May 2012
The Jungle Drums
other side of the Turia's old riverbed lie the nursery gardens, along with the Fine Arts Museum and the ultramodern part of the city which, on account of its size, serves as a nexus between the coastal townships and the old quarter. The futuristic face of the city is mirrored on the old riverbed through the Gulliver Children's park and the leisure and culture complex, the Ciutat de les Arts i de les Ciencies (the City of Arts & Culture). Life in the city spreads down to the seafront with the harbour and the beaches of Las Arenas and La Malvarrosa. The City of Arts and Sciences This is a huge futuristic educational complex designed for Valencia by the famous Spanish architect Santiago Calatrva, as a present to his home city. Calatrava's vision is that of the space age, inspired by animal skeletons. You can enjoy it for free, unless you want to go inside and explore what it has to offer - the City is much more than the pretty face, offering amazing entertainment and education. The City of Arts and Sciences is composed of 5 elements all bound together in a luxurious lanscape of clear water spaces and greenery. The Concert / Opera Hall The Palace of Arts has 4 distinct auditoriums for various kinds of stage arts, from classical concerts and operas to theatre plays. DUe to its incredible acoustics it is becoming one of the most prestigious opera halls in Europe. The Marine Park L'Oceanografic is the biggest marine park in Europe. A collection of smaller structures grouped around and across a water reservoir. The viewing is actually underground, thousands of species of marine flora and fauna, including sharks and dolphins. There is a section on every marine zone in the world - from Arctic to Mediterranean. This is a more relaxing and visual experience than the Museum of Sciences, and more suitable for kids. Average viewing time: 3.5 hours The IMAX Cinema. L'Hemispheric usually has 5-7 various shows on display, all of educational and/or visually stunning character. This is IMAX 3D cinema and perhaps the most engaging part of the complex for the kids. Everyone lies almost horizontally on the floor and watches the hemispheric screen above them. Average viewing time: 1 hour The Museum of Science. An enormous long structure with 3 Floors of ultra-interactive science material on topics like electricity, physical laws, lasers, human body, sport sciences, sound, lights, planetarium, and many others. Some stuff is purely fun, other takes good brain work, all of it is fascinating. Unlike in other museums, the rules here are - pull, push, touch, twist. Most of the exhibition is permanent, with a couple of rotating temporary sections. Average viewing time: 3 hours The Greenhouse. This is a luxurious green promenade with species of plants from all over the world. It is also the only part of the complex with public access free of charge. Average viewing time: 3 hours
10 Good Reasons to Come to Valencia 1. The Historic Centre Valencia has a totally stunning and compact old town centre, packed with gorgeous buildings, historic sights, squares, gardens, museums and charming little streets. It is a total delight to get lost in it and soak up the atmosphere. The Historic Centre bears the marks of 2000 years, in a spectacular mix of Roman, Muslim and Christian civilizations. 2. The Space Age Architecture The world famous futuristic City of Arts and Sciences is an unbelievable thing to see. This is truly new millenium tourism. But it doesn't end here - walking through Valencia you will see a whole lot of ultramodern, breath-taking, futuristic architecture. The contrast of gothic, baroque and classical living side by side with the space age. 3. The Culture Valencia is packed with museums, theatres, art galleries and fairs. The local government is passionate about promoting culture and constantly puts on new arts projects, culture events and festivals. There is always something going on in Valencia, always a pleasant surprise. 4. Valencian Identity and Traditions For an ethnologically-minded traveller Valencia offers its unique cultural identity. Valencia is not another Spanish city. It has always considered itself a state within a state, it has held on to its own unique traditions and they are still very much alive, in the 21st century. And you can observe them all around you. 5. Food For a food traveller, Valencia has its own cuisine. Mainly it is famous for being the original birthplace of paella, and here you can enjoy many different kinds of it. But there is also a whole range of other unique dishes. Eating out is a must. 6. Nightlife Valencia has a very lively nightlife and you are ensured a good night out in a friendly and homely ambience. Nightlife here is more than just a good party - it is a cultural experience as Valencian nightlife is unique in many different ways, and as such famous throughout Spain. 7. The Beach Valencia is also a beach city. While you have all those sights, and culture, and wondering around, to fill your lesiure to the limit, you can always just drop down to the beach and relax under the sun. For a city beach, Valencian beach is of very good quality but if you are looking for something more tranquil - there are plenty of places within a very short distance of Valencia 8. The weather And all of this can be enjoyed in a gorgeous Mediterranean climate, when just walking around is a pure pleasure 9. Genuine The best thing about all of the above is that none of it is for show, none of it is a tourist commodity. All of that is what the native Valencians live in, this is what they do, whether you are there or not. What you see here is real, it is a glimpse of another culture, a real and beautiful life, rather than a show for your money. 10. Unpretentious And, considering that, it is surprising how unpretentious Valencia is, and this is the best thing about it. Many destinations would have long become arrogant and spoilt, with tourist ghettos separated from the natives. Here, as soon as you step off your plane you are immediately in the thick of genuine Valencian life where people are proud of their heritage just because this is how they are and they have a lot to be proud of. But they are delighted to see your interest and many will gladly help you.
email: oďŹƒce@thejungledrums.es
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