Cheap Hotels in Valencia - News

Valencia - Third Biggest is Not Second Best

Compared to Madrid and Barcelona, Valencia might be regarded as a bit of a poor relation. While the capital and the glamorous centre of the Catalan nation might attract more attention, more guidebooks and more visitors, the comparative neglect of Valencia is unwarranted.

Valencia is a city which can stand tall in its own right in many areas - history, language and culture, sport, architecture and coastal scenery to name but some. If it is sometimes overshadowed by the two larger cities, that is something of an injustice.

The city's history certainly goes back a long way, with Valencia being founded by the Romans around 138 BC. The Old Town, now the historic heart of the city, was set inland from the coast, which Valencia served, by a loop of the Rio Turia. Only later did the city actually stretch to its port by the sea.

Fairly few structures of the Roman era remain, although there are pillars and artefacts from this founding era in the Roman Museum, which lies close to the cathedral, along with artefacts from later occupiers.

The first of these were the Visigoths, one of the tribes that conquered much of Europe after the Roman empire collapsed. After this came the long occupation by the Moors, broken for a few years at the end of the 11th century by the Spanish national legend El Cid, but otherwise sustained until 1238. Even after this, Arabs were a notable part of city life until the 17th century.

From 1238 onwards, the city saw widespread development in the form of church and cathedral building, with the latter being built between the 13th and 15th centuries. As with many structures built over a long time, its architectural styles shifted as work progressed. This provides an interesting combination of gothic, baroque, Romanesque and other styles.

Other grand buildings appearing during this time include the magnificent 15th century Silk Exchange, with spiral-patterned pillars, gothic arches and a striking sense of scale. Now recognised by the United Nations as a World Heritage Site it is one of the most notable attractions of the whole city, not just the Old Town.

Over time, of course, more modern buildings have encroached, the most eye-catching being the City of Arts and Sciences, a museum and educational centre well worth seeing. It is based on the old Turia riverbed, most of which is now a park, the old loop having been cut off by the diversion of the river in response to the devastating flood of 1957. Other important museums include the Colegia del Patriarca, housing many artistic treasures, plus the Museu Sant Pius V, which hosts a number of renaissance paintings.

Yet for all its history and grandeur, modern Valencia is a vibrant, fascinating place. More and more visitors are finding this for themselves, staying in cheap hotels and enjoying the sunshine and beaches. What is also apparent is that Valencia, like so many other parts of Spain, has its own cultural and linguistic peculiarities. Just as the Basques have their language and Barcelona is famous for Catalan, so the road signs of this city are bilingual, with Valencian, a local language related to Catalan, being spoken here alongside Spanish.

Similarly, like other Spanish cities, fiestas and street parties are numerous. Perhaps the most spectacular is Las Fallas in March, when papier mache effigies are blown up and burned amid a volley of fireworks in a tradition more than slightly reminiscent of November 5th. Naturally enough, this is coupled with plenty of traditional dress and platefuls of paella.

Valencia's sporting profile is also well known. The football team, which like the city has tended to play second fiddle to the giants of Madrid and Barcelona, has been of greater prominence in recent times, reaching two Champions' League finals and winning their fourth and fifth national championships in 2002 and 2004. A visit to the Mestalla Stadium, with its steep stands and enclosed atmosphere, is one of the most intense football experiences in the country.

The city is increasingly becoming host to other sporting events as well. In 2008, the city will host the European Grand Prix on a Monaco-style street circuit, while the Mediterranean waters lapping at the city's shoreline are presently the scene of the 2007 America's Cup yachting race.

Perhaps the sporting authorities are ahead of many others in seeing the importance, attractiveness and vibrancy of Valencia. It is not Madrid and it is not Barcelona, but for visitors of many tastes, whether their interest is historical, architectural, sporting or just borne of a desire to enjoy the sun and the sea, Valencia is waiting to be discovered and enjoyed.

This article is provided by Hotels Hotels Hotels suppliers of cheap hotels in Valencia

Updated: Fri, 01 Jun 2007 16:21:33

Related Links:
Valencia Tourist Board
Valencia Airport