Valencia
Valencia is one of my most favourite places and is Spain’s third-largest city, a magnificent place. Content for Madrid and Barcelona to grab the headlines, it gets on with being a wonderfully loveable city with thriving cultural, eating and nightlife scenes. Never afraid to innovate, Valencia diverted its flood-prone river to the outskirts and converted the former riverbed into a glorious green ribbon of park winding right through the city. On it are the strikingly futuristic buildings of the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, designed by local boy Santiago Calatrava. Other brilliant contemporary buildings grace the city, which also has a fistful of fabulous Modernista buildings, great museums, a long stretch of beach and a large, characterful old quarter.
Each year in March the city celebrates The Falles (Fallas in Spanish), a traditional celebration held in commemoration of Saint Joseph. The term Falles refers to both the celebration and the monument (ninots), burnt during the celebration. A number of towns in the Valencia Community have similar celebrations inspired by the original Falles de València celebration. One of these is Denía, and the costume images you see here where photographed there. |