The Roman colony that eventually became Valencia was built on a river island. By the Islamic era, it was ringed by large walls–with 7 gates–and the edge of the city followed the curve of the Turia river. A small moat around the walls helped protect against innundation.

(Note that there was an Iberian settlement here before the Romans, and no doubt someone else here before that–Wikipedia only takes me so far.)

Over the centuries, the proximity to the river was both a strategic benefit and a flooding risk. This came to a head in the mid-1900s when two devastating floods lead to the moving of the river to a new course going round the south side of the city.

The redirected river did its job of protecting the main city during the Valenican floods of 2024, but adjacent communities to the south were devastated in one of the worst natural disasters in recent years. More than 230 people died after an intense storm dropped nearly a year’s worth of rain in a day.

The old river bed was abandoned for years, with various mayors periodically surfacing a plan to turn it into a motorway better connecting the port and the airport. Thankfully, that idea never succeeded and instead, the river bed was converted into a long narrow park curving round the old town.

The park stretches more than 9km and features a series of green spaces. Gardens, soccer, baseball and rugby pitches, fountains, playgrounds and green spaces are criss-crossed with a series of walking, running, and biking paths. (Note to the tourist–make sure you’re walking on the right one. Those folks on their bikes and motorized scooters move fast, have the right of way, and don’t appreciate their commute being slowed by clueless wanderers.)(Guess how I know this?)

We have so enjoyed having this green corridor as a way of moving through the city and have delighted in all the ways the space is used. If you have to move a river, this is an excellent way to make use of the river bed.

R here. Loads of music practice in the park too. Whether this is normal or preparation for Fallas we’re not sure, but we sat on a wall for 20 minutes listening to these guys:

There’s a wonderful playground / play structure in the park called Parc Gulliver, consisting of a giant (40 meter?) tied-down Gulliver on which the city’s Lilliputians can play.

For you literature nerds out there: it’s Gulliver’s 300th birthday this year. Gracias a Sr Swift: one of the dozen or so greatest books ever written, IMVHO.