Our city

Valencia owes its very existence to the river Turia. Seldom has a geographical accident, albeit complex, conditioned the life and history of a city so much. With the site of the city marked out by the flood course of the river, its river bed or beds have effectively determined the limits and urban expansion of the city. For centuries the bend whose apex coincides with the area by San José bridge was a horizon hardly crossed by the city until the 19th century.

Built to a plan by master builder Vicente Miguel Viñuelas, it was altered and extended in 1912, when it was bought by painter José Benlliure on his return from Rome. This eclectic building has five stories and a symmetrical facade, broken into horizontal bodies with recesses framed in with mouldings and Greek or Roman origin decorative items. In the Romantic style back garden there is a small two-storey building which was used as a studio by the painter and his son Pepino. From the late eighties it has been the home of the Benlliure Museum and its indoor areas have recently been completely redesigned.

Located in a former Carmelite convent, the IVAM has nine galleries in which it shows works by contemporary artists and holds temporary exhibitions by the most avant-garde creators.

Against the colossal facade of the Carmen (Santísima Cruz) church there stands what was in the 18th century the residence of the governor - “Intendente General de los Reinos de Valencia y Murcia” - and chief Judge of the city, Mr. Francisco Salvador de Pineda, today known as the Pineda Palace. Its neoclassical facade is characterised by its great symmetry. In 1991 this building was restored and converted into the Valencian headquarters of the Menéndez y Pelayo International University.

These were built to defend one of the most commonly-used accesses to ancient Valencia. In 1865 the walls were demolished and they were left free-standing; even so, on their facade to the ring-road, where the moat surrounding them can be seen, one can still appreciate their power and defensive function. From 1586 to 1887 they were used as a jail for nobility. They are a great example of Gothic architecture.

The building of the Generalitat Palace dates back to 1421, as headquarters of the Generalidad Valenciana or Diputación General, a body whose task was to represent the kingdom before the Parliament. The work started on the central body of the building, in the late Gothic style.

Built in the early 15th century, it consists of a central shed of greater size and height than the sides around it, and was used as a granary. Since 1906 it has been the home of the Palaeontological Museum.

The cathedral contains a collection of Valencian altar pieces, pictures by Almedina, Joans, Jacomart, Alonso Cano, Orrente, Zurbarán and Goya, an Ecce Homo by Joan de Joans and a Mare de Déu by Correggio, amongst others.
Beside it you will see the Miguelete tower (1381-1418), which was given its name from the largest bell installed in it. There is an impressive view from its terrace.

At this IVAM centre you can find a permanent collection of sculptures by Julio González. The IVAM also has nine galleries in which it shows works by contemporary artists and houses temporary exhibitions by the most avant-garde artists.

This is structured in a main avenue, and is divided into squares due to the grid pattern of its walkways. It is one of the best botanical gardens in Europe thanks to its interesting and full collections of plants from all over the world, containing roughly three thousand different species and over seven thousand specimens of bushes, exotic trees and palm trees.

This is an extremely important art gallery. It has the best collection of Valencian painting, from the renaissance and baroque primitives to the 19th and 20th century masters.

Ground floor and two storeys, with a certain medieval flavour in its facades, whose main interest lies inside the building. It encloses eight patios and large rooms connected by corridors. It is at present a great culture centre.

Located right in the city centre, where the Royal Palace used to be, these gardens have some splendid rose bushes, a recreation zone for children and the city zoo.

This is a flamboyant “gotico flamígero” style building constructed by the silk merchants in the late fifteenth century. Prominent features are the former contracting hall, with its lancet arches and spiral columns; the tower, with a chapel on the ground floor, the renaissance style Admiralty council assembly room. It was declared a National Monument in 1931 and in 1996 Humanity’s Heritage by Unesco.

The idea of building the Market arose in 1881, by which time there was a pressing need to accommodate all the market vendors. The irregular-shaped site was assimilated by the form of the building, which is covered by roofs at different pitches and two domes. With a main structure of laminated steel ridges and pillars joined to these by means of the arch beams, it has non-load bearing enclosure walls which are closed with iron shutters at the top. The weather vane represents hustle and bustle and odours.

Built to a pattern based on the Castell Nuovo towers in Naples, these towers are a good example of late Gothic military building. Planned as defensive gateways for the city, they were until 1874 known as the Lime Towers since in the 18th century all the lime allowed into Valencia had to go in this way.

Real Colegio Seminario del Corpus Christi, consisting of a college, seminary and church. It is a 16th century seminary with a beautiful tile-decorated patio. Works by regional artists can be seen.

The national ceramics museum is located in the former palace of the Marqués de Dos Aguas, and contains an important collection of Valencian ceramics.

