Exposicion Primitives The golden age of Portuguese painting 1450-1550 in Valencia

AurigaCrown Car Hire offers their clients ideas on different events and places to visit during their stay in Spain. In this article some insights into Valencia and the exposition on the golden age of Portuguese painting.

The exposition ¨Primitive. The golden age of Portuguese painting. 1450-1550¨ aims to raise awareness for Portuguese painting on canvas of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The exhibition includes a selection of 48 works from various collections of the neighbouring country, among which are some of the most beautiful altarpieces of the period, along with other less known works.

At this exposition, we witness the birth of the modern Portuguese art at its most original expression: oil painting on canvas. In the Age of the Discoveries, these artists were able to translate - with high technical quality and visual inventiveness full of charm - this new world of adventures and conquests, in which Portugal interrupts the international panorama with unprecedented energy.

Masters like Nuno Gonçalves, Graô Vasco, Jorge Afonso or Cristóvão de Figueiredo elaborated mostly  religious themes. But although describing heaven or hell, their stories are found in earthly scenes inhabited by humanity. Their richness is driven by the narrative fantasy, the realism of the faces and the taste for anecdotes, offal, objects, ornaments ...

Organized by the National Museum of Ancient Art in Lisbon and the Museum Association of San Gregorio, it is a reference exhibition as it is the first time that the early Portuguese are presented outside their own country.

We can enjoy this exposition at the Museum of Fine Arts in Valencia, an excellent selection of these paintings of our neighbouring country. Of course here we can also see the museum´s exceptional collection of Gothic and Renaissance paintings from Valencia. We must not forget also that much of the period covered by this amazing exposition, titled  ¨The golden age of Portuguese painting 1450-1550¨ is exactly the  period of greatest cultural wealth in our history, both in the arts and literature, also known as "The Valencian Golden Age".

It is a unique opportunity to directly compare differences and similarities between what was done in both kingdoms or collate the various sources of influence from other cultures, you will surely discover new and interesting aspects looking from a scientific point of view .

Dates: 2 November 2011 - January 8, 2012
Venue: Museo de Bellas Artes Pio V Valencia, Sala Joanes
San Pio V, 9 - 46010 Valencia

Curators: Jose Alberto Seabra Carvalho (deputy director of the National Museum of Ancient Art in Lisbon) and Joaquim Oliveira Caetano (painting conservative National Ancient Art Museum of Lisbon)
Organized by: Ministry of Culture. Generalitat Valenciana

Apart from the exposition there is of course a lot more to enjoy in and around Valencia: the beaches, nature parks, the old city centre, more musuems, etc. All is within easy reach with your rental car. AurigaCrown Car Hire conveniently has an office directly at Valencia airport, reserve your car with us and enjoy this great tournament and the surroundings of Valencia.

JAZZ ROOTS IN VALENCIA: TRAMUNTANA

AurigaCrown Car Hire offers their clients ideas on different events and places to visit during their stay in Spain. In this article some insights into Valencia and a series of Jazz Roots organized in the botanic garden.

Botanical Jazz or ¨Jazz Roots¨ is a journey through the fusion of jazz with other styles organized in collaboration with the musical group Sedajazz.

The roots of a tree are essential parts for its development: this way it absorbs the nutrients that make it grow and its appearance and vigour of its growth depends on them. Likewise, jazz digs its roots in different musical areas. The Jazz Roots cycle want to teach the listener in a didactic way, such as through jazz, in itself music with roots, fused with other styles to give rise to music with its own character.

On November 12th Tramuntana will play Valencian folk and jazz. Under the umbrella of Jazz, an infinit number of traditional music is hidden, one of them is the Mediterranean style jazz. A good example of a typical Valencian instrument is the esteemed dolçaina that characterizes the sound of the band Tramuntana that interprets jazz language issues. A musical Valencian fusion project that will perform on November 12th at the auditorium Joan Plaza del Botánico with as a special guest saxophonist Santandreu Jesus.

