Valencia, Spain - Ceramic Museum (settle in, it's a long one)

 Into Valencia by bus this morning, but this time we didn't go all the way to the bus station, got off at the Torres de Serrano.

They were building scaffolding at the Gate and I asked the waiter (where we had a coffee and chocolate croissant) what was going on. He said that the Fallas Celebration would be starting on Sunday and fireworks would be held here at 7pm.

 

I took this for my niece, Heather, who fell in love with Vespas when visiting me in Mallorca. 

We made our way from the Serrano Gate

through the Plaza of the Virgin (which was really busy today)

The church was open so

we popped in to take a look.

Ceiling.

Came out on the other side and there was a cordoned off area, mass of people and equipment.

We think they were making a commercial for

Turia Beer.

Snack cart for the crew.

I think I have taken this shot every time I have come down this street.

Our destination

the Ceramic Museum.

The National Museum of Ceramics and Decorative Arts González Martí pays tribute to a craft deeply rooted in Valencia. You will find not only colourful Valencian tiles, but also the largest national ceramics collection, ranging from 8th-century pieces to designs by artists such as Picasso.

As impressive as the collection is the building that houses it: the Palace of the Marqués de Dos Aguas. This former 18th-century ancestral home features opulent eclectic-style rooms, combining everything from Rococo elements to Chinoiserie motifs following successive renovations. Its stunning Baroque alabaster façade will leave you speechless.from visitvalencia.com

The large glass doors take you into a covered courtyard. The ticket booth was here (3 Euro) and lockers (1 Euro) as you can't take in backpacks.

 

The carriages would have come in here

and their passengers would then have come into this grand entrance way.

Two, impressive

carriages

were on display.

Upstairs

ceramics were displayed either chronologically or by area of origin.

Although I was interested in them, often I was more drawn to the rooms and furnishings of the palace itself.

Some were displayed in front of mirrors so the back was visible too.

Every piece had a number and description in Spanish but each room had laminated pages in other languages with (very brief) identification.

Painted walls and borders,

marble inlay or

tiled floors and 

elaborate 

ceilings kept pulling my eyes.

The Romans were into decorated ceramics but ceramics as an art form faded

until the Moors took over the area and 

ceramic art was revitalized

and Spanish ceramics came into their own.

Displayed so you can see the back in the mirror.

The top floor was an exhibition of work by a modern ceramic artist and I didn't care for it and took no pictures.

While I had been ogling ceramics and palace decor, Rick had wandered the old city and the market, saying it was much busier this week. We met up again and headed for the tapas bar we had found with Gord. It had good tapas and reasonable prices.

Unfortunately it was closed for renovations. Hope they hurry up as we would like to take Nic and Dave there. We found another place and shared a salad and drinks.

Then made our way, through

the streets and

Turia gardens

to the Serrano Gate to catch our bus home.