Eclectic style building with neo-baroque and academicist parts, built in the early nineteenth century on the former Royal House of Learning. Some of its more prominent features are the main stairway, the Crystal Room, the Council Room and the Municipal Historical Archives.

This is one of the most important cultural centres in Valencia. It is located beside the former Turia river bed. This zone, converted into a huge garden after the 1957 floods, is now a leisure area where people can practise sports or just stroll around.

The City of Arts and Sciences is a vast scientific and cultural centre. The work is part of the worldwide architectural avant-garde. Two architects of international renown took part in this great complex: Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela. The former designed the Palau de les Arts – where artistic, musical and theatre shows will be put on -, l'Hemisfèric – with Imax Dome cinema, Planetarium and Laserium shows-, the "Prince Philip" science museum- to have fun while learning about the progress made in science and technology - and l'Umbracle, a car park with the best views of the whole complex. Félix Candela designed the remarkable roofs of the main buildings of L'Oceanogràfic, an underwater city designed to get to know the secrets of the depths.
The City of Arts and Sciences is a place where visitors can learn while having fun and enjoying Art, Science and Nature.

Valencia has beaches of calm waters with a prevalence of fine sand. The climate is pleasant all year round, mild and warm in winter, and not too hot in summer thanks to the influence of the Mediterranean. Another good reason for coming to Valencia is its cuisine, which is backed up by a wide range of fresh and natural produce thanks to the sea and market gardens all around it.

The origin of the Albufera lake goes back to the early Pleistocene age. Its formation is the result of the closure of the gulf, formed as a result of the sinking Valencian plain, by a broad coastal strip stretching from Valencia to Cullera.

