Discover The Beauty Of Valencia In Spain
Author: Lee Smith
Article:
VALENCIA - A city of two integrated parts, is rapidly becoming
one of the hottest destinations in Spain. The combination of
Gothic and Modern architecture makes Valencia a visual and
cultural feast. This new Valencia, whilst still embracing its
past history and culture, is a city that far from getting
outdated, is entering the new millennium as one of the most
futuristic cities in Europe.
Valencia is full of tourist appeals which are eager to captivate
them - Museums, Festivities, Beaches, Sports events, Catering
and Leisure Centres, together with a rich and varied historical,
cultural and natural heritage waiting to be discovered.
HOW TO GET TO VALENCIA - Valencia Airport (VLC) is located 9km
from the city centre, and one has a choice of 2 buses (Aerobus
is more direct) or a taxi ride (approx. cost 10euros).
BY TRAIN - mainly from Madrid or Barcelona, the Estacion Del
Norte is located in the centre of the city.
BY ROAD - Approx. 2 hours drive from Valencia along the A7 main
toll road and approx. 3 hours drive from Barcelona. There are
many bus and coach trips that go into Valencia Bus Station,
which is about 15 minutes walk from the centre.
BY SEA - There is a ferry service to the nearby Balearic Islands
of Mallorca (about 3 hours) and Ibiza (about 2 hours).
VALENCIA'S CITY OF ARTS AND SCIENCE - The city of arts and
sciences, the Congress Centre, The Alameda Underground Station
or the transformation of the port in preparation for the
America's Cup Sailing event in 2007, have brought to Valencia
the talents of such great 20th century architects as Santiago
Calatrava, Norman Foster and Felix Candela. Between them they
have drastically changed the outward appearance of the integral
port area, with steel, white concrete and ceramic panelling
intermingling with water features, high planted areas and lush
lawns.
Conceived as a place to make known scientific and artistic
knowledge, the city of arts and sciences has five main areas -
L'HEMISFERIC - A half sphere surrounded by some enormous metal
"eyelashes" and which is duplicated through its reflection in
the spectacular pool that surrounds it. With a semicircular
screen of 900 metres square, where three-dimensional films in
the Imax format are projected, this building seeks to instruct
people in the subjects that are normally the province of
scientists.
THE REINA SOFIA PALACE OF ARTS - This is the jewel of the city
of arts and sciences, with 40,000 metres square distributed over
three auditoriums dedicated to opera, dance, theatre and music
in general. Like a large symbolic sculpture, its nautical shape
is a contrast between the opaque and the transparent, giving
rise to feelings that change as we move. This building created
by Santiago Calatrave is full of architectural surprises, a
place that according to its creator, seeks to "take people into
a circular place so that they can move around music".
THE PRINCIPE FELIPE SCIENCE MUSEUM - The educational approach
inherent in the complex, finds its greatest expression here. In
a centre that seeks to synthesise the contents of the 17 museums
of this kind of Spain. It is an iron, glass and concrete
structure that plays with light, creating the sensation of
seeing the skeleton of a great white dinosaur. Modernity and
Technology are combined at the service of a museum of the
future, a place where the visitor ceases to be a mere spectator
and is transformed into an interactive element in this new way
of understanding science.
L'UMBRACLE - This huge covered central promenade of sculptured
steel, fantastically pleasing to the eye, is a walkway of
different trees and plants which blend in with the concrete and
metal of its modern settings. A truly serene place to
pontificate about life.
L'OCEANOGRAFIC - This is a new kind of aquarium, an underwater
city of 80,000 square metres that makes it possible to discover
the treasures of the seven seas. Designed by the late architect
Felix Candela, the oceanographic park is considered the largest
in Europe in the number and variety of its animal species and
one of the worlds largest in volume of water.
THE HISTORICAL CITY OF VALENCIA - The historical centre of
Valencia is the section of town which arose around the cathedral
and was included within the medieval wall built in 1356, parts
of which are still preserved.
