Valencia looks again at its urban landscape through a work that explores the history of the city gardensFrom the first parks to the major projects that have shaped its character, journalist and local chronicler Francisco Pérez Puche has written a piece that not only documents the past but also invites us to think about the green future of Valencia.
Under the title "For gardens, Valencia", the author presents two volumes that dialogue with each other: one arrives from the founding of the city until 1957 and the other covers from the year of the flood to the present, with special attention to the milestones that have transformed the relationship between urbanism and nature.
Origins and myth of the city of flowers
Throughout the centuries, the image of Valencia as green and floral city It became established in literature, journalism, and popular memory. This myth coexists with periods in which reality did not support it, as shown by the criticisms that appeared in the local press.
The work traces how the fame of a fertile land, already present in the Roman period, influenced municipal debates and citizen expectationsThe demand for more gardens was constant, especially during the 20th century, although other urban needs often took precedence.
Literary voices also emerge, among them Jose Zorrilla, which helped to spread the image of Valencia as a place of flowers and tree-lined walks, a portrait that served as a stimulus and, at times, as an uncomfortable mirror.
From the 1957 flood to the Turia Gardens
The turning point comes with the flood of 1957From then on, a long process of technical and political decisions began: the diversion of the river and the widely supported option of converting the old riverbed into a large urban garden.
That journey, which the book recounts with dates and protagonists, explains how the old riverbed was transformed into the Turia Garden, a green axis that redefines the city and becomes a symbol of park planning in the democratic era.
The recognition as European Green Capital in 2024 It appears in the work as a result of decades of social pressure, phased projects and a management that knew how to consolidate a more connected system of green spaces.
Nurseries and other emblematic gardens
A central chapter is devoted to the Nurseries, whose slow expansion between 1915 and 1975 made them a benchmark and a calling card for illustrious visitors, when the city had few large-scale parks.
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La Selfstanding and its historic fence, an example of conservation and debates about uses.
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El Seaside Walk, which articulated connections between neighborhoods and the waterfront.
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El Jesuit Garden, with citizen defense of its heritage value.
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El Nazareth Park and the recovery of spaces for neighborhood gatherings.
These cases show how each park reflects a Tension between urban project, heritage and everyday lifewith decisions that leave a mark on several generations.
Projects, controversies and municipal management
The book traces the "long green battles" that have shaped the public agenda, from the protection of the Dehesa and the Albufera even the defense of the old riverbed as a park. The narrative incorporates major urban changes, such as the South Plan, and the role of the citizens.
It is also summarized management of democratic municipalities (1979-2024)This was a period in which the network of gardens expanded while the city faced challenges related to mobility, culture, and facilities.
The combination of newspaper archives, urban chronicles, and municipal documentation provides a comparative view of projects, times and results, useful for historians, urban planners and curious people.
An institutional edition and a highly anticipated presentation
The two volumes have been published by Valencia City Council, with a presentation held in the Crystal Hall that was attended by the mayor María José Catalá, the councilor for Culture José Luis Moreno and the author himself.
The edition includes a selection of images illustrating the evolution of parks and trees; some of the photographic material is the work of Antonio Cortes, providing a documentary and aesthetic perspective on green spaces.
The project's origin during the pandemic and its subsequent development explain the balance between rigor and accessible storytelling, with the aim of reaching a general audience without losing depth.
Looking towards the future of the green city
Beyond the historical inventory, the work raises questions about sustainabilityclimate change and quality of lifeHow to maintain and improve gardens, and what role they should play in a city that aspires to be healthier.
The author emphasizes that the green agenda is gaining traction at times of political changeand that the continuity of projects requires consensus, planning and long-term maintenance.
As the chronicler recalls, Valencia has progressed amidst advances and setbacks: From myth to evidenceGardens have gone from being a debated aspiration to an urban infrastructure that structures collective life.
From the Viveros to the Turia Gardens, passing through the Glorieta, Jesuitas or Nazaret, this work traces a panorama of how Valencia has woven its green network, what debates have shaped it and What challenges lie ahead so that the floral and Mediterranean character remains more than just a label.
