Lorraine Williamson
In most cities, a bat might signal dusk or Halloween. In Valencia, it signals something else entirely: identity. Known locally as Lo Rat Penat, this flying mammal isn’t just an emblem — it’s a cultural talisman. From coat of arms to graffiti walls, football crests to municipal signage, the bat is woven into the fabric of the city.
But how did a nocturnal animal come to represent vigilance, victory, and even local football pride? The answer lies in a curious blend of medieval myth, shifting iconography, and enduring symbolism.
The night that changed everything
Valencia’s bond with the bat traces back to the 13th century and a tale often retold, even if rarely verified. In 1238, as King Jaume I prepared to seize the Moorish-held city, legend has it, a bat flew into the royal encampment, causing a commotion. That disturbance — whether it knocked into a drum or simply startled guards — coincided with an enemy ambush.
Warned in time, the king’s forces regrouped and successfully took the city. The bat, then, became a symbol not of fear, but of foresight. Whether true or apocryphal, this tale etched the animal into Valencia’s origin story — and eventually, into its very coat of arms.
Not always a bat: The forgotten dragon
Strangely enough, the bat wasn’t Valencia’s first heraldic animal. In the 14th century, a dragon adorned the city’s crest, mirroring the personal emblem of King Pedro IV of Aragon. Over generations, though, artistic interpretations softened the beast — it shrank in size, shed its scales, and eventually sprouted bat-like wings.
Why the change? Scholars speculate it was simply easier to depict or perhaps more regionally resonant. Regardless, by the time the dragon disappeared entirely, the bat had become synonymous with the city — familiar, watchful, and instantly recognisable.
Football, identity, and a battle with Batman
For Valencia CF, founded in 1919, the bat wasn’t a branding afterthought — it was there from the beginning. Early club crests featured a modest black bat perched above a football. Over time, the design grew bolder, evolving into the prominent winged figure that fans know today.
But in 2019, during centenary celebrations, the club’s refreshed logo sparked a transatlantic row. DC Comics accused the club of copyright infringement, claiming the design resembled the Batman insignia. The irony? Valencia had been using the symbol decades before Bruce Wayne was ever drawn.
Levante UD, the city’s other major football team, also bears the bat. The club emerged in 1939 from a merger of two older teams — both of whom already featured the animal in their emblems. Today, despite being nicknamed the Frogs, Levante’s badge still proudly displays the winged creature.
From pavement tiles to political symbols
Step outside Valencia’s stadiums, and you’ll still find Lo Rat Penat all over the city — on tiles, bollards, shop fronts, and road signs. It’s even become a symbol for regional identity. The name itself has been adopted by a cultural society advocating for the Valencian language and traditions.
To outsiders, a bat might seem an odd choice for civic pride. But here, it’s shorthand for something deeper: protection, resilience, vigilance, and belonging.
Why it still resonates today
In a world increasingly detached from its folklore, Valencia’s bat reminds us that identity doesn’t always come from tourist brochures or branding agencies. Sometimes it comes from stories passed down over centuries, from street corners where myth meets memory, and from creatures that — once upon a time — helped change the fate of a city.
Whether it truly saved Jaume I or simply flew through a storybook, Lo Rat Penat remains one of Spain’s most unusual and enduring urban mascots — soaring not just across stone buildings, but through the very spirit of Valencia.
Source: as.com