EL MIGUELETE

La Torre del Miguelete que preside la Catedral de Valencia es uno de los puntos más icónicos de la ciudad. Es una torre de 51 metros hasta la terraza y 63 metros de altura en total, con forma de prisma octogonal y de estilo gótico valenciano. Y tiene nada menos que 207 peldaños, que no es moco de pavo. Pero además esta construcción tiene una serie de curiosidades, muchas, que espero os llámenla atencion igual que a mi.

1. Se construyó en cuatro siglos diferentes

Por diversas razones, la torre se tuvo que construir entre los siglos XIV, XV, XVII y XVIII. Empezó a construirse en 1381, pero la complejidad de la obra hizo que se paralizara en 1425, antes de construir la espadaña. Esta se terminaría a partir del año 1660, y su construcción se alargó hasta el 1736

2. Albergó una campana de prestado

En 1940 la torre de Santa Catalina estuvo a punto de ser derribada, cosa que afortunadamente no ocurrió. Para salvar la campana de esta iglesia, el Miguelete la guardó junto a sus otras 11. En 2003, l’Eloi (así se llama esta campana) volvió definitivamente a su hogar.

3. En una ocasión un burro subió a lo más alto

Esta anécdota data de 1459. El encargado de unas reformas, el maestro cantero Francisco Baldomar, poseía un burro en un cobertizo cercano. Unos bromistas se aprovecharon del carácter confiado del maestro para sacar al burro del cobertizo y subirlo a lo más alto de la terraza. Tuvieron que venir unos marinos para bajar al animal con un sistema de poleas. La broma se consideró un acto del demonio hasta que se descubrió la verdad.

4. Los campaneros suben 300 veces al año

Es un cálculo aproximado, pero esto hace la suma nada desdeñable de un millón y medio de escalones al año. Si tenemos en cuenta que cada escalón mide 25 centímetros de alto, suma un total de 375 kilómetros al año subiendo y bajando escaleras. Mejor que en el gimnasio.

5. Hay un cuarto que solo se ilumina una vez al año

Esta estancia, llamada La Presó, se usaba para dar asilo a aquellos que venían a la catedral huyendo de la justicia. Es decir, era más un escondite que una prisión. En verdad la luz entra desde julio aproximadamente, pero queda muy bonito de cara al gran público decir que solo está iluminado el 15 de agosto, por la Ascensión de la Virgen. Nos quedamos con la leyenda.

6. Solo una de las 11 campanas es automática

Tal como suena –nunca mejor dicho–. El resto de instrumentos se sigue accionando de forma manual, aunque disponen de mecanismos por si alguna vez hay que mecanizar el tañido. Y la que siempre suena de forma autónoma, la Bárbara, también puede ser accionada de forma manual.

7. Los nombres de las campanas

8. La campana que da nombre a la torre es la más grande del Reino de Aragón

9. La piedra especial

10. Su perímetro es igual que su altura

Como registrar el cache

¿Estáis en forma? deberéis subir los 207 escalones y una vez en la terraza y después de recuperar el aliento y disfrutar de las vistas, tendreis que hacer una foto bajo la campana como en la foto de muestra, tambien se aceptaran fotos de espaldas para el que no quiera mostrar su cara. De no cumplirse ese requisito el registro puede ser borrado.

The Torre del Miguelete that presides over the Cathedral of Valencia is one of the most iconic points of the city. It is a tower of 51 meters to the terrace and 63 meters high in total, shaped like an octagonal prism and Valencian Gothic style. And he has no less than 207 steps, which is not turkey moque. But also this construction has a series of curiosities, many, I hope you call it attention as well as me.

1. It was built in four different centuries

For various reasons, the tower had to be built between the 14th, 15th, 17th and 18th centuries. It began to be built in 1381, but the complexity of the work caused it to be paralyzed in 1425, before constructing the belfry. This would end from the year 1660, and its construction was extended until 1736

2. Hosted a borrowed bell

In 1940 the tower of Santa Catalina was about to be demolished, which fortunately did not happen. To save the bell of this church, the Miguelete kept it with his other 11. In 2003, l'Eloi (this is the name of this bell) returned definitively to his home.

3. Once a donkey climbed to the top

This anecdote dates from 1459. The person in charge of some reforms, the master stonemason Francisco Baldomar, owned a donkey in a nearby shed. Some pranksters took advantage of the teacher's confident character to take the donkey out of the shed and climb it to the top of the terrace. They had to come some sailors to lower the animal with a system of pulleys. The joke was considered an act of the devil until the truth was discovered.

4. The ringers climb 300 times a year

It is an approximate calculation, but this makes the sum not insignificant of a million and a half steps per year. If we take into account that each step measures 25 centimeters high, it adds a total of 375 kilometers a year going up and down stairs. Better than in the gym.

5. There is a room that only lights up once a year

This room, called La Presó, was used to give asylum to those who came to the cathedral fleeing from justice. I mean, it was more a hiding place than a prison. In truth the light enters from July approximately, but it is very nice facing the great public to say that it is only illuminated on August 15, by the Ascension of the Virgin. We are left with the legend.

6. Only one of the 11 bells is automatic

As it sounds -never better said-. The rest of the instruments are still operated manually, although they have mechanisms in case you ever have to mechanize the tune. And the one that always sounds autonomously, the Barbara, can also be activated manually.

7. The names of the bells

Speaking of names, almost all bear the name of a person: Caterina, Jaume, l'Ursula, Pau, l'Arcis, Micalet, Maria, Vicent, l'Andreu, and Manuel, Barbera, Violant. Only two do not have a human name: the quarts and the cimborret.

8. The bell that gives name to the tower is the largest in the Kingdom of Aragon

Precisely the one that gives its name to the tower, the Micalet, is the largest bell of the ancient Kingdom of Aragon and one of the largest in Spain. It dates from 1539 and weighs more than 7 and a half tons.

9. The special stone

On the outer face of one of the walls there is a special stone placed to alert the bell ringer in case of emergency. This special stone sounds when it is hit by a blunt object and the sound is transported to the top of the tower. A small show of engineering at the time.

10. Its perimeter is equal to its height

To finish, a mathematical curiosity. The sides of its base add 50'85 meters of perimeter, which is almost the same length that exists from the base to the terrace (51m). The addition of the bulrush is what unbalanced this beautiful scale and increased the height of the tower to 63 meters.

How to register the cache

Are you in shape? You must climb the 207 steps and once on the terrace and after recovering your breath and enjoying the views, you will have to take a picture under the bell as in the sample photo, you will also accept photos on your back for those who do not want to show her face. If this requirement is not met, the registration can be deleted.

This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between June 4, 2019 and June 4, 2020. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 2.0 on the Geocaching Blog.