Valencia is blessed with numerous parks and gardens; extensive green-grass areas that beautify the urban landscape and provide a location for friends to gather, relax and enjoy the sunshine.
Other parks and gardens well worth a visit are: the Jardines del Real, (also known as Jardines de Viveros), la Alameda, los Jardines de Monforte, the Jardín Botánico, the Glorieta and the Parterre, although there are many more. All are made for rest and relaxation; places where you can discover and marvel at the fountains, sculptures and monuments of the city.
The dried-out river bed running through the heart of the city has been converted into the Jardín del Turia a huge park with excellent sports and recreational facilities. Some of the most important museums, monuments and points of tourist interest are found along the banks of the park, making it a real "River of culture".
The enormous variety of plants that flourish in the excellent climate and a long floral tradition are the reasons why Valencia is often known as the city of flowers and light.
