The Bite Magazine - Autmn/Winter 2020 - Issue 28

bitetravel recreated baobab forest is home to a dozen elephants. A trip to the ‘island of Madagascar’ here is where the lemurs will climb down the branches of the trees to greet you. The hippopotamus and crocodiles reside in the ‘Kitum cave’ and pythons, otters, leopards and gorillas are found in the forests of ‘Equatorial Af- rica’. Within distance of the Turia Gardens is the stunningly beautiful Museo de Bellas Artes de Valencia (Museum of Fine Arts). It is housed in the St. Pius V Palace, which was once the San Pio Seminary College founded in 1683 by Brother Juan Tomás de Rocaberti, the Archbishop of Valencia. Now, the second-larg- est art gallery in Spain, it carries works of artists from the 15th to the 19th centuries and is renowned for its collection of Va- lencian painters Juan de Juanes, Vicente López, Ignacio Pinazo, and Joaquin Sorolla. The installation of the courtyard of Ambassador Vich is here as well as famous paintings like Goya’s ‘Portrait of Doña Joaquina Candado’ based on his housekeeper and El Greco’s ‘Saint John the Baptist’. There is also an interesting collection of contem- porary art, along with valuable archaeological remains such as the ‘The Lion of Bocairent’ and the Paleo-Christian tomb of St. Vincent Mártir. Look out for the Gothic panels whose intricate and quality details stand out. Modern and contemporary, the Institut Valencià d’Art Modern (Museum of Modern Art), also known by its acronym IVAM, has a permanent collection of around 12,000 works by re- nowned Spanish and international artists. These include Julio González, Yves Klein, Richard Hamilton, Zoran Music, Carmen Calvo, Robert Rauschenberg, Antoni Tàpies, Manolo Valdés, Fernando Arroyo and much more. Spanning over four floors, you will find a series of temporary exhibitions such as the works of French painter Jean Dubuffet. In addition to paintings and sculptures, some of the exhibits consist of photography and photo-collage, pop art, abstraction, installations, new media art, and drawing on paper. The Hall of the Wall found in the basement of the Julio González Centre houses the remains of an old medieval wall built in the second half of the 14th century devoted to photography and drawing exhibitions. It is the perfect place to appreciate the thesis of modern art. Another historical place to visit is Valencia Cathedral, built on an ancient Roman temple in the 13th century, which embraces the architecture styles of Baroque, Romanesque, and Gothic. In the 15th century, the Chapter house, later known as the Chap- el of the Holy Chalice, was built. You will discover the lantern tower, the Miguete door, and the Door of the Apostles here. Why not try climbing the 207 steps up the spiral stairs to the top of the Miguelete tower or learn about the history of Virgen del Buen Parto? It is believed that the Holy Chalice kept in the cathedral was the one used by Jesus at the Last Supper. The story goes that Saint Peter (traditionally considered the first pope) took it to Rome and the popes that succeeded him kept it there until Saint Sixtus II, who then sent it to Huesca, in northeastern Spain. During the Ottoman Empire invasion, the chalice was hidden in the Pyrenees in Europe. Alfonso the Magnanimous, King of Aragon, is said to have brought it back to the palace of Valencia. On your visit, you may see Renaissance frescoes on the altar, which was rediscovered ten years ago when the Baroque vault was removed. It is said that Cardinal Rodrigo de Borja, who became Pope Alexander V, commissioned Italian artists Paolo da San Leocadio and Francesco Pagano to produce the paint- ings that included twelve angels playing musical instruments in 1476. Other works of Gothic, Renaissance, and Mannerist in- clude pieces by Maella and Goya, and panel paintings by Juan de Juanes. Located in front of Central Market and the Temple of Santos Juanes in the centre of the city is La Lonja de la Seda de Va- lencia, otherwise known as The Silk Market. This rectangular Gothic emblematic building was built during Valencia’s golden age in the 15th century when the city was at its economic and cultural peak. It was declared a National Historic and Artistic Monument in July 1931 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in December 1996. The building is separated into four main sections consisting of the main Tower, the Consulado del Mar (Consulate of the Sea) room, the Patio de los Naranjos (Orange Tree Courtyard) and the Contracts Roomwhich has many spiral columns. When you enter the forest of palm tree-shaped columns that span its mag- nificent main hall, you are spellbound by its enigmatic carvings that hold the secrets and mysteries of society that were begin- ning to open up to the Renaissance. Real Parroquia de los Santos Juanes Valencia (The Royal Parish of the Saint Johns), also known as Saint Juanes, is one of the oldest churches in Valencia. It has a triangular bell tower topped with the statues of saints. Initially a hermitage on the site of an old mosque built in 1240, it had to be reconstructed in the 14th and 16th centuries due to fire damage. Its baroque style dates back to the end of the 17th and the beginning of the 18th centu- ries with exterior reforms starting in 1700. The main façade retains a walled-up oculus of a rose window known locally as the blind eye of Saint John because it was never opened. A sculpture by Jacopo Bertesi shows the Virgin Mary with the child Jesus holding the globe with a burst of rays, an- gels, and cherubs surrounding them. Another relic shows the symbols of Saint John the Baptist as the lamb and Saint John the Evangelist as the eagle. The roofline is dominated by the statues of the two Saint Johns, as well as Saint Francis Borgia and Saint Luis Bertrán. Besides the historic elements, there are plenty of places to en- joy Spanish cuisine in Valencia. Declared the original home of paella, you can experience this traditional dish to your heart’s content. There are also lesser-known delicacies and immense markets stuffed with incredible local produce. The city has a dy- namic nightlife with diverse music, endless bars and year-round clubs. Before Ibiza was put on the map, Valencia took the crown for the best nightlife in Spain, so get out there and dance. Talking about partying, Valencia is famous for its festivals which are celebrated throughout the year in honour of saints or local traditions. The largest fiesta is Las Fallas held in March each year in commemoration of Saint Joseph and lasts for a whole week. Natives compete to build the best ninots (giant puppets or dolls). The winning ninot gets eliminate from being burned unlike the others and are displayed at the Fallero Museum. Throughout the whole festival, firecrackers are set off.