions. The visit is recommended for teenagers interested in twentieth-century history.

Weekend hours and booking

Opening runs Saturdays and Sundays at 13:00 with a free guided tour, and August stays shut. Capacity is small, so call ahead to hold a place before walking over. The door stands on Carrer dels Serrans, near the Torres de Serranos, and the tour fits into a walk through El Carme. Afterwards, continue a walk through El Carme or towards the Jardín del Turia and the historic centre.

Secret corner collectors can continue to the Casa de los Gatos, also in El Carme, or the Claustre de La Nau. Leave time for the narrow streets, urban art and squares of El Carme after the guided visit.