Valencia
Why go?
Valencia is a city on the cusp, if not of greatness, at least of
grabbing some of the attention from her sister cities of Barcelona
and Madrid. However, it took a land-locked country to point out her
best asset: the sea. When Switzerland won the 2003 America’s
Cup it had to, for obvious reasons, find a surrogate host for the
next competition. Four years later, Valencia rose to the challenge,
investing €500 million in transforming a neglected waterfront
and polluted beaches to a sophisticated and sparkling port worthy
of hosting the world’s premier yachting race.
It’s not the first time that Valencia has created something
out of nearly nothing. Ten years ago, a mass of disused marshland
became the site of a fantastically futuristic construction: the
Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (The City of Arts and Science).
Walking about the 350,000 square metre complex is like strolling on
the set of a science-fiction film, or visiting the spectacular
capital of another, far superior planet. Valencians are justifiably
proud of this dazzling attraction, especially as it was designed by
a local architect, Santiago Calatrava.
But it’s not all gleaming white structures and shiny new
marinas – wander through the fountain'd squares and mellow
streets of Valencia’s small but perfectly formed Centro
Histórico to see the influence of Romanesque, Gothic and
Baroque building styles, from the cathedral on Plaza de la Reina to
the Unesco World Heritage site of La Lonja. The late 19th century
Modernista movement, popularised by Anton Gaudi, flourishes here
too – the bustling Mercado Central, Europe’s largest
covered market, is a wonderful example. Which brings us to food
and, after oranges, Valencia’s most famous export: paella.
From beachfront restaurants to pavement cafes, this tasty rice dish
is ubiquitous and best enjoyed in the sunshine with a glass of
vino rosado.
Any Downsides?
Spain’s third-largest city is flat, sprawling and can feel choked with cars and cranes. Although the 2007 America’s Cup was a great success, only time will tell if it will elevate Valencia into a world-class city. Stick to the beautiful old centre - and the sparkling new City of Arts and Science.
Current Weather – Time
Valencia