When I travel, I want to see beauty: expressive artwork, sublime landscapes, glorious architecture. I explored Valencia and was so charmed by its blend of art and architecture that I decided to make it my home.
I wast astonished at the sheer number of handsome buildings that grace the city. Nearly every block has a facade that's photo-worthy. Many of the structures have historical significance and are still in use today.
I love the mash-up of architectural styles that are incorporated into many of the buildings. Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassical all play nicely together. They represent artistic influences that spread across Europe and were interpreted by Spanish architects.
Moorish and Byzantine influences can also be seen in this facade. I'd find it very difficult to classify this building as any particular architectural style. That's what makes it so interesting. And look at all the detail! A very creative architect came up with this plan.
No detail was left to chance. A simple streetlight is a work of art. I'm in awe of the ironwork and have no idea how this was made, but I love it! This type of beautiful detail is everywhere in Valencia's downtown district.
Dramatic winged archers, a steam locomotive, and a wooden ship adorn this clock tower. There's a message here.... I waited 20 minutes for a city bus to get out of the way so I could take this shot. Such a fascinating building!
Another clock tower with ornate detail, sans archers. This structure is almost fanciful in design -- It reminds me of a wedding cake with columns holding up the layers.
Looking for more buildings to photograph, I strolled down the street, where I enjoyed the brilliant colors of outdoor flower markets.
When I heard the clip-clop of hooves, I turned around and saw mounted police on matching horses. As a horse lover, it makes my heart go pitty-pat to see equine in the big city.
Walking past an old building near the Central Market, this snail motif stopped me in my tracks. I marveled at the attention to detail and careful workmanship.
Sometimes just looking up can be a delightful surprise. The rosy-colored stucco wall was accented by a window balcony with a black iron railing. But the designer went even farther by adding interesting detail under the balcony and a motif on the front of the railing. The window frames are also rich with detail.
I'd had an exciting day of shooting and was ready for dinner. As I walked toward the restaurant, I passed a prosthesis shop which apparently uses this wooden leg as their advertising. My friend said she knew a guy with a wooden leg named Steve. I asked her, "What's the name of the other leg?" <groan>
La Tagliatella. A scrumptious Italian dinner and lovely glass of wine in the magnificent Spanish city of Valencia. Perfecto!
Click to read My Love Affair with Valencia
Click to read Shop 'til You Drop: Valencia's Central Market
Click to read My Love Affair with Valencia
Click to read Shop 'til You Drop: Valencia's Central Market
