Before my 'in between jobs' period I used to work in Valencia for about 15 months. I loved the city so much that I have to at least have one post about it. Valencia is the 3rd largest city of Spain with a major harbour. Around 5-10 years ago Valencia was a city with a low selfesteem, the old centre was criminal and falling apart, the people were not proud of their city but since then a lot has changed !! Nowadays Valencia is really being reborn. In the Roman times Valencia was a city of importance and currently they are reclaiming its space again in Spain, Europe and even in the World.
Valencia wanted to re-position itself again as a rich cultural city and one of the first steps in doing so was the construction of the Palau de la Musica, the Palace of Music which was finished in 1987 . Around the same time they made beautiful parks of the old river (Turia) bed. Nowadays it is a 9km long park with footbal fields, fountains, museums, etc. it is absolutely wonderful!! It has been recently extended with a new park so actually the current length is now 12 km.
Then around 15 years ago the municipality decided to build the biggest cultural complex of Europe and they gave the assignment to a by then promising architect from Valencia, Santiago Calatrava. In total so far he has build a bridge and metrostation (Alameda) from 1991-1995 and at the same time from 1991 till 2006 he build the famous City of Arts and Science, containing a Science Museum, an IMAX theatre, an Opera House, promenade and parking garage. In the meantime he became one of the greatest architects of our time with several major awards in his pocket. The city of Arts and Science is build on a former out of use harbour terrain.
Another part of the City of Arts and Science is made up by the Oceanographic (the biggest aquarium in Europe) but this was designed by someone else. Currently there are plans in the pipeline to enrich Valencia with even more buildings from Calatrava in the same area of the City of Arts and Science, but there are some financial issues to be solved first...(corruption etc.) Other steps Valencia has taken or is taking in reclaiming its space in the present time are: a beautiful conference centre, restructuring and development of the beachfront of the city, the Copa America (one of the most important sailing events of the world that lasts several years), extension of several metro lines, renovation of massive parts of the old city, visit of the Pope that attracted 1.5 million people, MotoGP (and possible Formula 1 in the future), construction of a whole new vast Campus, completion Opera House and in general they will be promoting Valencia all over the world by trading missions, tourism fairs, hosting music events (the new opera building playing a big rule in this together with the palace of music), etc.
Why Valencia is so GREAT?? Because of its diversity and its size. It offers everything you expect from a big city while at the same time it also has the feel or advantages of a small city. Valencia has many faces, the old medievil centre for partying or getting lost in the winding streets with many bars, restaurants and trendy shops, the more modern 19th century centre with all its grandeur, the cathedrals, the amazing parks (there are many), the orange trees everywhere ;), the beaches (one city beach which is huge,and the countryside beach that is located in a nature area in El Saler), the food and gastronomy, the most beautiful indoor market of Spain, the ricefields, the nightlife!!, the culture of fiestas (Las Fallas (1 month of parties with the climax the burning of over 300 huge statues), noche de San Juan (150.000 people partying on the beach) and many many more parties with fireworks almost weekly), shopping, etc. Just too much to mention!!
I hope I got you at least a little bit enthousiastic about Valencia!!
Check it out!!
Jody
