History of Valencia

A Brief History of Valencia

Valencia is without doubt one of the most beautiful cities to visit and this is an ideal time of year to go before it gets too hot! The train connections are good and take you right into the
centre of the city. The train station is situated next to the bullring and opposite the old town.

i) The Old Town

Valencia's old town is surrounded by the rails of the tramway, which run where the old town-walls were until 1865. Most monuments date to the time after the conquest of Valencia from the Moors, in 1238 by Jaime I.

The Cathedral is mainly of early Gothic style, though some parts of it were added at later dates. Its three portals are Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque. The main chapel, Capilla Mayor,
is in Baroque style, the two lateral chapels are Neoclassic. The octagonal bell-tower, called Micalet or also Miguelete, is the landmark of the city. From there you have a great view over the whole of Valencia, and Victor Hugo counted more than 300 bell-towers in the city (to check if this number is correct could be a challenge to any patient and unstressed visitor...??!!)
In the Cathedral you can see the Holy Chalice, of which Jesus Christ and the Apostles are said to have drunk during the Last Supper.

In the Cathedral's Museum there are works of Goya, Jacomart, Cellini, Paggibonsi exhibited as well as paintings of the Valencian School from the 15th to 17th Century. Close to the Catherdral there is the Basílica de la Virgen de los Desamparados, ("Mare de Deu dels Desemparats") , a church consecrated to the patroness of the city, and the Almudín, a medieval granary that is nowadays used as a museum. In the closeby church Iglesia de San Esteban are said to have been married the daughters of the legendary El Cid. Some more interesting buildings in this area of town are the Palace of Almirantes de Aragón, the church San Juan del Hospital and the Convento de Santo Domingo.

ii) The River

Well worth seeing are the three old bridges, Puente del Real, Puente de la Trinidad and Puente de Serranos, the latter with the Torres de Serranos , 15th Century towers that have been part of the old town-walls and combine the elegance of a triumphal arch.

The river Turia was actually diverted around the city after a catastrophic flood in 1957. The old river-bed today is used by the population for all kinds of sports and leisure activities. The IVAM (Instituto Valenciano de Arte Moderno), located at the river-bed, is one of the leading museums of modern arts in Spain and so a must to visit for anyone interested in this subject.

iii) La Lonja and Surroundings

At Plaza de Manises is located the Palacio de la Generalidad, a 15th Century palace that today is used as seat of government. Of high interest are the wall-paintings in its Salon de las Cortes, Salón Dorado and Galería de Retratos de los Reyes de Valencia. Through the street Calle de Los Caballeros you arrive at the town-gate Torres de Quart, of 1441, and to the Plaza del Mercado, the square where Valencia's probably best known monument, La Lonja , the old stock-exchange building of 1483 is located.

At its side there are the baroque church Iglesia de los Santos Juanes, with important wall-paintings of Palomino, and the bell-tower Campanil de la Iglesia de Santa Catalina. Through Calle Torno you arrive to the Palace of the Marquis de os Aguas, in rococo-style and with a very highly individual portal designed by Hipólito Rovira. The Patriarca College, of 1603, is typical for the austere ambience of religious Renaissance buildings in Spain. Valencia's University and its extraordinary Law Court are of neoclassical style. Another fairly new monument is the bridge Nuevo Puente built in 1995, nicknamed La Peineta, "side-comb", due to its shape.

iv) Barrio del Carmen

This district is the most typical of Valencian life today. Here you'll find numerous shops, café-theatres, bars, restaurants, flower-stands, ... it is the centre of everyday life and unique
scenery for visitors. An ideal place to have a drink and tapas whilst watching the bustle of the busy city go by.

v) El Ensanche

A walk through this more modern part of town, inhabited mainly by bourgeoisie and officials, may give you an impression of today's Valencia.

vi) The Gardens

"Valencia es la tierra de las flores..", "Valencia is the land of flowers", says an old folk-song, and the parks and gardens of the city demonstrate it in an impressive way. The Jardines de la
Alameda and Jardines de Monforte are romantic parks of 18th century. The "Royal" Gardens , which include also the Zoological Garden, have beautiful cultures of roses and large pine-woods. Inside them you can find the ruins of an old King's palace. The Botanical Garden show a variety of exotic plants.

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