El Parotet, Valencia

El Parotet is a monument in Valencia’s Glorieta de Europa, close to the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències and the Torre de Francia. Its name refers to the resemblance its form bears to a dragonfly, called parotet in Valencian. The structure reaches 46 metres, giving this sculptural landmark a striking presence in the surrounding urban space.

Miquel Navarro, an architect from Valencia, designed it, and the monument was erected in 2003. Caixa d’Estalvis i Mont de Pietat de València gave it to the city as a commemoration of the creation of its social-work foundation. As you take in its elongated silhouette, the insect reference becomes clear: this is a large public monument whose identity comes from an unexpectedly delicate natural comparison.