Valencia. New year's morning. Squares and streets of the Old town

After leaving Castellon de La Plana, on the last day of 2013, I arrived in Valencia, the center of the region of the same name. I was already here in may of this year, staying at the pension El Rincon, located in the Old town, a block from the Central market, a very convenient place, so this time I booked a room there. After checking into the hotel, I went for a walk around the new year's eve city. It was already dark, nothing of note was happening in the streets, and there were few people in the streets. Approaching the Cathedral, I found that the entrance was free (in the afternoon 5 euros), as there was a new year's mass. I looked in there and stayed until the end of the action, as it turned out to be quite an interesting sight. Before the trip, I studied a little Spanish, so I caught the meaning of the sermon-it was read in an ordinary understandable language and was devoted to everyday interpersonal relations and even domestic problems. The temple was full, people of all ages were present, and there were many families that included 3-4 generations. Most of them clearly understood the message, and it was clear that visiting the temples was not an empty formality or a matter of tradition for the Spaniards. After that, it was something like a procession of the whole society around the altar, in which I also had to participate, as well as shake hands and wish happiness to my neighbors. After the end of mass in the Cathedral, I went to the town hall square, and on the way looked into the Cathedral of St. Maty - and again stayed there for a long time. Chants to a guitar trio - this is something I've never seen before. So the new year's eve party was held, there were no mass celebrations.

Early in the morning, I went for a walk through the completely empty streets of the new year's city, starting with the Plaza de La Reina.

The rising sun turned the top of the Cathedral tower pink

and the bell tower of St. Catalina's Church.

Then I went to the square of the Patriarchal College (Plaza del Colegio del Patriarca), which overlooks one of the facades of the complex of the Royal Seminary (College). The establishment was founded in 1553, in 1604 it was consecrated and opened by king Felipe III.

The other side of the square is formed by the building of the University of Valencia. Oranges at the feet of St. Nicholas Valentine's day is the only thing I've noticed from the aftermath of new year's eve. The streets were as usual very clean, not at all like January 1 in our cities. At this early hour, only curious Chinese tourists wandered around the old city, for whom the European New year is also not a holiday.

Walking along the Carrer Salva, at the corner of the Carrer de La Universitat, you can see a monumental water-collecting column, which can be taken for a masterpiece of cast iron casting. In fact, there is no water to collect here, this design is a toilet cubicle.

Nearby, on the Carrer Pintor Sorolla you can see a couple of buildings of interesting architecture.

The Bankinter building is a remarkable example of early modernism.

The city is still asleep, there is almost no traffic, but it was possible to safely capture a rare "Citroen" - seeing the lens pointed at it, the owner even graciously slowed down. Such machines can be seen only in the deep province and not in such a wonderful state.