The painted azulejo tiles and ceramic detail that decorate the facades, doorways and street signs of Valencia, a craft with deep roots in the region of Manises and Paterna.
Street sign on Plaza de Beneyto y Coll doubled as a local falla plaque, with traditional Valencian themes on the left and the falla emblem in the top right cornerStreet sign on Calle Palomino (Carmen) in traditional style. In the top left corner is a symbol indicating that this street belongs to the falla-community of Plaza del Angel, and in the top right corner you can see the emblem of Valencia with national colours and the bat over the crownA commemorative street plaque for the 100 years of falla Serranos-Furs, the area of Torres de Serranos as you can see on the pictureA plaque indicating the casal-faller (meeting house of the falla-community ) of the Serranos - Plaza de los Fueros. Very typical fallas symbolism in the image.A street plaque in Ruzafa, on the wall of a church where King Jaime I signed the rendition of Valencia to the Christians with the Moorish king Zayyan in 1238. In the top centre you can see the emblem of king Jaime - his very characteristic swan-shaped helmet.A sign on a church in the maritime area of Cabanyal, dedicated to the Mother of God of the AngelsA ceramic panel in the Old Town, on the wall of a church, depicting Archangel Michael defeating the dragon.Another decorative panel on the streets of the Centro, created in typical Manises style and holding traditional national Valencian symbolism.An ancient ceramic depiction of the crusifixion on one of Carmen's old walls. On the bottom there is a verse - a strange mixture of Valenciano and Latin from the Middle AgesAnother very ancient ceramic panel dating as far back as 14th century and situated between Plaza de la Reina and Mercado Central. This one depicts daily scenes from the lives of Medieval nobility of ValenciaA very colourful 18th century ceramic panel depicting La Purisima (The Purest). The inserts on the bottom and by the sides of the Virgin are symbols typical of late Baroque symbolism.The plaque on Calle San Juan de Hospital is very interesting, combining the inner core in the style of simper Gothic Valencian ceramic style, and the outer rim in a more exhuberant and colourful Manises style.This very rich panel depicts Our Lady of the Forsaken (Nuestra Senora de los Desamparados), and is situated on the back wall of the Basilica de los Desamparados - the Baroque basilica on Plaza de la Virgin where this most revered statue is kept during the year.An example of Moorish ceramics from the epoch of Muslim domination of Valencia. Courtesy of the Museum of CeramicsAn incredible 18th century ceramic piece for interior decoration - relief of Virgin Mary with Jesus, framed in a rich and colourful assortment of typical Valencian gifts of the land. Courtesy of the Museum of CeramicsA Biblical scene is depicted on this wall panel. Courtesy of the Museum of CeramicsThis stunning amphora is over a metre in height and never fails to impress as an example of what could be done with ceramics. The level of detail is unbelievable.Courtesy of the Museum of CeramicsCabanyal being a traditional maritime district, originally a fisherman village, many of the houses still sport sea scenes, such as the ceramic plates on top of these two houses, depicting boats at sea.Some of the most spectacular practical uses of Valencian ceramics can be seen at the district of Cabanyal by the beach. Many of the houses here have facades done almost solely from Valencian ceramicsThe ceramics in Valencian construction tradition are not just decorative. many houses have ceramic interior walls or floors. This helps with the hot climate - the ceramics keep the interior pleasantly cool in the summer.Many houses in Valencia, and particularly in Cabanyal, might not use the ceramics over the whole facade, but will at least use a decorative element in places.The plate over the door of this house indicates that this is the HQ of the Coproracion de Longinos - one of the Semana Santa brotherhoods . The Holy Week celebrations of Valencia take place in Cabanyal and the whole district is covered with ceramic plates indicating a certain function of the particular building during the festivities.The use of ceramics for decoration of facades of the houses has grown into such a unique form of local art that it even warranted a study by a team of Japanese scientists.Cabanyal is quite a large district and there isn't really a place where the best of the best is concentrated. You can see some good examples on Calle de la Reina (the main street of the district), especially its Northern end, or you could just walk around closer to the beach where you will see some very interesting randomly located buildings.The ceramic tiles used on facades of the Cabanyal houses tend to be much smaller in size than the traditional street signs etc in the centre, creating an impression of seamless work of art.This is a spectacular example of traditional ceramics - the facade of the horchateria (a place where you drink horchata - a typical Valencian tiger nut milk) off Plaza de la Reina by the Sta Catalina tower. On the right hand side is the image of El Micalet - the Cathedral bell tower, and on the left hand side is Sta Catalina tower . The locals call them husband and wife.On the facade of the cafe just opposite of the Horchateria Sta Catalina there is another good example of typical ceramic art - a woman dressed in traditional Valencian costume.Ceramics are everywhere - this incredible sample is in a very residential neighourhood, on the facade of a baker's. A traditionally dressed Valencian woman fries bunyoles (typical Valencian donuts) on the background of a country house.This wall panel in the chapel of San Vicente depicts the Medieval theme of King Jaime's entry into Valencia in 1238, after the surrender by the Moors.A ceramic panel dedicated to San Vicente Ferrer - the patron Saint of Valencia, with his characteristic finger pointed to the sky and scenes of his miracle-doing on the sides. In the corners is episcopal symbolism of ValenciaAnother decorative ceramic plate on the streets of Valencia, depicting a christening of a child by a bishopA niche on a wall of a church surrounded by typical Valencian ceramic art.A street sign of Plaza de Manises. Many street signs in Valencia are done in ceramics and this particular one is even more symbolic - as the traditional style is frequently assigned to the village of Manises.Valencians are quite passionate about their balconies, often decorating them, especially during fiestas. Not suprising, many are decorated with traditional Valencian ceramics.A close-up of a traditional Valencian ceramic decoration on a balcony of a building.
