The Plaza del Ayuntamiento is the centre of Ponferrada's old quarter, a handsome square flanked by the 18th-century town hall on one side and the old clock tower — the Torre del Reloj — on another. Both buildings are in the restrained Baroque style typical of the region, and the square itself has the well-kept dignity of a provincial capital rather than the scruffiness that afflicts many Spanish market towns.
The clock tower, also called the Puerta del Reloj, was originally part of the old town walls and is one of the main gateways into the historic core. Walking under its arch in either direction gives you the classic postcard view of Ponferrada's old town. The plaza fills with people in the evenings, particularly at the weekend — this is where the city has its paseo.