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Basilicas
Dutifully trudging out for your obligatory basilica trip while on vacation is drudgery for some – after all, how many churches does one need to see in one’s lifetime? But for those who really want to immerse themselves in a bygone culture and revel in the beauty achieved by the best artists and craftsmen of the time, touring basilicas in unavoidable; they’re a top draw for good reason.
Basilica of the Virgin
The Virgen de los Desemparados Basilica is dedicated to the patron saint of the city and is the most important religious building in Valencia from the 17th century. Built between 1652 and 1667 by Diego Martínez Ponce de Urrana, it is the only church in the old part of the city that was built new from the foundations up, and not on an existing parish church or convent. The dome is not central but located in the part nearer to the Cathedral. The side-chapel is in the baroque style and was one of the first to be built in Spain.
www.basilicadesamparados.org
St. Mary’s Cathedral
Built on the site of a Roman temple, which later became a mosque, the origins of the cathedral date back to the 13th century. It has various architectural styles, from the Romanesque to the baroque, as can be observed on the three doors: The main door, or Puerta de los Hierros, is baroque; the Puerta de los Apóstoles is gothic, and the Puerta del Palau is Romanesque. The Miguelete belfry was built in the 13th and 14th centuries and was designed by Andrés Juliá Torre; it is octagonal, 50.85m high and built in a markedly baroque style, next to the main entrance. There is a spiral stairway inside that leads to the terrace, where there are views of the city, the countryside and the sea. The Santo Cáliz Chapel (1356) was originally a Chapter House and study and used to be separated from the cathedral. The Holy Chalice, which according to tradition was used by Christ during the last Supper, is kept inside
Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias
The Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias complex has become an international flagship and symbol of its commitment to cultural tourism and the dynamic approach of the Comunidad Valenciana to the world. Along almost two kilometres of the old riverbed of the Turia and within the actual city of Valencia, its five major elements aim to bring culture to the people and encourage public participation in a unique architectural environment with free public access to large areas: L´Hemisfèric, the Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe, L´Umbracle, L´Oceanogràfic and the Palau de les Arts.
www.cac.es
IVAM – Mariscal
The IVAM is a new building with galleries, designed for permanent and temporary exhibitions. The exhibitions are mainly centred on the evolutionary process of Art, from the classical vanguard crisis right up to the sixties. The Julio González and Pinazo collections are on permanent display.
Jardin del Turia
The redirecting of the River Turia in order to avoid the periodic flooding that the city suffered left an expanse of land, surrounded by the old town and city centre. After an urban study, an ambitious project produced a fantastic river-bed park with all sorts of facilities for children, sporting activities, ponds, fountains and the wonderful infants' park - the Parque del Gulliver
www.culturia.org
Lonja de la Seda
Another area of the city worthy of exploration is the market district. This ancient building was constructed as the market or exchange for silks and other merchants. The building has been described as one of the best civil Gothic buildings in Europe, a fact recognised by UNESCO who declared the Lonja 'Heritage of Humanity', the only building in Valencia to enjoy this title. If you have time to explore the Lonja you will be rewarded with fantastic architecture, a wonderful plaza and some of the finest ceilings in Spain.
Central Marketplace
This great modernist building was designed in 1914, although the Central Market was not inaugurated until 1928. It consists of a ground floor with columns and vaults with a brick base and a basement. Both floors are organised into straight alleys, crossed by two main lanes along thousands of stalls are set in a surface area of more than 8,000 square meters. The ceramic covered partitions along with the stone, wood, and the colourful glasswork make the building an excellent example of the modernist architecture of the time.
Museo de Bellas Artes de Valencia
This historic building was originally the San Pío V College founded in 1683 by the Valencian Archbishop Juan Tomás de Rocaberti and designed by the architect Juan Bautista Pérez Castiel, the master builder of the Cathedral. Following the sale of church lands, the building was used by the Military Academy for Cadets and as a warehouse for military goods until 1940 when it became the Museum. The artistic journey starts with the Primitivos Valencianos (Valencian Primitives) exhibition, which covers the 14th to the 16th centuries and includes works by Alcanyis, Nicolau, Jacomart and Reixac, among others. The Valencian School is well represented by Joanes, the Ribaltas, Espinosa, Vicente López, Sorolla and Pinazo. There are also paintings by Pinturicchio, Andrea del Sarto, Van Dyck, Murillo, Velázquez, El Greco and Goya. The museum has an interesting collection of contemporary art, a sculpture pavilion, and an archaeology section.
Miguelete Tower
The Cathedral bell tower was built in the 14th and 15th centuries, in gothic style by Andrés Juliá; it has an octagonal base and a height of nearly 51 metres and offers a great view of the city.
Tribunal de las Aguas
The Tribunal de Las Aguas meets outside the Door of the Apostles in the Plaza de la Virgen, every Thursday at midday, keeping alive a one thousand year old tradition. The proceedings are in the Valencian language and all decisions are final, not subject to appeal. The Water Tribunal is the only legislative structure established by Jaime I that is still functioning.
The tribunal is made up of eight farmers who still wear the typical black blouse of the Huerta (the irrigated fields around Valencia). The farmers who use the irrigation system in the Huerta democratically elect the members every two years. They sit in a circle on wood and leather 17th century chairs, and make their rulings. The structure of the irrigation system, the participation of the farmers, and the promptness with which the problems are resolved has made the Tribunal world famous and it has been used as a model for other institutions.
Serranos Tower
Under the supervision of Pere Balaguer, construction began in 1392. The towers were designed to be defensive structures at one of the busiest city gates. They were saved from demolition when the city walls were knocked down in 1865 and used as a prison for the nobility between 1586 and 1887. The back of the towers have been opened so that the pointed arches and the vaulted domes can now be seen from the Plaza de los Fueros. The Towers represent an excellent example of gothic architecture.
