Our Home in Valencia
We’re back in a big city. Valencia is the third-largest city in Spain and has a major port on the Mediterranean Sea. We’re staying in the heart of Ciutat Vella, the historic center. Our spacious apartment is in a pretty building on a small, quiet plaza with orange trees and a restaurant serving traditional Valencian food.
We love our location. We’re just a few steps away from Torres de Serranos (Serranos Towers), one of only two surviving gates of the 14th century city wall. In the other direction is the bustling plaza in front of Valencia Cathedral. Beyond the cathedral is the big, busy Central Market. Everything we need is conveniently close by. We have a great home base for exploring Valencia.
Best of all, we’re right near Jardin del Turia (Turia Garden), the park that curves through Valencia. After a devastating flood in 1957, city officials decided to re-route the Turia River. A highway project was proposed for the old riverbed, but residents pushed back and demanded a park. The result is a wonderful urban green space five miles long and 600 feet wide, with trees, lawns, paths, playgrounds, and much more. We’re going to love living near Turia Garden!
Note, here in Valencia the native language is Valencian, a form of Catalán. It is the city’s official language, along with Spanish. Street signs are in Valencian, and restaurant offer menus in Valencian, Spanish and English. Fortunately, people here are very nice about our stumbling efforts to speak Spanish. I don’t think I have the energy to learn Valencian as well!
