La Glorieta y El Parterre

La Glorieta and El Parterre form the oldest romantic garden in central València, laid out in the early 19th century. They are two adjoining small gardens beside the Palace of Justice and a short walk from the Cathedral, known for their enormous monumental ficus trees with aerial roots, listed as protected trees. Walking beneath their huge canopies, right in the city centre, catches most visitors off guard.

History

The garden was laid out in the early 1800s as the city's first public landscaped promenade, in romantic style. The ficus trees arrived mid-century: according to local tradition, they were planted almost by accident among the magnolias set out around 1852. Today they are giants over 150 years old that have survived wars and floods.

What to see

• The Glorieta ficus, with colossal trunks and roots snaking across the ground.
• The ficus of El Parterre, the most monumental of all, a survivor of the 1857 flood.
• The equestrian statue of James I, at the centre of the Parterre.
• Fountains and 19th-century cast-iron benches.

Practical tips

Entry is free, right in the centre (metro Colón). It's open during the day; go in soft light to catch the play of shadows under the canopies.

CURIOSITY: gardeners once braided aerial roots of one of the ficus with coconut fibre and compost, guiding them down to be buried in the soil to reinforce the tree, a small piece of botanical engineering that almost no one notices in passing. It's close to the Silk Exchange and the Colón Market, so it pairs well with a walk through the old town following our guide to what to do in València. More green corners under places.