Plaça de la Reina, Square in La Seu, Valencia, Spain

Plaça de la Reina is a central square in Valencia, Spain, located in the La Seu neighborhood. It is surrounded by tapas bars and traditional restaurants, and at its center stands the baroque door of the Irons, which gives access to the Valencia Cathedral.

The square was created in the 1830s after the Ecclesiastical Confiscations of Mendizábal led to the demolition of the San José monastery and the Convent of Santa Tecla. For a few years it was officially called Plaza de Zaragoza, but the city council restored the original name because locals never stopped using it.

Locals often use the square as a meeting point before exploring the old town, and the outdoor tables of the bars fill up with people enjoying a drink. The name comes from Queen María de las Mercedes, and although it was officially changed for a while, residents kept using the original name.

The square is easy to reach on foot from many parts of the old town, and it serves as a useful landmark for orientation. Visit in the morning to avoid the busiest hours, and wear comfortable shoes because the ground is paved with stones.

The square is a good spot to see the Santa Catalina Tower and the Miguelete Tower at the same time, and the contrast between the old baroque door and the modern buildings around it often surprises visitors. From here, you can also spot the Gomis Palace and the Royal Tobacco Factory, which are easy to miss when walking through the square.