The Tramuntana band exists of:  Pasqual Salort - dolçaina, Jesus Santandreu - tenor sax, Oscar Cortes - Bass, Hector Valero - Keyboards & Piano, Patricio Sozzi - Battery.

Practical Information:The Cycle 2011 Jazz at the Botanical: Jazz d´arrels: Tramuntana  will be playing on Saturday November 12th 2011 at 19:30h JOAN Plaza AUDITORIUM

Tickets cost €3 and can be purchased at Available the Garden box office as from the October 29, from 10.00 till 19.00h

QUART, 80
46008 VALENCIA
Telephone: 96.315.68.00
Fax: 96.315.68.26
e-mail: cicbotanic@uv.es
Url: http://www.jardibotanic.org

Apart from the Jazz Roots concert, Valencia itself is a fascinating city, a blend of architectures from Moorish to Modern, and a vibrant atmosphere: a great place to spend some extra days. The commodity of a rental car will easily get you in and around the city. AurigaCrown Car Hire has an office at Valencia airport, so pick up upon arrival is very easy. Please check our website for more information and prices on rental cars.

Valencia Open 500 - 2011

AurigaCrown Car Hire offers their clients ideas on different events and places to visit during their stay in Spain. In this article some insights into Valencia and the Valencia Open 500.

The 17th edition of the "Valencia Open 500"  tennis tournament will be held from October 29th to November 6th, 2011, in the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain. The world's best players have a date this season  with the city of Valencia.

The tournament will have a total of 12 sessions, three of which are nocturnal. On Thursday and Friday evening the nocturnal sessions will begin at 20pm and will contain two matches: one singles and one doubles. On Saturday the matches  will start at 18pm displaying one singles, one doubles and one wheelchair match.

The tournament is an ATP competition including individual category (32 players) and doubles (16 pairs). It will also host the third edition of the wheelchair tournament.

The names of the players who will play the Valencia Open 500 2011 will be published at the beginning of the tournament.

The Agora building will become the tennis  meeting point from October 29th to November 6th. For the second year in a row, the main court of the tournament will be constructed inside this building, it will have a capacity of 6075 spectators, far more than last year.

Located a few meters from the Pont de l'Assut de l 'Or, the centrepiece of the City of Arts and Sciences which was designed by the Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava. The interior states a covered, public square, with a diaphanous floor. Furthermore, the covered  area  has almost 5,000 square meters and the exterior part consists of panels with blue tones. The surface of the Centre Court will again consist of acrylic fibre on wood, which includes this tournament in the highest category to be played in Spain on fast court.

How to get there? The A-7 motorway and the N-340 surround the Valencian community  from North to South. The A-3 Motorway connects Valencia with Madrid. The National road 234 connects Valencia with Aragón, Castilla-León and the Northern part of the Peninsula.

Furthermore, the tournament has a shopping and entertainment zone: the FUN PARK will be located next to the Agora and will open its doors to welcome tennis fans as well as the general public. The entrance to the FUN PARK complex is free, you only need to present your ticket to access the courts.

This edition will also have activities for children, so that little ones also enjoy the tournament, at the KIDS FUN PARK.

Apart from the tournament there is of course a lot more to enjoy in and around Valencia: the beaches, nature parks, museums, etc. All is within easy reach with your rental car. Auriga Crown Car Hire conveniently has an office directly at Valencia airport, reserve your car with us and enjoy this great tournament and the surroundings of Valencia.

 

V National Soccer Volley Tournament in Valencia

AurigaCrown Car Hire offers their clients ideas on different events and places to visit during their stay in Spain. Providing options for visits that are within easy reach with a rental car, nice routes, places to visit and from where to start. In this article some tips when visiting Valencia and its surroundings.

Malvarrosa beach, considered the most popular beach in Valencia, offers the V National Soccer Volley Tournament, on July 23rd and 24th, a great competition on a unique beach on the Valencian beach Malvarrosa.

The wide and open beach with fine golden sand, has a lively appearance, complementing the attraction of the tournament. An event certainly worth visiting, with the best Spanish soccer volley players, international referees and an unequalled place. Do not miss the opportunity to enjoy one of the most spectacular sports!

