Valencia. The Parterre garden (Jardines del Parterre)

The construction of the garden on the site of Plaza de la Aduana (Plaza de la Aduana) was started in 1850. By 1852, forty-seven magnolias and two Araucarias were planted here, but the Park took on its current appearance at the end of the 19th century, with the installation of an equestrian statue of Jaime I the Conqueror (Jaime I el Conquistador on the mapThe idea of erecting a monument to the liberator of Valencia on the 600th anniversary of his death (1276) was put forward in 1875 by the editor-in-chief of the newspaper Las Provincias, Teodoro Llorente Olivares, the city Council approved this initiative and announced a fundraising campaign. However, despite the fact that Jaime I was very popular among the people, the case dragged on for almost 15 years. The anniversary passed, fundraising was slow, and the city Council decided to build at least a pedestal to keep up the popular enthusiasm. The 7.5-meter-high pedestal was designed by the municipal architect Vicente Constantino Marzo, and by 1878 it had been completed. By 1882, enough money had accumulated to make the statue itself. This work was commissioned by the most prominent Barcelona muralist Agapit Vlmitjana (Agapit Vallmitjana i Barbany). The Ministry of defense allocated 5 old cannons for the production of the bronze statue, which were brought to Valencia from the Peñíscola in 1886. The monument was cast at the factory of the engineering company of Valencia, and on the last day of 1890, accompanied by a huge number of citizens, was transported to the parterre garden. Installation on the pedestal of the statue weighing 11.5 tons took about 5 hours. This new year's eve was the most significant in the history of the city. After that, the monument was completed for another year and a half. The monument was inaugurated on July 20, 1891. On the pedestal you can read: "Entro vencedor en Valencia, liberandola del yugo musulman, el dia de San Dionisio. 9 de octubre de 1.238" - "the Victor entered Valencia, having freed it from the Muslim yoke, on the day of Saint Dionysius, October 9, 1238". Now this day is celebrated as the main holiday of the city.

The king's helmet is decorated with a dragon, one of the symbols of the Aragonese crown. The same dragon sat above the coat of arms of Valencia until 1503, when it was replaced by a bat. Legend has it that when the king was besieged in Valencia, this winged creature sat on his helmet.

In the corner of the garden is the fountain of Neptune (Fuente de Neotuno on the map) by Giacomo Antonio Ponzanelli. Like his other work, the Triton fountain, originally installed in the garden of Glorieta, was moved to the parterre garden in 1960.

Like Ponacelli's other work, the Triton fountain, the Neptune fountain was originally installed in the garden of Glorieta, located across the street, in 1960 it was moved to the parterre garden.

During the new year holidays, a tent with African exotics is located in the garden.

The Park is surrounded by a large number of interesting buildings.

On the North side of the Park is the facade of a wonderful house in the style of Valencian art Nouveau.

To the right of it is another house, with Windows decorated with openwork patterns.

The building opposite is crowned by a tower made of figured iron.

Another art Nouveau house on the southwest corner of the square. Here there is a full set of styles - both lattices with fancy patterns, and vegetable bas-reliefs and curved shapes.