River Turia
|
|
The River Turia (Valencian: Riu Túria; Spanish: Río Turia) is a waterway running through the Valencian Country and reaching the sea at the City of Valencia.
After a catastrophic flood in 1957 which devastated the city, the river was divided in two at the western city limits, the old course of the river continues, dry, through the city centre, almost to the sea. The water is diverted southwards along a new course that skirts the city, until eventually reaching the sea.
The old riverbed is now a beautiful sunken park that allows cyclists and pedestrians to traverse the entire city without crossing a road. The park, called the 'Garden of the Turia' (Jardí del Túria/Jardín del Turia) is full of ponds, fountains, flowers, sports courts, paths, and people enjoying it all. The many bridges overhead carry traffic across the park.
Near the end of the Garden of the Turia is the Gulliver Park (Parc Gulliver/Parque Gulliver), a children's adventure playground featuring a huge fibreglass model of Lemuel Gulliver tied to the ground with ropes, made so that it incorporates slides and ladders to play on.
Right at the end is Valencia's spectacular new City of Arts and Sciences