Gran Asociación - Colegio has an outstanding location in the old city centre of Valencia (Spain) and just a short distance from all these places of interest: MONUMENT OR PLACE OF INTEREST
	Former Turia river bed (25 metres)	Valencia owes its very existence to the river Turia. Seldom has a geographical accident, albeit complex, conditioned the life and history of a city so much. With the site of the city marked out by the flood course of the river, its river bed or beds have effectively determined the limits and urban expansion of the city. For centuries the bend whose apex coincides with the area by San José bridge was a horizon hardly crossed by the city until the 19th century.
	Benlliure house museum (50 metres)	Built to a plan by master builder Vicente Miguel Viñuelas, it was altered and extended in 1912, when it was bought by painter José Benlliure on his return from Rome. This eclectic building has five stories and a symmetrical facade, broken into horizontal bodies with recesses framed in with mouldings and Greek or Roman origin decorative items. In the Romantic style back garden there is a small two-storey building which was used as a studio by the painter and his son Pepino. From the late eighties it has been the home of the Benlliure Museum and its indoor areas have recently been completely redesigned.
	19th Century Museum (50 metres).	Located in a former Carmelite convent, the IVAM has nine galleries in which it shows works by contemporary artists and holds temporary exhibitions by the most avant-garde creators.
	"Menéndez Pelayo" University (50 metres)	Against the colossal facade of the Carmen (Santísima Cruz) church there stands what was in the 18th century the residence of the governor - “Intendente General de los Reinos de Valencia y Murcia” - and chief Judge of the city, Mr. Francisco Salvador de Pineda, today known as the Pineda Palace. Its neoclassical facade is characterised by its great symmetry. In 1991 this building was restored and converted into the Valencian headquarters of the Menéndez y Pelayo International University.
	Serranos Towers (100 metres)	These were built to defend one of the most commonly-used accesses to ancient Valencia. In 1865 the walls were demolished and they were left free-standing; even so, on their facade to the ring-road, where the moat surrounding them can be seen, one can still appreciate their power and defensive function. From 1586 to 1887 they were used as a jail for nobility. They are a great example of Gothic architecture.
	Generalidad Palace (150 metres)	The building of the Generalitat Palace dates back to 1421, as headquarters of the Generalidad Valenciana or Diputación General, a body whose task was to represent the kingdom before the Parliament. The work started on the central body of the building, in the late Gothic style.
	Almudín (grain warehouse) (300 metres)	Built in the early 15th century, it consists of a central shed of greater size and height than the sides around it, and was used as a granary. Since 1906 it has been the home of the Palaeontological Museum.
	Cathedral-Miguelete tower (300 metres)	The cathedral contains a collection of Valencian altar pieces, pictures by Almedina, Joans, Jacomart, Alonso Cano, Orrente, Zurbarán and Goya, an Ecce Homo by Joan de Joans and a Mare de Déu by Correggio, amongst others. Beside it you will see the Miguelete tower (1381-1418), which was given its name from the largest bell installed in it. There is an impressive view from its terrace.
	IVAM – Modern Art Museum (300 metres)	At this IVAM centre you can find a permanent collection of sculptures by Julio González. The IVAM also has nine galleries in which it shows works by contemporary artists and houses temporary exhibitions by the most avant-garde artists.
	Botanical Garden (600 metres)	This is structured in a main avenue, and is divided into squares due to the grid pattern of its walkways. It is one of the best botanical gardens in Europe thanks to its interesting and full collections of plants from all over the world, containing roughly three thousand different species and over seven thousand specimens of bushes, exotic trees and palm trees.
	"San Pío V" Museum (300 metres)	This is an extremely important art gallery. It has the best collection of Valencian painting, from the renaissance and baroque primitives to the 19th and 20th century masters.
	Valencian Parliament Building (300 metres)	The building of the Generalitat Palace dates back to 1421, as headquarters of the Generalidad Valenciana or Diputación General, a body whose task was to represent the kingdom before the Parliament. The work started on the central body of the building, in the late Gothic style.
	“La Beneficencia” culture centre (400 metres)	Ground floor and two storeys, with a certain medieval flavour in its facades, whose main interest lies inside the building. It encloses eight patios and large rooms connected by corridors. It is at present a great culture centre.
	Jardines del Real (500 metres)	Located right in the city centre, where the Royal Palace used to be, these gardens have some splendid rose bushes, a recreation zone for children and the city zoo.
	Lonja (500 metres)	This is a flamboyant “gotico flamígero” style building constructed by the silk merchants in the late fifteenth century. Prominent features are the former contracting hall, with its lancet arches and spiral columns; the tower, with a chapel on the ground floor, the renaissance style Admiralty council assembly room. It was declared a National Monument in 1931 and in 1996 Humanity’s Heritage by Unesco.
	Central (covered) Marketplace (500 metres)	The idea of building the Market arose in 1881, by which time there was a pressing need to accommodate all the market vendors. The irregular-shaped site was assimilated by the form of the building, which is covered by roofs at different pitches and two domes. With a main structure of laminated steel ridges and pillars joined to these by means of the arch beams, it has non-load bearing enclosure walls which are closed with iron shutters at the top. The weather vane represents hustle and bustle and odours.
	Quart Towers (500 metres)	Built to a pattern based on the Castell Nuovo towers in Naples, these towers are a good example of late Gothic military building. Planned as defensive gateways for the city, they were until 1874 known as the Lime Towers since in the 18th century all the lime allowed into Valencia had to go in this way.
	El Patriarca Church (800 metres)	Real Colegio Seminario del Corpus Christi, consisting of a college, seminary and church. It is a 16th century seminary with a beautiful tile-decorated patio. Works by regional artists can be seen.
	Marqués de Dos Aguas Palace (National Ceramics Museum) (800 metres)	The national ceramics museum is located in the former palace of the Marqués de Dos Aguas, and contains an important collection of Valencian ceramics.
	Council and City Centre (1,000 metres)	Eclectic style building with neo-baroque and academicist parts, built in the early nineteenth century on the former Royal House of Learning. Some of its more prominent features are the main stairway, the Crystal Room, the Council Room and the Municipal Historical Archives.
	Music palace (2,000 metres)	This is one of the most important cultural centres in Valencia. It is located beside the former Turia river bed. This zone, converted into a huge garden after the 1957 floods, is now a leisure area where people can practise sports or just stroll around.
	City of Arts and Sciences (3,000 metres)	The City of Arts and Sciences is a vast scientific and cultural centre. The work is part of the worldwide architectural avant-garde. Two architects of international renown took part in this great complex: Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela. The former designed the Palau de les Arts – where artistic, musical and theatre shows will be put on -, l'Hemisfèric – with Imax Dome cinema, Planetarium and Laserium shows-, the "Prince Philip" science museum- to have fun while learning about the progress made in science and technology - and l'Umbracle, a car park with the best views of the whole complex. Félix Candela designed the remarkable roofs of the main buildings of L'Oceanogràfic, an underwater city designed to get to know the secrets of the depths. The City of Arts and Sciences is a place where visitors can learn while having fun and enjoying Art, Science and Nature.
	Valencian beaches (5,000 metres)	Valencia has beaches of calm waters with a prevalence of fine sand. The climate is pleasant all year round, mild and warm in winter, and not too hot in summer thanks to the influence of the Mediterranean. Another good reason for coming to Valencia is its cuisine, which is backed up by a wide range of fresh and natural produce thanks to the sea and market gardens all around it.
	“La Albufera” National Nature Reserve (10,000 metres)	The origin of the Albufera lake goes back to the early Pleistocene age. Its formation is the result of the closure of the gulf, formed as a result of the sinking Valencian plain, by a broad coastal strip stretching from Valencia to Cullera.