This was a delightful walking tour that included history, architecture, and cultural dimensions of the coastal Valencia. It's only 2 blocks from my housing so I see this area now daily with new eyes.
I love all the different doors in this neighborhood. Many of the homes are blue and white, symbolizing the sky and sea.
The buildings near the sea are mostly 2 story. They restrict the height so that the breezes from the sea can reach city center.
This is an ancient ship building factory.
Three canals define this neighborhood. The canals are now underground but historically those in fishing lived on one side of one canal, the ship builders lived in between and the poor lived on the other edge.
Most colorful neighborhood I've seen. The guide made a point to show us those drab home that were built during Franco period. Originally the homes had peaked roofs made of straw. They were very close together, so when a fire started, it took the entire street. Now the roofs have been replaced with tile.
The rice museum. I'm planning to head here. With bomba or Valencian rice grown here and the most important ingredient in paella, there is a lot to learn about rice.
At this door they sell mussels. They are supposed to be the best around. The door opens a couple times a week and they say the line is down the block until they sell out.
Historic tapas bar. We've put in for reservations... fingers crossed. If we get in, I'll have a report.
Someone created this sundial on the building. Neighbors were so outraged that they created a 'moon dial' on the other wall as ironic protest. See next photo
Hard to see, but there are hooks on the building where they hang the nets to dry. They used to use bulls to help drag in the nets with the fish. Two boats go out with one net. Then as they come into shore, the bulls are hitched to the boats to drag the boats with the netted fish to shore.
As the ships were coming into shore, they would attach a note with the amount of fish they caught to the leg of a pigeon. When the wives would receive the pigeon, they would start selling the fish. By the time the boat got in, the fish would have been sold.
If you hung in this long, here is the recipe for
Valencia Water. It's the local favorite:
75% Orange Juice
10% Cava
5% Cointreau
5% Grand Marnier
5% Sugar
Drink cold and slowly. They say it sneaks up on you... especially on a hot day.
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