Valencia’s lush oasis, Turia Gardens, has been recognized as one of the most beautiful parks globally, according to a recent ranking by a leading British travel insurance company, Insureandgo.

Following its accolade as the best city to live in by InterNations, Valencia continues to garner international praise. The city’s Mediterranean charm, rich cultural heritage, and outstanding culinary offerings have all contributed to its growing reputation. Central to this acclaim is Turia Gardens, a verdant expanse celebrated as one of the planet’s finest urban parks.

The ranking, published by Insureandgo, places Turia Gardens as the fifth best park worldwide. This green space, designed by the renowned architect Ricardo Bofill, stretches over nine kilometers, making it the largest park in Spain. It trails only behind the Boyce Thompson Arboretum in Arizona, the Plas Cadnant Hidden Gardens in Wales, the Missouri Botanical Garden in the USA, and the Royal Botanic Garden in Melbourne, Australia.

Valencia’s commitment to urban sustainability is evident in its designation as the European Green Capital for 2024. This honor reflects the city’s dedication to maintaining green spaces like Turia Gardens and Parc Central. Remarkably, over 70% of Valencia’s residents live within five minutes of a green area, boasting more than 7.5 square meters of green space per inhabitant.

The city also prides itself on unique ecosystems such as the Albufera Natural Park, where local flora and fauna thrive alongside farmers cultivating zero-kilometer produce. Turia Gardens, situated in the former riverbed that gives it its name, attracts over three million visitors annually, making it Spain’s most visited park.

Spanning from Parque de Cabecera to the City of Arts and Sciences, Turia Gardens is a haven for runners, cyclists, families, and nature enthusiasts. The park is adorned with 18 historic bridges and is flanked by some of Valencia’s key museums and monuments, including the Torres de Serranos, the Valencian Institute of Modern Art (IVAM), and the Museum of Fine Arts.

Turia Gardens emerged from a devastating flood on October 14, 1957, which forced the city to divert the river to the south. Inaugurated in 1986, the gardens were designed by a team of urban planners and landscapers who recreated the ancient river landscape, incorporating palm trees, orange trees, fountains, pines, aromatic plants, ponds, and rose bushes.

Valencia’s tourist organization, Visit Valencia, highlights that Turia Gardens uniquely connects the African savannah, represented by the Bioparc, with the underwater world of l’Oceanogràfic. Additionally, it links to the spectacular opera auditorium, the Palau de les Arts, located in the City of Arts and Sciences.

Among the park’s attractions is Gulliver, a colossal playground where children can climb over the 70-meter-long figure’s fingers, hair, and legs.

Visitors can also marvel at the Palau de la Música and historical bridges such as San José (17th century), Serranos (16th century), Trinidad (15th century), del Real (16th century), and del Mar (16th century).

Modern bridges like the Exhibition Bridge, the October 9 Bridge, the Flowers Bridge, and the l’Assut d’Or Bridge, designed by Santiago Calatrava, as well as the Arts Bridge by Norman Foster and the Guardian Angel Bridge by Arturo Piera, also enhance the park’s landscape.

Turia Gardens stands as a testament to Valencia’s innovative urban planning and dedication to creating a green, sustainable city. Its beauty and significance continue to captivate both locals and visitors, securing its place among the world’s top urban parks.

This article is brought to you by Expat Hub Valencia, a property buying agent in Valencia. Using the Expat Hub’s services, you will be able to successfully navigate Valencia’s complicated property market in no time.

Turia Gardens: One of the World’s Finest Parks

Elevate Your Space with Cityscape Paintings