Most Fun Photo Fridays I present around half a dozen photos. Not for this series of four. There is simply too much to see in Valencia and Sagunto to limit myself to six in each of the four Fun Photo Friday favorites of this area. Today I present eight. Click on any image below to enlarge and to bring up today’s slide show featuring seven more images:
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So, just how much is there to do in, and in the vicinity of, Valencia? Enough that we’ll be exploring both this city and nearby Sagunto this week and over the course of the next three. Yep, there is just so much in this area to see and photograph. For instance, today we’re going to concentrate on just one incredible structure.
In Valencian it’s called Església Catedral-Basílica Metropolitana de l’Assumpció de la Mare de Déu de València. Those speaking Spanish refer to it as Iglesia Catedral-Basílica Metropolitana de la Asunción de Nuestra Señora de Valencia. The English translation is Metropolitan Cathedral–Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady of Valencia. No matter the language, it’s a mouthful. So, most people just call today’s photo subject Valencia Cathedral. This primarily Valencia Gothic-style church was begun in 1262, and parts of it were not completed until almost a century later.
We’ll take leave for now of the exterior and duck inside for a look at the exquisitely detailed Virgin of the Forsaken, the patroness of Valencia, in the adjoining Basílica de la Mare de Déu dels Desamparats:
You’ll even find a painted tile depiction of the Virgin of the Forsaken outside:
But before we head back outside, let’s take a quick gander at the beautiful domed ceiling in the adjoining basilica:
Heading back outside, it’s time to look at the architectural details of this rather unique cathedral:
That’ll be it for today. This week’s Fun Photo Friday will be the first of four dedicated to Valencia and neighboring Sagunto.
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Our next port of call came three days after leaving Tenerife, Canary Islands. Like the Canaries, we were at another Spanish port. But this port was on mainland Spain east of the Strait of Gibraltar in the Mediterranean. So, on 11 May 2022 we found ourselves in Valencia. If you’re keeping track, that means Vision of the Seas had completed the transatlantic portion of this 14-day cruise, and we were getting close to our final destination. And, as is frequently the case, Ursula had us lined up for another tour. First stop — Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències (Valencian)/Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (Spanish)/City of Arts and Sciences (English, of course).
This incredible city-within-a-city contains many stunning architectural gems, fountains, reflecting pools, works of art, and, of course, museums galore. One such structure is L’Hemisfèric, which contains an IMAX theater, a planetarium, and a “Laserium” laser light show.
Yep, lots to see and photograph here. I’ll leave you with this taste of art before we move on in the tour:
From the City of Arts and Sciences our tour bus took into the city. We alighted from the bus in the Old Town portion of Valencia within easy stroll distance of our next attraction, Plaça de la Verge (Plaza of the Virgin).
In Plaça de la Verge you’ll find the spectacular fountain imaged below. That is Font Del Túria:
We’re just getting started here at Plaça de la Verge, though. There’s a rather impressive church — Valencia Cathedral. We’ll be walking around the perimeter of this incredible piece of work on Wednesday. Until then I’ll leave you with these samples of what awaits you:
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