Mediterranean Coast of Spain

MUCHMORE THAN JUST A BEACH

Photo: Marc Venema/123rf.com

Photo: Roberto Nencini/123rf.com

a a VALENCIA CATHEDRAL VALENCIA

VALENCIA Here you will find one of Europe's larg- est centres devoted to science and the arts: the City of Arts and Sciences . You will be amazed by the avant-garde ar- chitecture of the stunning Hemisfèric building, in the shape of an eye, and by the Oceanogràfic , the largest aquarium in Europe. By contrast, in the streets of the old town centre, known as Ciutat Vella , you'll find extraordinary World Heritage Sites like the Lonja de la Seda silk exchange which has fascinating fea- tures such as the Salón de Columnas and the Patio de los Naranjos .. Nearby you'll find the Miguelete , as the bell tower of Valencia Cathedral is known. From the top, 50 metres up, you get an incredible panoramic view of the city.

a a LAS FALLAS BONFIRE FESTIVAL VALENCIA

Valencia's biggest festival takes place in March: the Fallas bonfire festival. Hun- dreds of enormous figures, of a strong- ly satirical and critical nature, fill the streets in this festival declared to be In- tangible Cultural Heritage by the UNE- SCO. The cremà is the most popular mo- ment: all the figures that are displayed in the streets are burnt on the night of 19-20March. This is the highlight of the festivities when the smell of gunpowder from the mascletàs (firecracker shows) is everywhere, along with bands playing music and regional costume parades.

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