WEDNESDAY, February 2nd 2011
Out & About n 15
news Your outlook on the World
OUT &
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ABOUT
Your weekly entertainment Guide InsIde tHIs week special Valentine’s evening meals triple A Open day, Ojen Road, Marbella, Feb 13th Fashion sale at el Palomar, Coin, February 11th
History rubs shoulders with sci-fi in Valencia
Written by Andrea MacLean
You still have time to hit warp speed and head to Valencia, the first city in Europe to host a massive Star Trek exhibition on loan from the United States.
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f you are a fan of the show and would love to take Captain Jean-Luc Picard’s seat on the bridge of the Starship Enterprise then you can. The exhibition allows visitors to see the props and costumes as well as to be beamed aboard the Next Generation’s craft, to walk onto a replica of the bridge, to sit in the captain’s chair and say “make it so”, to enjoy a flight simulation, and all for just €7.50 a ticket.
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he entrance fee also gives you access to the Marvel Superheroes Exhibition – what more could the comic sci-fi fan ask for? You will have to hit warp speed 7 though, because the exhibition finishes on February 22nd and will be heading to another part of Europe.
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o why was it premiered in Valencia in the first place? Well, that could be
because it is housed in one of the most architecturally spectacular buildings in Spain – the City of Arts and Sciences, which itself smacks of the 24th century with its space age cutting edge design. And it’s one of the reasons why Valencia is so firmly on the map as a place to visit.
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t’s the third largest city in Spain, after Madrid and Barcelona, and was hard hit by Franco for being the capital of the Republic during the Spanish Civil War after the fall of Madrid.It was a grimy port, which hid its ancient splendours under a layer of grimness. But that has changed over the last few years. The jewels in its historic centre have been lovingly burnished and it has set the bar high with the new architecture near the port. Valencia and the surrounding region has long been known for fruit and vegetables and it is famously the home of
paella. But the city in the 21st century is now being driven by its culture and sport and Valencia has been designated European Capital of Sport for 2011.
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uge investment was made in the city when it hosted the America’s Cup in 2007 and the breathless pace has not let up. It now boasts the Formula 1 racetrack – the European Grand Prix takes place at the end of June – which loops around the Port America’s Cup, created from the old harbour, plus a showcase tennis court. The fabulous City of Arts and Sciences – which looks breath taking against the Mediterranean blue sky – has been built on land reclaimed from the course of the River Turia. Walk through the park to the Fine Arts Museum, which has the best collections in Spain after the Prado, and carry on walking to discover the
contemporary museum.
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hey are symbols of the modern Valencia and demonstrate a level of investment that has turned Valencia into a vibrant major port – and has certainly put it on the map with the major cruise lines, who include the city in their itinerary. But let us not forget the older part of the town. This is the town recaptured from the Moors by El Cid. He died here in 1099 but his body, propped on his horse,was led out through the gates and the ruse was enough to cause the Moorish army to flee in fear.
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ts historic centre has been burnished and refurbished. Work has been done to the ancient Moorish walls, 19th century palatial homes have been lovingly restored, and facades gleam everywhere. The maze-like Barrio del
Carmen is the most interesting area to wander around and the distinctive feature of Valencia architecture – its elaborate Baroque facades – are seen everywhere.In the cathedral museum is a gold and agate cup, the Santo Caliz, which is said to be the Holy Grail, used by Christ at the last supper.
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nd of course Valencia is home to some of the noisiest and riotous fiestas in Spain. So if you cannot make it in time to see the Star Trek exhibition why not pencil in a visit to see Las Fallas de San José from March 15th to 19th. It heralds the coming of Spring and is celebrated with huge firework displays and bonfires and, famously, on the last day huge statues of wood and papier-maché are set ablaze – these can represent politicians, footballers, film stars or anybody ripe to be
satirised. In the second week of July the townspeople turn out for the Feria de Julio and celebrate with bullfights, music concerts and “the battle of the flowers”.
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rom the Costa del Sol it’s an easy enough if long drive to Valencia. But why not let the train take the strain. Just a few years back the train journey from Malaga to the rather beautifully tiled Nord station, very close to the heart of the town, took 8 hours. Mind you, the train left Malaga on the dot, and arrived in Valencia exactly on time.Now though, with the advent of the high speed AVE, the journey takes half the time. So, why not take a few days out to visit one of Spain’s most important cities – where space age architecture rubs shoulders with a cultural heritage in the most satisfying way.