This year, sports fans have the dates of the V Soccer Volley Tournament marked in their agendas. The Malvarrosa beach that has had many improvements during the last years: beach volleyball nets, swings and other attractions have been installed and there are better accesses for older people. It has its own parking area, lifeguard and rescue (first aid) services.

From here you can easily get also to other highly recommended places, like the zone of Patacona, famous for warm beach.  Patacona beach has changed a lot in the last years: from a traditional to a very modern and functional place. It is also very close to the town Alboraya, on the Valencian coast in the horchata area.

There are large restaurants on the promenade, improved accesses and services. It also has improved lighting and walking area so that the visitor can also enjoy the facilities at night. A lot of sand and good quality sea water. The part that is dedicated to leisure activities is one the best in Valencia, because of the many ¨horchaterías¨ and restaurants. For this reason, and for many more, Malvarrosa Beach has been chosen as the site for the V Soccer Volley Tournament 2011, for sports and entertainment. A spectacular beach, do not miss it!

How to get there? The beach is just minutes from downtown Valencia, so you can easily reach the Malvarrosa beach. Apart from the marvellous beaches, you can enjoy of course many more sights in and around Valencia. In Valencia city you can visit the famous science park, the fancy port area, enjoy the animated nightlife, shopping, the gastronomy and further the surrounding areas with nature reserves and places to relax. AurigaCrown Car Hire conveniently has its office directly at Valencia airport, and from there all sites are within easy reach. Please check our website for more information on rental cars, fleet and prices.

La Tomatina

AurigaCrown Car Hire offers their clients ideas on different events and places to visit during their stay in Spain. Providing options for visits that are within easy reach with a rental car, nice routes, places to visit and from where to start. In this article some tips for visiting Valencia and its surroundings.

At 40 minutes from Valencia city we find the town Buñol, famous for its popular festival ¨La Tomatina¨. The festival is especially popular among young people that invade the small town for an almighty tomato fight, where participants throw tomatoes at each other. This year the festival is held on Wednesday August 31st.

The origin of the Tomatina dates back to 1944 when, as is said, when some disguised people came by, those who had not been able to join, began a battle with the participants and both ended up throwing vegetables at each other. The tomato fight was repeated the following year and after several permissions and prohibitions Tomatina was established as an official festival in 1959.

Later, when the festival was broadcasted on television, the Tomatina became popular throughout the whole country. For several years the council pays for tomatoes that are released during the battle, and with the large number of participants, they need about 125.000 kilos of them!

The festivities begin the night before and overnight the population of the village quadruples, in the morning there is a breakfast at the main square and by 11am a 30.000-strong army has prepared for action. Five bulbous, tomato-packed rockets are sent into the sky and the masses start their fight - it's every man and woman for themselves.

There are very few rules in La Tomatina: it is compulsory to squish your tomato before throwing it into the red blur of the crowd, other projectiles are not allowed. You don´t have to worry about running out of ammunition as ripe fruit is being brought in by trucks. Participants have two hours to hurl at thousands of enemies.

The aftermath of La Tomatina puts any blood-injected, horror-film set to shame. Don't count on recognising your friends in the red blur. Within hours, though, the town is transformed back to its normal condition.

A nice opportunity though to get rid of accumulated stress, plus the fact that the liquid of tomatoes is an excellent skin treatment, the Tomatina may be a good way to relax. Of course there is much more to do and see in and around Valencia. The city of Valencia offers an extensive amount of sights and experiences like the science park, the luxurious port area, the nice beaches, the old town, the lively nightlife, shopping, the famous Valencian gastronomy and surrounding areas like the nature reserve ¨La Albufera¨, ¨Sagunto¨ a Moorish citadel and ¨Alto Turia¨ an attractive valley great for picknicks and also an important vine-growing area. The commodity of a rental car will easily get you to all places. AurigaCrown has an office at Valencia airport so you can conveniently pick up your car directly upon arrival. Please check our website for more information on rental cars, fleet and prices.