On the corner of a 19th-century palace in the old town of Valencia, right by Calle del Miracle, a giant stone bat clings to the wall.

The bat (rat penat in Valencian) isn’t just a whimsical decoration. According to legend, on the eve of a decisive battle in the 13th century, as King James I prepared to reconquer Valencia from the Saracens, a bat is said to have landed on his tent, awakening him and his army to warn of an ambush. As victory followed and James was known as "The Conqueror", the animal became a symbol of good fortune, and has crowned the city’s coat of arms, soccer jerseys, and numerous souvenirs tourists buy every day.

The building itself, the Palacio de los Barones de Alacuás, was built in the mid-1800s as the residence of the wealthy Trénor family. It sits on foundations that go back centuries, once part of the Hospital of Saint John’s medieval complex. 

In 2003, after decades of decline, architect Salvador Vila Ferrer restored the palace, which now serves as the headquarters of Lo Rat Penat, a society founded in 1878 to preserve and promote the Valencian language and traditions.

The society takes its name from the city's mascot, lo rat penat — “the winged rat,” or bat. If the connection wasn't already obvious, an oversized sculpture calls attention to the façade — the bat that draws passersby to look up, created by Valencian sculptor Nassio.