Christmas Lights turned on In Valencia

Yesterday saw the turning on of the  Christmas lights in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento (town hall square), where this year they have installed approximately 10,000 bulbs. Given the economic situation, the City has reduced the budget devoted to this decoration, although this (as Félix Crespo, Council of Festivals commented) this will not endanger the decoration of the city.

The use of LED light bulbs are expected to reduce consumption by 50 percent through the use of this technology. The lighting will last until Epiphany, Jan. 6, and be turned on every day from six in the afternoon until 2am.

The Town Hall Square has illuminated trees and also a large fir tree of 20m with flashing lights. Several new light pyramids adorn various parts of the plaza, including around the beautiful fountain. The budget for the lighting of the plaza is 57,000 euros.

Other areas including Marques de Sotelo and the Plaza de la Reina, will also be decorated, and most neighborhoods, where the Fallas commissions, neighborhood and trade groups, will add to the illumination provided by the Town Hall.

 

Photos to come..watch this space!

 

If you are looking for a christmas break in Valencia then check out: Accommodation in Valencia for Christmas Breaks

Christmas programme at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia

Christmas Programme at the City of Arts and Sciences

 

The City of Arts and Sciences at Christmas will be expanding their usual content with a special programme aimed at the whole family this December. Children's shows and an ice rink in the Agora, the School of Oceanographic Christmas and a Christmas market, are some of the activities proposed this year.

The Agora will host to the performances of "Gormiti" and "Lazy Town." Gormiti gives life to miniature warriors in a representation of the origins of these fantastic islanders where the forces of Good and Evil are identified with the elements of nature.
The main characters from the show "Lazy Town" will offer a show full of songs, choreography and acrobatics. Tickets for these shows, which are priced at 20-30 euros, plus shipping and distribution, can be purchased from today Wednesday, November 24 through El Corte Ingles.

Christmas market

Also in the Agora from December 18 there will be an ice rink with the Christmas market in place on the outside of the City of Arts and Sciences including a Pony carousel, a toy library and children's workshops, among other attractions.

The Oceanogràfic for its part will become Bikini Bottom from 22 December. SpongeBob will be there to greet all visitors and be "out and about" in the oceanografic complex for four hours a day. Also through Jan. 9, one of the aquariums will be themed as the Oval Office with the characters of this famous series available for photos, where the public can be photographed with the recreation of some of the inhabitants of Bikini Bottom, among other activities .

In addition, there is a new edition of the School of Oceanographic Christmas from 27 to 30 December. This time interested parties may attend for all days or choose which days they want to. Through stories related to dolphins, sharks, penguins and turtles, workshops and games, participants will discover the sea in a different way.

Finally, the Hemisfèric incorporates from 16 December the 3D digital cinema projection "Giants of the Ocean. Sea Monsters, "based on paleontological discoveries of the excavations carried out around the world that has allowed the reconstruction of a lost world under the sea. The film invites you to follow a family of Dolichorhynchops, known as "Dollies" that cross the ancient waters populated by prehistoric creatures such as sharks.

Check out the official website: www.cac.es for further information.

Looking for accommodation for your trip to Valencia? check out - www.valenciaholidayrentals.co.uk with online booking.

 

 

La malva-rosa beach valencia

The malvarosa represents the limt of valencias municipal beaches. In former times, the "camino de vera" terminated here, next to the "ampla" irrigation canal.
It is here that the city's seafront promenade starts, following the direction of the mid-day sun on its route between the beach and paella-scented restaurants.
An interesting cultural point, that requires a forced visit is the vicente blasco ibanez house, universal writer that wrote about the excellence of this place.

dinosaurs in valencia

In the spectacular shaded walkway of the Umbracle at the city of arts and sciences you can see the amazing exhibition of "Walking with Dinosaurs" in place until May 29, 2011.  Here you can discover the distant past of the dinosaurs in an exhibition that recreates the habitat of these amazing animals.

From 2.5 meters to 27 meters you can see Stegosaurus, Diplodocus, and a life size replica of a Tyrannosaurus Rex, these natural-looking robots are capable of performing a variety of movements and sounds that will surprise visitors

.

The exhibition will be open in the evenings until 31 August as the time the sample is from 10:00 hours to 24:00 hours.

From 1 September to 12 October the exhibition will close at 21.00 and 13 October to 29 May 2011 at 19.00.

The ticket price ranges from 6€ for adults, 4.80€ for reduced admission (children 4 to 12 years over 65 years and / or retirees, pensioners and the disabled), 4€ for school groups and 4.40€ for adult groups (20 people or more).

You can also purchase tickets combined with other elements of the complex.

 

Book holiday accommodation in Valencia

What to do and see in Valencia

 

The Torres de Quart Valencia

The Torres de Quart gate in Valencia was built by Pere Bofill between 1441 and 1460. Its name is due to the fact that it lay on the road to the village of Quart de Poblet. This was a women's prison from 1626 until the 18th century.

 

The towers themselves are cylindrical in shape externally and flatter inside the walls. They are communicated by an arched doorway, formerly presided over by a custodian angel, and nowadays by the city coat of arms.

Http://www.holidayaccommodationinspain.com

Las fallas..la ofrenda

One of the longest events during the las fallas festival in valencia is the "ofrenda", the offering to our lady. This is when the falleras (carnival queens), in their groups, or "casales", overcome their sleepiness and long wait devotedly to pay homage to our lady of the foresaken. This "ofrenda" is in the form of flowers which handed over and carefully and skillfullylaced in a large wooden structure of the virgen creating a beautiful statue of colour that emits a lovely aroma for days after.
Besides traditional dances, there is also a magnificent procession of falleras in their elaborate regional dress, carrying their bouquets of flowers and accompanied by traditional music from their casales band.

Www.holidayaccommodationinspain.com/valencia.htm

Christmas in valencia, spain

Its Saturday 13th november, I am sat on the beach of valencia at midday and the temperature is showing 25degrees. Now this might not be the "norm" for this time of year when we would probably expect to be a little under the 20's, but the spanish certainly make the most of this beautiful weather. The terraces are full (yes there are still terraces on the beach of valencia despite all the uproar and hooha!), the promenade is full of couples and families out for a stroll, the beach itself has sunbathers and even a couple swimming and as always along the waterline you have your fitness enthusiasts jogging and power walking from one end to the other.

So how is it going to be at christmas in valencia? Well if this weather continues then it puts me in mind of my first 2 christmas's I spent here...
The first I shared with friends, we were at a villa in the mountainside of a village on the outskirts of valencia, we spent most of the time outdoors...canoeing in the pool, lunches, bbq's, dinners next to the lit paellero (purpose built bbq for cooking paella). The night got very chilly so we wrapped up warm but next to an open fire in the open air we had a great time.

The 2nd year I had the family over, we then had an apartment by the beach, this was perfect for such active kids, they were on the beach everyday in shorts and t shirts playing cricket, football and generally having a great time, the locals were all passing by with jackets and scarves, although I think more of a fashion statement than for the cold.
Again all meals were taken in the open air on the balcony of the apartment which had lovely views over the internal marina.

I have since become very spanish and I now would probably be wearing a jacket and scarf! But if it stays like it is now, who knows I could even be tempted to wet my feet in the med!

Contact info@holidayaccommodationinspain.com if you are interested in the villa in the mountainside or the apartment on the beach with marina views.
Http://www.holidayaccommodationinspain.com/valencia.htm