The Casco Antiguo (old town) consists of five districts. Among
which the Barrio del Carmen (Carmen district) is most
outstanding and popular. Visiting the roman, Muslim and
visigothic remains at La Almoina, the Portal del la Valldigno or
the Banos Arabes del Almirante will allow you to go deeply into
the historical roots to the evolution of the town. The
archaeological remains around the Plaza de la Almoina take you
back over 2,000 years to roman times. Valencia was originally a
walled town with towers sited in strategic locations, with two
still standing, the Quart and the Serranos towers. The Quart
towers were built between 1441 and 1460, for protection of the
Quart gate and the road to Castilia. The Serranos towers were
built between 1392 and 1398 next to the bridge of the same name,
for defending the road from the region of the Serranos, hence
their name. Both towers have been used as prisons. Quarts as a
womans prison in 1626 and Serranos for noblemen and knights
between 1586 and 1887. Also of note is the cathedral of Valencia
which was built between 1262 and 1356 on the site of a roman
temple and later a Muslim mosque. One can view recently
discovered 15th century frescoes by Francesco Pagano and Paolo
De San Leocadio on exhibition.
For the history lovers there are many other beautiful historic
buildings, plus a number of emblematic monuments, notably Plaza
De La Reina. Also fantastic museums (24 in total) such as Museo
De Bellas Artes (founded in 1683 and is the museum of fine
arts), Almudin (built in the 14th century and between 1908 and
1991 became the museum of paleontology) and Museo De La Ciudan
(for the full history of Valencia) to name but a few. LEISURE -
For the Horticulturist there are some beautiful gardens
(jardines) in Valencia, most inherited from the Arab culture.
Some of the must sees are the Jardines De Viveros (nursery
gardens) which previously belonged to the palace of Muslim king
ABD Al-Aziz, Alameditas De Serranos which is a garden area on
the right hand side bank of the river Turia, constructed in 1830
with many sculptures set amongst the varied fruit and palm trees
and multiple flora. Jardines De Monforte (now classified as a
national artistic garden) and Jardin De La Glorieta (the oldest
garden in Valencia built between 1817 and 1844) BEACHES -
Valencia is blessed with four beaches all with fine golden sand
and range from 2,700 metres long to 4,940 metres in length. Two
beaches, Pinedo, south of Valencia's seaport and
Arenas-Malvarrosa which are the city beaches, both have bars and
restaurants along the adjacent avenues, whilst El Saler and La
Devesa beaches are a short walk from car parking areas and
therefore much quieter beach areas. GOLF - There are five golf
courses set around Valencia, Club De Golf El Bosque (18 holes),
Club De Golf Escorpion (27 holes), Club De Golf Manises (9 holes
and the oldest club),Club De Oliva Nova (18 holes) was designed
by Severiano Ballesteros, and Club De Golf El Saler (18 holes)
is considered one of the best golf courses in the world. SAILING
- Valencia has a fantastic port which has recently been
significantly upgraded to host the Americas Cup and is open to
the public with a host of activities, games, restaurants, bars
and shops. MOTORCYCLE RACING - Valencia has its own circuit
which has been named after Ricardo Tormo, the first Valencian
rider to win a world championship.
NIGHTLIFE - Valencia offers a wide and varied entertainment
scenario for the young and not so young, straight and gay. From
theatres (14 in total), concerts, discos, casinos, flamenco and
fiestas, it's all here in large quantities.
HOTELS - Being Valencia there is, as expected, a huge choice of
exceptional hotels from three to five stars. To name but a few,
Hilton Valencia (5 stars), Hospes Palau De La Mar (5 stars),
Sorolla Palace (5 Stars), Barcelo Valencia (4 stars), AC
Valencia (4 stars), Husa Chil Art (4 stars), Husa Reina Victoria
(4 Stars), Expo Hotel (3 stars), Beta Hotel Valencia (3 stars)
and Renasa (3 stars). Other options are, Red Nest Hostel and
Purple Nest Hostel which are good budget options in the city
centre and Home Hostels have four hostels around the town. To
rent an apartment go to Accommodation Valencia Apartments, who
have over 40 centrally located and equipped apartments.
Valencia has much more to offer the tourist or historical buff.
It must be ranked as one of the most dynamic and versatile
cities in Europe. Come see for yourselves |
