The Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, (City of Arts and Sciences), at the eastern end of the park, boasts some of the most spectacular 21st Century architecture in Europe, the work of world-renowned Valencia born architect Santiago Calatrava. The most spectacular development here is also the most recent. In the 1950s the Valencianos grew tired of the repeated flooding of their river and diverted its course to the south, leaving the old Turia riverbed to be converted into a park which now virtually surrounds the city. Perhaps most importantly it will take you to the Jardín de Turia. If you're limited for time, try the open-top tourist bus (every half hour from the Plaza de la Reina), which will give you a great feel for the city and introduce you to all the major sights. Stroll to the Plaza de la Reina to take in the cathedral, but make sure you've read up on your Holy Grail legends beforehand…., then climb the tower for the most spectacular views across the city to the Mediterranean. Try shopping on Calle de Cristobal Colon - in addition to five branches of El Corte Inglés, Valencia boasts a fabulous choice of boutiques and independent stores. Wonder at the vast array of produce on sale in the Mercado Central, arguably Spain's finest covered market and the largest in Europe. Wander the maze of lanes that comprise the Barrio del Carmen and admire the architecture of the grand palacios spanning the last four centuries, stopping once in a while at one of the countless terraces for a glass of something. It is a vibrant, stylish and quintessentially Spanish place with an unrivalled nightlife and some of the most spectacular fiestas anywhere in the world. The capital of the province and of the autonomous Comunitat Valenciana, Spain's third largest city has something for everybody. If the only Spanish city you have ever visited is Barcelona or Madrid, you will find Valencia gives each of them more than a good run for its money.
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