Valencia is becoming
increasingly important as a tourist destination and it may seem that there is little left to discover. However, from
Sea You Hotel, as authentic Valencians, we are going to tell you 3 curious facts about Valencia.
3 things you didn't know about Valencia
The historical importance of Valencia
Valencia is currently the third most important city in Spain, but historically it has always been a very important city both culturally and economically.
From Roman times when it was founded (2nd century BC) and they named it
Valentia which means "valor", until the 15th century, when it was
the most populated and richest city in the Crown of Aragon. In fact, the 15th century is known as the Valencian Golden Age, a time when important buildings such as
the Silk Exchange were built.
Meanwhile, it was occupied by the Muslims and reconquered by James I. All this history can be seen in its historic center, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its architecture.
The bat as a symbol of the city
Have you noticed that the bat appears repeatedly in Valencia? On the city's coat of arms, on the football team's, on emblematic buildings...
It is an animal highly honored by Valencians since, according to legend, it was a bat that warned James I the Conqueror, waking him up just before an unexpected attack by the Muslims. Pay attention when you walk through Valencia and you will find it in more places than expected.
The largest urban park in Spain
You might think that this title would be held by El Retiro, but the truth is that the Jardín del Turia, in addition to being the green lung that unites the city, is the largest park in Spain.
The Jardín del Turia crosses the entire city from east to west. If you come to Valencia you will surely see it, either crossing one of its magnificent bridges or visiting the City of Arts and Sciences (which is located at the end of it). By the way, this is one of the largest centers of culture and entertainment in Europe (larger than the Vatican).
The origin of the Jardín del Turia takes place in what is known as the riuà, the flood that in the 1950s flooded the city causing one of the greatest disasters in its history.
After that, the Turia River, which crossed the city where the park is now located, was drained and diverted and its old channel turned into a beautiful park that includes a bike path, fountains, tracks for different sports, entertainment parks for children, etc. On your visit to Valencia, be sure to take a walk or bike ride, have a picnic or any other activity.
Crossing this garden and connecting the city center with the Mestalla neighborhood is the Puente de las Flores, one of the most expensive to maintain. The flowers are changed several times a year so that they are always in good condition, which represents a very high cost.
Valencia
