Sightseeing Valencia
Home to the Fallas
Jan 15, 2000 - 8:23 AM
Sightseeing Valencia
Home to the Fallas
Jan 15, 2000 - 8:23 AM
The Plaza del Mercado right in the heart of Valencia is home to the Silk Exchange, the Lonja de la Seda, a UNESCO World Heritage site which is considered one of the most beautiful examples of gothic civil architecture in Europe, and covers an area of almost 2,000 square metres. Open Tues-Sat 10-2 and 4.30-8, Sundays and public holidays 10-3. Closed Mondays. Admission is 2€, free on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
One of Europe’s biggest markets, the Mercado Central, is also in the Plaza del Mercado. It was inaugurated by Alfonso XIII in 1928 and boasts more than 900 stalls. Open Mon-Sat 8am-3pm. Pay a visit to the Iglesia de los Santos Juanes while you’re in the square. It was originally built in 1240 on the site of a former mosque, but was rebuilt over the 14th and 16th Centuries due to fire damage.
The Cathedral, in Plaza de la Virgen, was also built on the site of a former mosque and contains a holy chalice in one of its chapels which is said to have been used by Christ at the Last Supper. The goblet dates from the 1st Century. The cathedral and its bell tower, El Miguelete, are one of the symbols of Valencia. The Tribunal de Las Aguas (the Water Tribunal) meets outside the Cathedral’s Door of the Apostles every Thursday at noon, where eight farmers give judgement on matters to do with irrigation and water distribution in a tradition which has been kept alive for one thousand years.
The Barrio del Carmen, with its winding cobbled streets, is part of the old city and grew up between two walls: the Islamic to the east and the new, Christian wall to the west. Twin towers, known as the Torres de Cuart, which formed part of the mediaeval wall still stand here and you can also see what was once one of the main gateways into the city, the imposing Puerta de Serranos.
One of Valencia’s, and Spain’s, most visited parks is the Jardín del Turia, 9 kms of greenery crossing the city from west to east which was built on the former course of the Turia after the river was diverted after a catastrophic flood in 1957. The City of Arts and Sciences – the Ciudad de las Artes y de las Ciencias - is at the far end of the park towards the coast, a massive complex which covers 350,000 square metres. Its architecture is truly impressive and is the work of Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela. The Hemisferic, resembling a giant eye, was the first building in this city within a city to open its doors to the public. Its projection hall has a concave screen with a surface area of 900 square metres and a diameter of 24 metres. Next to it is the Principe Felipe Science Museum, with interactive exhibits to encourage learning. Alongside that is the Oceanografic, the largest aquarium/marine park in Europe with 500 different species. The Palau de Les Arts opened in 2005 and is Valencia’s opera house and performing arts centre.
The Royal Marina, to the north of the commercial port, is also worth a visit and the Albufera Natural Park, some 10 kilometres from the city, is definitely a must-see. It covers an area of more than 21,000 hectares and contains a 3,000 hectare lagoon, a freshwater lake which is fed by the rice fields which surround it which, in turn, are fed by the waters of the Júcar and Turia rivers.
One of Europe’s biggest markets, the Mercado Central, is also in the Plaza del Mercado. It was inaugurated by Alfonso XIII in 1928 and boasts more than 900 stalls. Open Mon-Sat 8am-3pm. Pay a visit to the Iglesia de los Santos Juanes while you’re in the square. It was originally built in 1240 on the site of a former mosque, but was rebuilt over the 14th and 16th Centuries due to fire damage.
The fallas are constructed then burnt down every year - Photo EFE
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The Cathedral, in Plaza de la Virgen, was also built on the site of a former mosque and contains a holy chalice in one of its chapels which is said to have been used by Christ at the Last Supper. The goblet dates from the 1st Century. The cathedral and its bell tower, El Miguelete, are one of the symbols of Valencia. The Tribunal de Las Aguas (the Water Tribunal) meets outside the Cathedral’s Door of the Apostles every Thursday at noon, where eight farmers give judgement on matters to do with irrigation and water distribution in a tradition which has been kept alive for one thousand years.
The Barrio del Carmen, with its winding cobbled streets, is part of the old city and grew up between two walls: the Islamic to the east and the new, Christian wall to the west. Twin towers, known as the Torres de Cuart, which formed part of the mediaeval wall still stand here and you can also see what was once one of the main gateways into the city, the imposing Puerta de Serranos.
One of Valencia’s, and Spain’s, most visited parks is the Jardín del Turia, 9 kms of greenery crossing the city from west to east which was built on the former course of the Turia after the river was diverted after a catastrophic flood in 1957. The City of Arts and Sciences – the Ciudad de las Artes y de las Ciencias - is at the far end of the park towards the coast, a massive complex which covers 350,000 square metres. Its architecture is truly impressive and is the work of Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela. The Hemisferic, resembling a giant eye, was the first building in this city within a city to open its doors to the public. Its projection hall has a concave screen with a surface area of 900 square metres and a diameter of 24 metres. Next to it is the Principe Felipe Science Museum, with interactive exhibits to encourage learning. Alongside that is the Oceanografic, the largest aquarium/marine park in Europe with 500 different species. The Palau de Les Arts opened in 2005 and is Valencia’s opera house and performing arts centre.
The Royal Marina, to the north of the commercial port, is also worth a visit and the Albufera Natural Park, some 10 kilometres from the city, is definitely a must-see. It covers an area of more than 21,000 hectares and contains a 3,000 hectare lagoon, a freshwater lake which is fed by the rice fields which surround it which, in turn, are fed by the waters of the Júcar and Turia rivers.
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