Walk through Valencia

Gulliver Park

2010-11-07T15:27:00.000+01:00

Gulliver Park is a park for children's play is inspired by the novel by Jonathan Swift, Gulliver's Travel, published in 1726. Although it is often considered a children's play really is a ferocious satire of society and the human condition, camouflaged as a travel book picturesque country.

Gulliver's Travel Picture

In this novel, Captain Gulliver is taken on his first trip to the shore by the waves after a shipwreck, and wakes up being prisoner of a race of people of a size twelve times smaller than a human being, less than 15 cm height. So in this park our children will be the 'Lilliputian' who captured Captain Gulliver, and will play in his clothes (which are slides, stairs and walkways)

You can read more about Gulliver's Travel in the Spanish Wikipedia Translated.

Gulliver Park aerial view.

Gulliver Park is located in the old bed of the Turia River, between the Music's Palace and the "Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia".

Gulliver Park model aerial view.

Inside the hat of Gulliver, there is a model of the entire Gulliver Park, so you can peek the hat to see a sort of 3D map of the park.

Gulliver Park Sword side view.

City of Arts and Sciences

2010-11-01T17:01:00.000+01:00

The City of Arts and Sciences is an architectural, cultural and entertainment center in the city of Valencia (Spain). The City of Arts and Sciences is located at the end of the old Turia riverbed.

The buildings that comprise it are in order of opening:

- L'Hemisfèric: with an eye. Screening Room IMAX theater, planetarium and laser. Has an approximate area of 13,000 m², and the inner screen has an aproximate area of 900 sqm and a capacity for over 250 people.

- El Museo de las Ciencias Principe Felipe: shaped like the skeleton of a dinosaur, is an interactive science museum. It occupies about 40,000 sqm spread over three floors.

- L'Umbracle: walk landscaped with native plants of the Valencian Community (jara, mastic, rosemary, lavender, honeysuckle, bougainvillea, palm trees covered by floating arches ,...) where you can see the whole complex of the City Arts and Sciences. The inside houses the Sculpture Walk, an art gallery outdoor sculptures by contemporary authors. (Miquel Navarro, Francesc Abad, Yoko Ono and others ..)

- El Oceanografic: Oceanographic aquarium is the largest in Europe with 110,000 square meters and 42 million liters of water. His lily-shaped housing is the work of architect Adrian Pelaez Coronado born in Valencia.

- Palacio de las Artes Reina Sofia, with four large rooms: a main hall, Aula Magistral, Amphitheatre and Theatre House. Exhibition Hall. It is dedicated to the music and the performing arts.

- El Puente de l'Assut de l'Or that connects the south with the street round Menorca, whose pylon of 125 meters is the highest point of the city.

- El Agora: A covered market was opened but still not completed, which hosts concerts and sporting events such as the new Grand Prix of Valencia Tennis.

You can see the current exhibitions and ticket prices on the official website of the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia.

The 'fallas': 15 to 19 March

2010-10-30T23:07:00.001+02:00

The Fallas ("Falles" as stated traditionally, in Valencian) is a festival held from 15 to 19 March in some cities and towns of Valencia (Spain), mainly including Valencia and Alcira, are held in honor St. Joseph, patron saint of carpenters. It is classified as a festival of international tourist interest. The fault name corresponding to the artistic buildings of combustible materials as a whole, representing figures known as 'ninots' and compositions of elements.
Throughout history, the materials have evolved, but traditionally, these ninots were paper, cardboard and wood. Currently the figures are more voluminous white cork, allowing lighter forms and larger.

Maybe it's a good idea to bear out the wikipedia in English or google-translated Spanish Wikipedia If you are planning to visit Valencia on these dates.

In the North Station and the town square planned gifts usually have stewards with information on "Fallas" (indicate which are the "Fallas" and the prizes they have won each of them.)

Furthermore, in the town square, is made every day, the "mascletá" one of the largest fireworks displays in Europe and probably in the world, and one or two nights before burning these monuments of cardboard and cork, is made "la nit del foc", a nightly fireworks show over half an hour.

Valencia map

2010-10-30T22:54:00.000+02:00

Here you have a map of the city center of Valencia, with the historic buildings you can visit marked. It further indicates the parking, some hotels, two shopping centers 'El Corte Ingles' and the underground line that is below the old town.

I also attached a pdf file downloadable map. I do not recommend printing it, is to consult with a laptop or a modern mobile phone.

Download Map.

Coming to Valencia

2010-10-28T21:42:00.004+02:00

Going into Valencia from the North Station

You are in the city center, in the most important Train Station in the town. I suggest you use the bus, the metro, or ask a taxi to bring you to the hotel (if you have booked one) and think how to start your visit from there.

Valencia Train Nort Station

Another option, just before going to the hotel, is to approach a tourist information point and ask some maps in your language, it allows you to find most important places of Valencia that may be of interest. You will find a Tourist Info place in the town hall or in the town hall square. The City Hall is 5 minutes walk away from North Station, in north direction.

Valencia city hall and town center square

Going into Valencia from Port, or from Airport.

I suggest you ask a taxi to the city center or to your hotel (if you have booked one) and think how to start your visit from there.

Valencia airport.

Going into Valencia by car.

I suggest you follow the sign that says "Centro de Ciudad" to get to the City Hall. If you have a GPS maybe it's a good idea using it to reach your hotel.