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 Old river bed, now gardens |
Puente a Turia Valencia 46023 Spain |
The old bed of the Turia river was converted into a series of very different gardens and the site of some of the most important buildings recently constructed in the city. This is where you will find the Palau de la Música concert hall and the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias a complex including a planetarium, museum and oceanography centre. The oldest bridges and walkways crossing the Turia date back from between the 14th and the 17th centuries; some are particularly noteworthy for their artistic value, such as the Puente del Mar or the Puente de Santiago Calatrava, also known as the Peineta (comb). Among all the different gardens within the old river bed, one of the most popular is the children's play area, called Gulliver, which holds a permanent exhibition of miniatures. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: RunForrestRun |
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A Santiago Calatrava Construction |
Antiguo Cauce del Río Turia Valencia 46023 Spain |
One of the most interesting bridges recently built over the old Turia riverbed, is the one designed by Santiago Calatrava. This bridge, with a futuristic look, greatly contrasts with its neighbor, Puente del Mar bridge. Valencians have dubbed the Calatrava bridge the "Peineta" (the typical Spanish ornamental comb), after the uncanny resemblance. The bridge, along with being a new and important landmark within the city, affords a privileged spot from which to watch all the firework displays during the Fallas festival, among others. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Ben |
 Photo: matti savolainen |
 Photo: Allen Chung |
 Photo: bjorn_cph |
 Photo: alberto.quaglia |
 Photo: daf2 |
 Photo: laurenatclemson  |
 Photo: Alexei |
 Photo: Rachid Molinary |
 Photo: Andrés Goñi |
 Photo: Rick Ligthelm |
 Photo: maurizio orlandi |
 Photo: Magno Alessandro |
 Photo: buichinh2001 |
 Photo: Marco 'Daem' Testoni |
 Photo: Anfrank Ponce Aporta |
 Photo: coiki |
 Enormous shopping center |
Autopista de El Saler, 16 Valencia 46013 Spain +34 96 395 7012 |
This shopping center is the largest in the city. It has 3 floors with careful attention to the decoration even down to the smallest details, creating a spacious and relaxed feel. A large supermarket serves as the center around which there are 160 shops offering all types of things. You can go shopping in the home furnishing and clothing stores, or enjoy a leisurely moment in the restaurants, cafeterias and cineplex found on the third floor, equipped with the latest sound and image technology. Review © 2007, Wcities |
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Journey to the future |
Avenida Instituto Obrero de Valencia, s/n Valencia 46013 Spain +34 902 10 0031 http://www.cac.es |
The first of its kind in Spain, this totally white futuristic cityscape made up of enormous modern buildings is the work of famous local architect Santiago Calatrava. You'll find it in the Túria river bed. The complex spreads out over 350000m2 and consists of four different but related parts: the Arts Centre, Science Museum, planetarium and Ocean Park. The science museum and planetarium are open to the public while the other buildings are still under construction. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: JCuerva |
 Photo: Sindy Nero |
 Photo: Carlos Mejía |
 Photo: Roberto Pastor Ortiz |
 Photo: Daniel Sancho |
 Photo: Andrea Dell'Amico |
 Photo: claudia nicolini |
 Photo: Mike Gibbs |
 Photo: Emilio Perez Araujo |
 Photo: Amanda Timms |
 Photo: Paul Latimer |
 Photo: Juanma Carrillo |
 Photo: Richard Hayter |
 Photo: comakut |
 Photo: miquelet |
 Photo: Marcos Castellano |
 Photo: Javier Martínez |
 Photo: Tamas Kooning Lansbe |
 Photo: Jean-Charles Eloi |
 Photo: Ariel Diacovetzky |
 Photo: Alex D'Agosta |
 Photo: Héctor Escudero |
 Photo: JOSE MANUEL MORCILLO |
 Photo: ilchicco |
 Photo: Anben |
 Photo: Elmar van Reijswoud |
 Photo: Mirjana Papez |
 Photo: James Hickford |
 Photo: BenChild.com |
 Photo: Pierre Blariau |
 Photo: Andreea Cojocaru |
 Huge playground for kids |
Antiguo Cauce del Turia Puente del Angel Custodio Valencia 46023 Spain +34 96 337 0204 |
Located by the old river bed of the Túria River, Gulliver is a work of engineering made for children of all ages, based on the central character in the story by Jonathan Swift. Children can slide down his jacket, climb up the ropes on his arms, visit the city of Liliput inside him, and do a number of other activities spread out all over the figure. Gulliver was constructed in the workshops of master fallero artists of the city. These same artists are responsible for the incredible and satirical fallas which are assembled and then burnt as part of the Fallas festival. This one, however, is here to stay. It was made in various different pieces and then assembled, making it a dream come true for Valencian children. Admission: free Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Luismi Pérez |
 Photo: Luis Mondragón |
 Photo: Filippo De Santis |
 Photo: Benjamin lauer |
 Photo: Sanne Koopman |
 Photo: Mireia Tatay |
 Photo: zifra.blogalia.com |
 Photo: Anna Li |
 Photo: exador86 |
 Photo: hannah webster |
 Photo: Paula Mera |
 Photo: Massimiliano Vellini |
 Photo: erica pellegrini |
 Photo: Stefano and Sara |
 Photo: flickrjimmyd |
 Photo: Stephen Coen |
 Photo: Soledad Leonardi |
 Photo: Francesco Caruso |
 Photo: Ann Brownell |
 Photo: Julie Lovell |
 Photo: zs11moore |
 Photo: Brad Bowman |
 Photo: Frank Black Noir |
 Photo: Eddy Galeotti |
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Vanguard Architecture |
Paseo de la Alameda, 30 Valencia 46023 Spain +34 96 337 5020 http://www.palauvalencia.com |
