Valencia is my home town and it’s where I live now. Sun, beach, colorful place and funny people. On the other hand we’ve got some issues with our politicians but, then again, who hasn’t?
Valencia is a 800,000 inhabitants city on the shore of Mediterranean Sea. If you include the metropolitan area you can count about 1,300,000. Mostly flat, as long as an important part of the area was desecated from a lagoon, the Albufera de Valencia. The Albufera is partially wet and it’s the only protected natural space in a capital in a UE city. Or I read that some time ago.
Valencia is very famous for the Fallas, giant monuments made of cardboard and wood that are exposed in the street during less than 1o days. After that they are burnt in March 19th, Saint Joseph. It’s kind a way of a good-bye to the winter. The festivities are popular, but you can find a growing social pressure against it. Lots of problems with traffic and the constant fireworks and explosions happening. People hurt by fireworks, wasted money, social discussions. Yeah, I’m one of the people who disagrees with the festivities, I’m not trying to be impartial.
Architecture in Valencia
The cultural inheritage is really important. Valencia was a kingdom some centuries ago and was integrated in Aragon Crown and after that in Spain. Palaces, religious and civil buildings are very important, and also contemporary architecture. Most important civil Gothic building in the world, Silk Exchange, is inside Valencia.
There is also a cathedral, important baroque palaces (Marqués de Dos Aguas). Architecture in Valencia is really interesting. As a commercial photographer in Spain, when I have some time I love to shoot those buildings.
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Some more pics in http://facebook.com/ArcherphotoinEnglish