The origins of the Church of Saint Nicolas can be traced back to the 13th Century from where begins the long and eventful history of this religious site. The church, as it stands today, is a blend of two distinct architectural styles - the Gothic and the Baroque. From the outside, the church features a simple, understated design that is typical of 15th-century, Gothic architecture. Inside, the church is a visual feast, adorned from floor to ceiling in colorful Baroque frescoes that date back to the 17th Century. The Church of Saint Nicholas is a veritable treasure trove of ecclesiastical art and one of Valencia's most popular attractions. Stop by and enjoy a glimpse into the life of the church's patron saint, chronicled in artistic detail across the walls and ceiling of this historic site.
One of the only two gates to have survived the destruction of the historic city walls in 1865, the Torres de Serranos impress with their sheer enormity and grandeur of scale. Constructed between 1392 and 1398, this massive gateway served as the main entrance to the city and proved to be a fitting choice for ceremonial functions despite the fact that it was originally conceived of as nothing more than an imposing addition to the city's defenses. Designed by Pere Balaguer, the gateway was built upon a remarkable Gothic design, with ornamentations and embellishments that have withstood the test of time. From 1586 to 1887, the Torres de Serranos was re-purposed as a prison for nobility, and has been variously used ever since. Today, the monumental gateway is a popular attraction, is pinnacle affording those who brave the climb fantastic views of the city of Valencia. Composed of a pair of pentagonal towers with a common gallery and architectural nuances galore, the Torres de Serranos is still central to social life in Valencia, and is noted as the host of the opening ceremony of the Fallas each year.
Lonja de la Seda, in Valencia is a civil building which was built during 1482 and 1548. The majestic and splendid, Gothic facade of the structure showcases the city's prime position as a center of mercantile exchange. A must visit tourist attraction, the UNESCO considered it as a World Heritage Site in 1996.
In this museum, history is about much more than battles, dates, and potentates. Hidden under the dust of time there is a universe of unknown dates of seemingly trivial, but nonetheless revealing episodes. The museum aims to tell history through the lens of the quotidian. The permanent exhibition covers epochs from 138 BC - the present.
This museum is part of the Centro Cultural de la Beneficencia. The cultural centre has permanent exhibition halls in which you can learn about the evolution of rural, traditional Valencian society's way of life. It also has temporary exhibitions on various ethnological themes. There is a specialized library, open to the public, which deals with ethnological and anthropological subjects, and the archives that accompany them. Apart from the cultural centre's activities (exhibitions, concerts, conferences), the visitor can participate in and make use of various didactic workshops and sound, photo and video libraries.
L'Oceanogràfic is one of the four buildings that make up the City of Arts and Sciences, an important part of the cultural development within the Valencian capital. This oceanographic park, the only one of its kind in Europe, has been designed by Felix Candela. The park is set up like a real underwater city where the visitors are introduced into the different marine habitats so that they can see many different species in their faithfully reproduced natural surroundings. The objectives of this large park can be summarized as a place to have fun in while teaching visitors about life under 75 percent of the earth's surface.
The origins of the Church of Saint Nicolas can be traced back to the 13th Century from where begins the long and eventful history of this religious site. The church, as it stands today, is a blend of two distinct architectural styles - the Gothic and the Baroque. From the outside, the church features a simple, understated design that is typical of 15th-century, Gothic architecture. Inside, the church is a visual feast, adorned from floor to ceiling in colorful Baroque frescoes that date back to the 17th Century. The Church of Saint Nicholas is a veritable treasure trove of ecclesiastical art and one of Valencia's most popular attractions. Stop by and enjoy a glimpse into the life of the church's patron saint, chronicled in artistic detail across the walls and ceiling of this historic site.
This museum is part of the Centro Cultural de la Beneficencia. The cultural centre has permanent exhibition halls in which you can learn about the evolution of rural, traditional Valencian society's way of life. It also has temporary exhibitions on various ethnological themes. There is a specialized library, open to the public, which deals with ethnological and anthropological subjects, and the archives that accompany them. Apart from the cultural centre's activities (exhibitions, concerts, conferences), the visitor can participate in and make use of various didactic workshops and sound, photo and video libraries.
The Museo de Prehistoria y Arqueología can be found in the La Beneficencia Cultural Center, which incorporates various museums and a gallery for temporary exhibitions on a wide variety of subjects. This cultural center is also quite close to the IVAM museum. This museum is where you will find the valuable pieces found on archaeological excavations undertaken by the Service of Prehistoric Investigation. It constitutes perhaps one of the finest museographic collections in Spain. Its exhibition halls trace the evolution of Valencians and their instruments from the Paleolithic to the late Roman era. The cultural center has a shop with a good variety of books and souvenirs, and a cafe. You can also enjoy the many concerts, conferences and other cultural activities held here the year round.
Casa Museo de Blasco Ibáñez the house of the Valencian writer, Blasco Ibáñez, is situated on the Paseo Marítimo near Malvarrosa beach. It was recently renovated and is a fine example of the Valencian bourgeois architecture of the past century. The building is well-known for the caryatids which adorn the front of the house. You can visit the writer's study which includes furniture from Ibáñez's time and a display of various editions of his novels and photography. This house has a marvelous view of the beach, painted so many times by Joaquín Sorolla, a personal friend of the writer's.
One of the only two gates to have survived the destruction of the historic city walls in 1865, the Torres de Serranos impress with their sheer enormity and grandeur of scale. Constructed between 1392 and 1398, this massive gateway served as the main entrance to the city and proved to be a fitting choice for ceremonial functions despite the fact that it was originally conceived of as nothing more than an imposing addition to the city's defenses. Designed by Pere Balaguer, the gateway was built upon a remarkable Gothic design, with ornamentations and embellishments that have withstood the test of time. From 1586 to 1887, the Torres de Serranos was re-purposed as a prison for nobility, and has been variously used ever since. Today, the monumental gateway is a popular attraction, is pinnacle affording those who brave the climb fantastic views of the city of Valencia. Composed of a pair of pentagonal towers with a common gallery and architectural nuances galore, the Torres de Serranos is still central to social life in Valencia, and is noted as the host of the opening ceremony of the Fallas each year.
Lonja de la Seda, in Valencia is a civil building which was built during 1482 and 1548. The majestic and splendid, Gothic facade of the structure showcases the city's prime position as a center of mercantile exchange. A must visit tourist attraction, the UNESCO considered it as a World Heritage Site in 1996.