Jan 7, 2025

Caras del agua Valencia

Hidden drainpipe faces

"Valencia’s best street art hides in El Carmen’s backstreets. As you wander the streets, the caras del agua will surprise you with their watchful eyes."

Small faces, called caras del agua, adorn the drainpipes in Valencia's old town.

One of Valencia's strangest and overlooked sights is hidden on drainpipes of old buildings: caras del agua. The great thing is that there are many different ones to discover. Faces of children, angels, women, men, monsters. Some are painted black, while others are brightly coloured or rusty. My favourite is a woman's face, embedded in new stucco and preserved.

The caras del agua became very popular between 1880 and 1930. The decorative faces were thought to protect the inhabitants from evil spirits. Also, the faces were logos used to brand the regional foundries. Below the bearded man, I noticed the name of its foundry: El Vulcano de Valencia.

Faces beautify the drainpipes in Valencia's old town, particularly around Mercado Central and El Carmen. Old buildings in Valencia and Alicante provinces also feature these faces.

As you search for the caras, you'll soon find yourself in great alleys. The best street art in Valencia is hidden in El Carmen's backstreets. As you wander the streets, the caras del agua watch over you.

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Art & culture

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Plaza de la Ciudad de Brujas

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