This is one of those cities that should be visited more. I was there as a child when had my aunt on mother’s side living there in a farm just south of the city near El Saler; when we lived in Madrid we would go there as our “vacation” ; then, their passing took us a dry spell of many, many years, finally with my wife and boys ,we decided upon my request to visit the city. We enjoyed the sites , and have plenty in my blog; however, found new pictures to tell you even more of this nice city by the Mediterranean. I am talking about the curiosities of Valencia, part II !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The Paseo Neptuno or Passeig de Neptú is a promenade that begins in the port of Valencia and runs along Cabanyal Beach, to Malvarrosa Beach. Along this landscaped promenade there are countless traditional Valencian restaurants and cafes where you can have a drink, as well as hotels, including the luxurious Las Arenas spa,The parking Neptuno is located on the beachfront, next to the Club Nautico or Yacht Club, We enjoy the beach and restaurant (see post) and parked undeground at Parking Neptuno, webpage : https://parkingneptuno.com/
The Plaza del Ayuntamiento or Plaça de l’Ajuntament or City/Town Hall Square is the largest square in Valencia.
The bit of history tell us that the square has its origin in the old Convent of San Francisco, whose land King Jaime I granted to the Franciscans to build their convent outside the city walls in the 13C, right where the recreation house of Abu Zayd, the last Almohad governor of the city was located. Since 1423 there is evidence of the name of Plaza de San Francisco to the gardens that were of the Convent of San Francisco. During the 19C ,it had other names such as General Espartero (1840-1843), Isabel II (1843-1868) or La Libertad (1868-1874), to later be called San Francisco again until the year 1900 , From 11 February 1900 the square took the name of Emilio Castelar, one of the presidents during the First Spanish Republic. The name was in force until the end of the Spanish Civil War. Between 1939 and 1979 the square was known as Plaza del Caudillo, even hosting an equestrian sculpture of Gen Franco and during the Spanish democratic transition it changed its name to País Valenciano, until in 1987 ,when it took its current neutral name of Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
The Plaza del Ayuntamiento joins a triangle, and is found south of the plaza del Mercado and north of the València-Nord train station (see post). The City/Town Hall (see post) is found next to the post office building built between 1913 and 1922, as the Palace of Communications (or Post Office), built in an eclectic style, which is one of the reference buildings for the square. The square is characterized by the presence of buildings, most of them in an eclectic and rationalist style, erected during the first half of the 20C. Also noteworthy is its circular fountain and the sculpture that pays tribute to the sworn in chief of the city at the beginning of the 14C, Francesc de Vinatea.
The Plaza de Toros or bullring of Valencia is officially the Monumental Plaza de Toros or bullring that was built throughout the 1850s. It is neoclassical, specifically simple Doric, inspired by Roman civil architecture, Its structure is formed by a 48-sided polygon, with 384 exterior arches, made in brick following the Neo-Mudejar style . There is no doubt that it is one of the most beautiful bullrings in Spain, with its 52 meters in diameter in the arena, subsequently reduced, 108 meters in outside diameter and its capacity for 16,851 seated spectators ,also reduced to 12,884 seats, With these dimensions make it one of the largest bullrings in
Spain. It was inaugurated on June 20, 1859. Since 1085, there has been evidence of bullfighting in Valencia. To gain the rights to exploit the bullring, the Hospital of Valencia requested to king Felipe III for the rights, alluding that the profit obtained in the bullfights could be used to the most needy, the king accepting the proposal, once the rights granted that were in force . But it really was not until 1739 when King Felipe V granted, and in perpetuity, the Valencia Hospital the right and exploitation of bullfights in these removable plazas. Finally, in 1798 a fixed plaza, half masonry, half wood, outside the city walls, next to the Ruzafa gate. That plaza was 74 meters in diameter and had an outer circumference of 334 meters. But it barely lasted a few years. The definitive plaza, similar to how we know it today, was officially inaugurated on June 22, 1859, with bulls from Nazario Carriquiri and the Widow of Zalduendo, for the right-handed Francisco Arjona “Cúchares” In 1983 , the General Directorate of Fine Arts of the competent ministry, declared the Valencia bullring a Historic-Artistic Monument. The Valencia Bullring is located in
Calle Játiva, the downtown district of the city, next to the Nord train Station of Valencia (see post) and very close to the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. The closest metro station is Játiva, with lines 3, 5, and 9.There is, also, a bullfighting museum, which was founded in 1929 with funds from the donation of Luis Moróder Peiró and the bull chopper José Bayard Badia, which for years collected a significant number of materials and objects of Valencian bullfighting of the 19C to the 20C.
The Valencia tourist office on the plaza de Toros: https://www.visitvalencia.com/en/what-to-do-valencia/valencian-culture/monuments-in-valencia/bullring
The bus lines C1, 6, 8, 11, 14, 35 and 70 reach the square, While the nearest Metrovalencia station is Xàtiva located on Calle Xàtiva about 150 meters south of the square, where pass lines 3,5 and 9.The MetroValencia webpage:https://www.metrovalencia.es/planificador.php?page=142
The EMT Valencia transports all modes: https://www.emtvalencia.es/ciudadano/index.php
The Valencia tourist office: https://www.visitvalencia.com/en
There you go folks, I feel better now to show you more of Valencia, the city by the Mediterranean and direct from Madrid on the A3!! We love it ! and will be back, eventually. Again, hope you enjoy this post on the curiosities of Valencia, part II !!! as I.
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 