The Palacio de la Musica is situated in the old river bed of the Turia. It was constructed in 1987 and is one of the banner buildings of modern Valencia, within what's known as the vanguard architecture movement in the city. One of its most distinguising features is the glass enclosure that looks out on the gardens in the Turia. From here you can watch the fountains that have been designed to spout to the beat of the music heard from the Palau throughout the garden. The building was built specifically to promote culture and that's exactly what it has done. Concerts, operas, ballets, musicals, conferences, presentations, and all sorts of other educational activities have been and continue to be held inside and outside the building. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Asad Chaudary |
 Photo: Visentico |
 Photo: Ulrich Metzger |
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Park conceived as underwater city |
Avenida Instituto Obrero de Valencia, s/n Valencia 46013 Spain +34 90 210 0031 http://www.cac.es/oceanografic |
The Parque Oceanografico is one of the four buildings that make up the "City of Arts and Sciences", an important part of the cultural development within the Valencian capital. This oceanographic park, the only one of its kind in Europe, has been designed by Felix Candela. The park is set up like a real underwater city where the visitors are introduced into the different marine habitats so that they can see many different species in their faithfully reproduced natural surroundings. The objectives of this large park can be summarized as a place to have fun in while teaching visitors about life under 75% of the earth's surface. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Paul McAdam |
 Photo: Paul McAdam |
 Photo: Ai Lin CHAN |
 Photo: Dawn Newton |
 Photo: Esteban Guerrero |
 Photo: Federico Savogin |
 Photo: A glimpse into L&F |
 Photo: Matteo De Felice |
 Photo: Maria Luciana Rincon Tamanini |
 Photo: Felix Benavides |
 Photo: Víctor Nuño |
 Photo: moncalvo29 |
 Photo: rlurama |
 Photo: Sam Watson |
 Photo: Roaldinho |
 Photo: Julie Lillejord |
 Photo: Jorg Roosma |
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Multi-functional building |
Avenida Instituto Obrero de Valencia, s/n Valencia 46013 Spain +34 90 210 0031 http://www.cac.es/palau/presen... |
The Palacio de las Artes Reina Sofía is part of the first large cultural and leisure-time complex of its kind in Spain: the "City of Arts and Sciences". The palace, designed by architect Santiago Calatrava, is a multi-purpose building with the general aim of developing cultural activities of all kinds, especially focusing on teaching and promoting the arts. The architect and creator of this building is also responsible for "L´Hemisferic" (the planetarium) and the Science Center in the same "city". The Palace opened its doors for the first time in 2006. Today, it is a beautiful and respected opera house with unique high tech features such as screens that display lyrics on the back on every chair and an adjustable orchestra pit used to achieve the best acoustics possible. The stage is also able to adjust itself to accommodate symphony concerts and ballet performances. Subscriptions and individual tickets are available. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: ERIO |
 Photo: mackers |
 Photo: Darryl Short |
 Photo: Rui M. S. Soares |
 Photo: Hans Tasma |
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Old Dominican convent |
Plaza de Tetuán 22 Valencia 46003 Spain +34 96 391 7694 |
This old Dominican convent is found on a centric square at the top of the most important commercial street in Valencia, Colón. The building dates back to the time of Jaime I and the conquest of the city that was in Moorish hands at the time. Some of the noteworthy features of the building include the Gothic cloister from the 14th century, the Capilla de los Reyes — Kings' chapel, built in the 15th century and the Renaissance cloister dating from the 16th century. This former religious building has been given a completely different role from that of prayer: it is the headquarters for the military's offices here in Valencia. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Tono Ayora |
 Photo: Daniel Friedle |
 Photo: mkhaund |
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Old bridge heading to Port |
Puente del Mar Valencia 46004 Spain |
Puente del Mar (literally, "Sea Bridge") was for centuries the natural route over the now-diverted river to the port. The original bridge was destroyed by floods, and this one was built to replace it in 1591. Centuries later, specifically in 1933, it was pedestrianised and elegant stairs were added, as designed by Javier Goerlich. Puente del Mar consists of 10 arches measuring 15 and a half metres each. You'll also find carvings of the Virgen de los Desamparados, patron saint of Valencia, and San Pascual all along the bridge. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: Salvador del Saz |
 Photo: Kristan L. Hoffman |
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High-tech cinema and planetarium |
Avenida Instituto Obrero de Valencia, s/n Valencia 46013 Spain +34 96 335 5330 http://www.cac.es |
This architectural marvel designed by Santiago Calatrava was conceived as a very special cinema and planetarium. Here the spectator can in the same space experience the sensations of a conventional planetarium while enjoying the images offered in IMAX format. Its astronomic projection system is controlled by computers in order to produce a complete representation of the sky and the planets on a surface that is 24 meters in diameter and at a 30-degree angle. The clear, sharp images projected, along with the size of the screen and the quality of the sound, achieve an exceptional realism that will transport the audience into the next galaxy. Review © 2007, Wcities |
 Photo: a-m-a-n-d-a |
 Photo: Alison Barrett |
 Photo: Jule_Berlin |