Guestblog: Valencia - Spains new juwel!
What do you know about Spain?
Most people would probably answer something like Madrid, Barcelona, Paella, Oranges and Rioja. Until recently hardly anyone would have said Valencia. This will change soon. Thanks to the Swiss sailing team Alinghi who won the 31st Americas Cup in Auckland on the 2nd March 2003. They chose Spains 3rd largest city Valencia to host the most prestigious cup in sailing and the city now continues its rise.
The capital of the Spanish autonomous community of Valencia is beautifully located on the mediterranean cost on the plain of the river Turia, surrounded by hinterland hills rarely higher than 100 metres. Traditionally the city and its 800,000 inhabitants was always drawn away from the coast with its old town located a couple kilometers inland. The 500 Million Euro investment in the new harbour will eventually change that.
What struck me the most when I recently visited Valencia (of course to see one flight of the Louis Vuitton Cup), was the combination of old and new. The old town was as you would expect it, beautiful old buildings, a buzzing nightlife and lots of tourists. But there is also the new Valencia.
In Spanish they call it “Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias” which means City of Arts and Sciences. The newly built site consists of 5 individual but still visually connected buildings designed by one of the most famous architects, Santiago Calatrava. The Valencia born Calatrava with his main office in Zurich has been heralded as bridging the division between structural engineering and architecture. In simple English: the buildings are just breath taking! I would only travel to Valencia just to see these buildings with my own eyes. Brilliant!
The river Turia links the newly built Americs’s Harbour with Calatrava’s masterpieces and the old town. But you won’t see water there as the river was diverted in the 1960s, the river bed becoming the longest park I have ever seen. Imagine living there and you have a park that goes on for miles right in front of you. This must be heaven for all runners of this planet.
I’m sure you’ll hear much more about Valencia in the near future as it probably will compete with Barcelona to become the premier travel destination on the Spanish mediterranean cost. Even more so should the Alinghi team win the America’s Cup once again, the city will then continue to be host to this fascinating event.
Valencia, Spain
39°29′0″N, 0°22′0″W
Easyjet and Clickair have daily flights from Gatwick and Heathrow.
Comment by Carin
Guess you are right about hearing more about Valencia in the near future. Your post reminded me of an article in our local paper of 26 May heading Extreme surprise in Valencia and the article is mostly about the futuristic project next to the old town. The article starts by saying: “Not even in sciencefictionfilms buildings look so strange as in La Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencas”. I didn’t read the full article yet but now, due to your post, I became curious to know what this is all about and after reading the whole article I agree with you that it will become a premier travel destination in near future.
Posted on 28 May 2007 at 9:34 pm