Turia Gardens (Jardín del Turia)

The Turia Gardens, the Jardín del Turia, are the green spine of Valencia, a continuous park about nine kilometres long that curves around the old city in the bed of a river that no longer flows there. In October 1957 the Turia burst its banks and flooded much of the city, killing dozens of people and destroying homes and property. The authorities decided to divert the river south of the city in a new channel, leaving the old bed dry. At first, a motorway was proposed for the empty channel, but the citizens campaigned for it to become a park, using the slogan that the river was theirs and they wanted it green, and the park was gradually created from the 1980s onward.

The result is one of the longest urban parks in Europe. It starts in the west at the Parque de Cabecera, with a lake and woods and the Bioparc zoo, and runs east past the old town and its historic bridges to the City of Arts and Sciences at the other end. The sections between them differ widely, with orange groves, rose gardens, palm trees, pine woods, sports fields, playgrounds, fountains and formal gardens. The paths are flat and wide, with separate lanes for cyclists and walkers, so it is easy to cross the city on foot or by bike without meeting traffic.

The riverbed is crossed by a series of bridges, some of them centuries old and others modern. The Pont de Serrans, near the medieval Serranos Towers, and the Pont del Mar, the Bridge of the Sea, date back to the sixteenth century, while newer ones, including some designed by Santiago Calatrava, add a modern note. Walking beneath the arches gives an unusual perspective on the old city above. One of the best-loved places in the park is the Parque Gulliver, where children climb over and slide down a giant figure of Gulliver tied to the ground.

Cultural buildings are scattered along the route, including the Palau de la Música, a concert hall, and the museum complex in the east. There are cafes and kiosks, and the park hosts events and fairs through the year. In 2024, Valencia was named European Green Capital, an honour that recognised its efforts in public space, and the gardens are central to that story.

The gardens suit everyone. Walking the whole length takes about two hours or longer, and many people prefer to cycle it, renting bikes in the city. Go early in the morning or in the evening during summer, when shade is welcome.