Valencia It has many treasures that even the majority of Valencians do not know about.
Perhaps one of the most unknown is the large number of modernist-style buildings it houses. Apart from the North Station, the Central Market or the Colón Market, most of these more than 50 buildings and palaces are unknown. However, Valencia It is the Spanish city that hosts the largest volume of modernist works due to the significant growth of the city at the end of the 19th century that led to the construction of the expansion and the destruction of the medieval walls.
In ArkeoTour Today we propose a tour of the modernist valence, which is sure to amaze more than one.
Valencian Modernism at the beginning of the 20th century
Putting ourselves in context
Modernism is the term that was coined for the artistic movement which took place in Europe at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century marked by the Industrial Revolution and the application of new techniques.
It was called by various names such as: Art nouveau in France, Modern Style In England, liberty in Italy, Sezessionstil in Vienna, Jugendstil in Germany, Modernisme in Catalonia, and Modernism in the rest of Spain. It had different artistic currents adopting the aesthetic particularities of each country. The precedents of Art nouveau You have to look for them in England in the movement of artists and designers of Arts and Crafts ('arts and crafts') by William Morris. This style, in the face of the industrialization of design, claims a utilitarian aesthetic, beauty in everyday objects and artisanal ornamental work.
This new movement represents the breaking off with previous styles with the intention of seeking youthful and functional air based on the use of new materials such as iron, glass and tiles, fruits of industrial evolution. It was driven by a new and growing bourgeois social class with the intention of vindicate Through the art.
This artistic trend was not only reflected in architecture, but also in other decorative arts such as furniture, jewelry and graphic arts. The same architects were in charge of the decoration, the design of the furniture and the items for daily and everyday use.
In Spain, the referring figures will be Antonio Gaudi and Lluís Domènech and Barcelona the modernist city par excellence, since Catalonia is where this style took root the most. There are several cities with examples of modernist architecture in their streets, although with less intensity than that shown in Catalonia. This is due to the lesser presence of the bourgeoisie in the rest of the Peninsula.
The Modernist footprint in Valencia
The capital of Turia It is one of the Spanish cities that hosts a large number of modernist works. Thanks to the important city growth At the end of the 19th century, it was necessary to carry out an expansion outside its medieval walls, where this new bourgeoisie would settle. The movement manifested itself in Valencia in the early years of the 20th century and lasted until the early 1920s.
He Valencian modernism It is characterized by the use of various trends, such as: geometric and ordered shapes, such as North Station, and other very baroque ones that can be seen in some of its buildings, such as the Post Office Palace. In the city we find different examples of each of the currents that were created in Europe, such as Sezession Vienna and the Modernisme Catalan. The Viennese influence is found in the North Station and Ferrer House, while the Catalan one can be seen in the Columbus Market.
In the ornamental representations Of the architecture, the plant forms of the Valencian garden stand out, as well as forms of animals and humans. The materials used will be mostly red brick, Valencian ceramics, glass, iron, and hydraulic tiles.
Other artistic manifestations we can see them in the paint, where recognized figures such as Joaquín Sorolla, Ignacio and José Pinazo, Cecilio Plá, Antonio Muñoz and José Benlliure stand out. In sculpture Mariano Benlliure stands out, his works can be found at street level in the same city, such as the Monument to the Marquis of Campo in the Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo, the Pantheon of the Moroder family, as well as several reliefs on the main façade of the City Hall .
Some of the most emblematic buildings in Valencia
Valencia Central Market
This building was declared a Site of Cultural Interest in 2007 and is located in the historic center of the city. It is one of the largest markets in Europe. Late in the 19th century, faced with the need for a market for the bourgeois class in the city, the City Council put out to tender the construction of the new market. The architects who obtained the building license were Alejandro Soler March and Francisco Guardia Vial. Construction began in 1914 and ended at the beginning of 1928, by the architects Enrique Viedma and Ángel Romaní. It was inaugurated by Alfonso XIII on January 23, 1928.
Its aesthetics integrate in harmony with the Lonja de la Seda and the Church of Santos Juanes. The market is committed to technological and commercial progress, showing pride in the agricultural potential of the garden, reflected in its structure and in the allegorical ornamentation seen inside. The iron, glass, ceramic domes and the weather vanes (the parrot and the swordfish) that crown them are integrated into the panoramic landscape of the city.
Main facade of the Central Market with the shield. Fountain: anotherheader.wordpress.com
Dome of the Central Market that doubles as a skylight. Fountain: Valenciaplaza.com. Author Eva Máñez.
North Station, Valencia
It was declared Bien of Cultural Interest in 1983, and projected by Valencian architect Demetrio Ribes Marco in 1906. The beginning of the works took place on August 2, 1906 and it was inaugurated on August 8, 1917.
The decoration of the station is abundant. On the outside, in the central body, there is an eagle as an emblem of speed. Inside, in the hallway area, we find mosaics that welcome travelers in different languages with the phrase “Have a good trip.”
