![](https://www.gotaway.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/turia_under_bridge_water-1024x768.jpg)
Valencia sat on the banks of the Rio Turia until 1957, when the city had the river diverted after a series of devastating floods. The former river bed was turned into the Jardines del Turia, a 9 km-long park that now curves across the top of the city centre.
![](https://www.gotaway.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/turia_walls-1024x768.jpg)
The great thing about a park that’s 9 km long is that it can be everything to everyone. Along the length there are segregated paths for walkers, runners, and cyclists, the latter who use the park as a convenient commuting arterial to avoid the city streets.
We walked along only a small portion — perhaps 2 km from the Torres de Serranos down to Pont d’Aragó — and we passed through many distinct areas of with different trees, plantings, ponds, and fountains.
![](https://www.gotaway.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/turia_bulbous_trees-1024x768.jpg)
![](https://www.gotaway.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/turia_palms-1024x768.jpg)
![](https://www.gotaway.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/turia_sunny_palm-1024x768.jpg)
![](https://www.gotaway.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/turia_oranges-1024x768.jpg)
The park passes under numerous bridges of varying ages and styles, and these are incorporated nicely into the features below them.
![](https://www.gotaway.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/turia_bridge_reflected-1024x768.jpg)
![](https://www.gotaway.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/turia_path_bridge-1024x768.jpg)
![](https://www.gotaway.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/turia_under_bridge-1024x768.jpg)
![](https://www.gotaway.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/turia_ponto_flores.jpg)
We passed by a sculpture very sensibly titled Pilares Metalicos Blancos — “White Metal Pillars”.
![](https://www.gotaway.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/turia_pillars_art.jpg)
Beyond this dramatic fountain we could see glimpses of the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (City of Arts and Sciences) in the distance.
![](https://www.gotaway.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/turia_fountain-1024x768.jpg)
![](https://www.gotaway.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/turia_fountain_ig.jpg)
We’ve not noticed too many feral cats in Valencia, but all those we’ve seen have been black. This one was lurking around on a fountain patio that was being repaired. It retreated into an uncovered drain when we came too near.
![](https://www.gotaway.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/turia_cat-1024x768.jpg)
![](https://www.gotaway.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/turia_cat_hole-768x1024.jpg)