Top 10 + 1 Valencia

Marquees of Two Waters Palace (Now the National Ceramics Museum González Martí) was originally a gothic building during the 15thc., after that many different transformation works came in 1740, when was owned by Rabosa Perellós Family (Marquees of Two Waters), which commissioned Hipólito Rovira to turn the building into a Baroque Palace with balconies, marble, stucco decorations, paintings, etc. During the 19th c. the building belonged to the Dasi family and had been restored, especially by inside, highlighting the Ballroom Hall, decorated by José Brel. https://www.culturaydeporte.gob.es/mnceramica/en/home.html

The Serrano Gate was built at the end of 14thc. by the architect Pere Balaguer, as part of the city walls. Was the Northern Gate of the walled city, transformed into Triumphal Arch, Prison and Main Place for Receptions and Events. From the architectural point of view, these building is composed by two hexagonal towers, connected by a common gallery, and decorated with gothic tracery. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torres_de_Serranos

The Silk Exchange is the masterpiece of Civil Gothic Architecture, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The construction was started in 1483 by the master builder Pere Compte. The building contains four sections, each one with different use: The Tower, the Sea Consulate (Traders Court), the Orange Trees Courtyard and the Traders Hall. Built in the 15th c., when Valencia was into the Golden Age, a period of economic and cultural splendour, it was the only building dedicated to commercial dealings and designed as a sanctuary for business; each and every one of its features were (and still are) considered symbolic meanings. http://www.lonjadevalencia.com/

The Central Market was built in 1918 on the place where the Old Arab Souk and later Medieval Market was. The building was, when was built, the masterpiece of Art Nouveaux Architecture in Valencia, designed by Francisco Guardia and Alejandro Soler, was inaugurated by King Alfonso XIII in 1928. It has within an extensive area of ​​over 9,500 square meters, with countless stalls: fresh fish, vegetables, meat, fruit, etc. .; it is one of the largest covered markets in the world. In it you will find unimaginable food. https://www.mercadocentralvalencia.es/

The Turia Gardens It is a large green area occupying the Old River Bed of the Turia River. After the Big Flood in 1957, the Spanish Government and the City Council decided that the Turia could´nt pass anymore through the city centre, so it was decided to move the river into a diverting project, called the South Plan, and to transform the former river bed in a long green space for the city, with more than 10 km long and divided in various gardens. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jard%C3%ADn_del_Turia

The City of Arts and Sciences it is a great collection of modern buildings designed by Valencia´s architect Santiago Calatrava, as example of modern architecture for 21th c. Located in the former river bed of the Turia River, it consists in several buildings: the Palace of Performing Arts (Opera House & Performing Arts Center); The Hemisfèric (IMAX cinema, planetarium and Laserium); The Umbracle (Gateway & Garden); Science Museum (interactive science exhibition) and The Oceanografic (Oceanic Park). All of them surrounded by attractive gardens, waterways, lakes, etc. http://www.cac.es/es/home.html

The Town Hall Square is the important and central square in Valencia, several significant architecturally buildings are on it, most of them in Art Nouveaux Style. Stands out the Town Hall Building (Ayuntamiento), in Neo-baroque Style, but also the Central Post Office, The Ateneo, The Cinematheque, etc. Throughout history the square has had different names: Saint Franciscus, Pi and Margall, Manuel Azaña, Emilio Castelar, The Caudillo Square, the Valencia´s Country Square and since 1987 Town Hall Square. Interesting is a new proposal by the Valencia´s Council of Culture, for change again the name into “James I the Conqueror Square”, the founder of the Kingdom of Valencia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modernisme_Plaza_of_the_City_Hall_of_Valencia

The Virgin Square.  It was the ancient Roman Forum, which was located at the confluence of the Cardo and Decumanus (two most important streets). Later it was the Plaza de la Seu, where the religious and the political powers in the city converged. Possible to see from this square important buildings like the Cathedral, the Basilica of the Helpless, the Parliament Palace (or Generalitat) and the Vestment House. In the centre of it is located the famous fountain of “The Turia River”, represented by a gentleman surrounded by 8 women, allegorical figures of the river and the water channels that surrounded Valencia (Quart, Benager and Faitanar, Acequia de Tormos, Mislata, Mestalla, Favara and Rovella Rascaña ). http://www.basilicadesamparados.org

The Valencia City Beaches are wide and open, looking very lively places, both beaches and promenade, marked for its restaurants, pubs and cafes. Located close to the Port of Valencia, spezialy Malvrose Beach, whose name dates back from 1848, when Felix Robillard bought a large piece of land and planted there the “Malvarose” a popular and apreciated flower. Gradually developed into the place of holidays for the Valencia´s bourgeoisie people and today is considered one of the best beaches on the East Coast of Spain. https://www.visitvalencia.com/en/what-to-see-valencia/beaches-in-Valencia/city-beaches

The Church of Saint Nikola of Bari and Saint Peter Martyr represents probably the best example of coexistence of a Gothic space with baroque decoration; it was declared National Historic Artistic Monument, and is well known as “The Spanish Sistine Chapel” by the size and beauty of its frescoes. Its sublime fresco decoration made in the vault and walls by the artist Donis Vidal, chronicles the lives of booth saints amongst angels, allegorical and biblical, figures, etc. Also on the altars and altarpieces of this church, we can see paintings and sculptures of important Valencian artists. http://sannicolasvalencia.com/