Monuments and architecture
Valencia is a city rich in monuments and represents a meeting point of the various architectural styles that testify to the co-habitation of different towns and cultures in the past.
La Lonja de la seda
A symbol of the Golden Valencian period, the “Lonja de la Seda (Silk Exchange), is a Gothic building constructed at the end of the 15th century, to accommodate the contracting of traders from all over the world and all those who entered the port of Valencia, which was one of the most important ports of call in the Mediterranean in that era. Today, it is the headquarters of the Cultural Academy of Valencia, and the scene of numerous artistic events and exhibitions. La Lonja has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The cathedral of Valencia
The cathedral of Valencia, in the Plaza de la Reina, was originally built in 1262 and was subsequently the object of many restorations, which is why it is a mix of architectural styles: the Palau door is Romanesque, the bell tower is Miguelete (1381 – 1418) and the door of the Apostles is Gothic, the presbytery and the “Door of the Irons” are baroque, whilst in the interior you can find many Renaissance references. Legend has it that the remains of Saint Grial from Jerusalem are kept inside the chapel of Saint Cáliz.
Town Hall Square (Plaza del Ayuntamiento)
La plaza del Ayuntamiento is the heart of Valencia, a trapezoidal square that includes the main civic buildings in the city, such as the Town Hall, where inside you can find the Historical Museum of the City of Valencia and the head office of the Post Office.
In the centre of the square there are gardens and traditional kiosks selling flowers, and a fountain spouting jets of water.
City of Arts and Sciences
This is an important contemporary architectural complex, a work of the Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava. Started in 1996, the City of Arts and Sciences is comprised of 5 different structures, sub-divided into themed areas:
- El Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía — a centre for the promotion of the dramatic arts, and where there are 3 auditoriums.
- L'Hemisfèric — This structure houses the planetarium and a cinema, in panoramic Imax Dome form.
- L'Umbracle — A building comprised of underground parking and a promenade full of gardens and plants of every species on the upper level.
- El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe — an interactive science museum.
- L'Oceanogràfic — An oceanographic park, considered one of the best aquariums in Europe.