In addition, there are regional motifs of products from the Valencian garden, highlighting the orange, as well as the carved wood and marble. The ornamental motifs are made with glazed ceramics and trencadis, work of José Mongrell.
On the side of the hall is the Mosaic Room. In it we can see ceramic panels where the figure of the Valencian woman stands out with the city's coat of arms and the Miguelet in the background, the work of Gregorio Muñoz Dueñas. The mosaics and ceramic decoration come from the “La Ceramo” factory in Benicalap.
Facade and main entrance of the North Station. Fountain: valenciaarenaycal.blogspot.com.es
Detail of the female figure in typical dress with the coat of arms of Valencia and the Miguelet in the background. Fountain: valenciabonita.es
Detail of carved marble and garden products. Fountain: valenciaarenaycal.blogspot.com.es
Post office building
This building, located in the Town Hall Square, was the work of architect Miguel Ángel Navarro and was built between 1915 and 1922.
The monumentality of the construction is the symbol of the progress that postal and telegraphic communications meant in the first decades of the 20th century. Inside, the center of the main room is crowned by an artistic window made up of 370 panels that contain the coats of arms of the 48 provinces of Spain.
In the center, made of brass, is the shield of the city of Valencia symbolizing the company of Post and Telegraph. On the roof of the building there is a metal structure in the shape of a tower that corresponded to the telecommunications tower. This building follows the modernist style, but with touches of architectural trends of the time such as classicism or baroque.
Post and Telegraph Building. Fountain: www.lovevalencia.com
Artistic glass window of the Post and Telegraph building. Source: By Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
Ferrer House
It is a residential building located on Cirilo Amorós Street. It is the work of architect Vicente Ferrer Pérez and it was built in 1908. The commission was a development of eight homes carried out by his father for the family residence. It has been declared an Asset of Local Relevance.
This building, with an innovative language, is the most complete example of the architecture sezessionist in Valenciato. Vicente Ferrer's care for craftsmanship is applied to the small details.
The façade is characterized by its white color, completed by the decoration of white and green tiles, garlands and roses at the top of the chamfer gable. The decoration is not limited to the exterior, but is incorporated into the hallway, staircase and homes.
Facade of Casa Ferrer.
Detail of the garlands, the roses and the top of the building's chamfer. Fountain: valenciacuriosa.blogspot.com
Columbus Market
It was declared Asset of Cultural Interest in 2007. The establishment was built with the purpose of meeting the supply needs of the bourgeoisie of the new area of Ensanche. It was designed by the architect Francisco Mora in 1913 and built between 1914 and 1916. The architect studied at the Barcelona School of Architecture and had direct contact with the Modernisme Catalan, especially with the work of Gaudí, among others.
The Market, with the exception of the metal lattices and support pillars, is built in reddish brick and decorated on the exterior facades with Valencian ceramics and reliefs. Inside, in the upper part of the central body, we can find the skylight that runs through the entire nave. The façade is decorated mostly with Valencian ceramics from trencadis, relief and stone. The facade of Jorge Juan Street is decorated with typical Valencian decorative mosaics with images of the orchard, traditional costumes and the sea. The one on Conde Salvatierra Street highlights the city's coat of arms made of polychrome stone.
Main façade and access to the Colón Market on Jorge Juan Street. Fountain: www.lovevalencia.com
Details of the motifs of the Valencia garden on the facade of Jorge Juan street. Fountain: www.jdiezarnal.com
Clock Building
It is located on Muelle del Turia Avenue. It was built in 1916 and is declared Asset of local relevance. It was designed by the engineer Federico G. Membrillera as a residential building for the Valencian bourgeoisie originally. His style is eclectic and academic, influenced by the French style of the time. Although its style is sober and classic, it presents elements of Valencian modernism in details of the ornamentation.
It consists of a ground floor and two floors, the last of which has an attic. The ground floor has large windows and the first floor has balconies. The building is finished with black slate, a typical detail of the French style. It is crowned by a tower with a large clock that enhances the complex and gives it its popular name. At the highest part of the tower you can see a weathervane with a sailing ship.
Clock Building.
Ornamental detail of the building's facade. Fountain: valenciacuriosa.blogspot.com
Without a doubt, the Modernism has left one fingerprint important throughout Europe, taking root in the Valencian Community hand in hand with the city's emerging bourgeoisie. One more reason that makes our region one of the richest in architectural styles and a paradise for lovers of this style.
Discover the Valencian modernism with a free tour with ArkeoTour.
From ArkeoTour® we offer you this pleasant walk through the city of Turia to discover the main icons of Valencian Modernism in one morning. You will discover with us the Central Market, the North Station, the Queen Victoria Hotel, the Post Office Building, the Ferrer House or the Colón Market.
Reserve your place here!
* Remember that with our free tours You are the one who sets the price for the route. Our accredited guides, specialists in Art History and Historical Heritage, They will make you learn, but above all, have fun.
