It is indisputable that Valencia enjoys an incomparable light, its warm climate throughout the year makes it a city of the outside, with its terraces and parks, with a continuous transit of people… But it has not always been like this, there was a time when the city had a gray and dismal atmosphere.
The oldest trade in the world
Centuries ago (concretely in the IVX), it existed in Valencia the biggest brothel of Europe, known as «The population of the fembres pecadrius». It was an area on the outskirts of the wall, and therefore of the city, which concentrated the prostitution and sinful practices of Valencia. Where bartenders and innkeepers met, thus giving all the services to those who traveled the area. His fame grew and became a compulsory pilgrimage for the most lustful.
Executions, gibbons…
Many of the most emblematic squares of the city that are now a must visit, yesteryear were meeting areas where condemnations were imposed on the vandals.
It was the case of the Market Square (now Central Market), where the gallows was placed and with it was prevented the population from committing any crime, and if this occurred, the hanging was public. On the other hand, if the defendant belonged to the nobility, the place of the Virgin was reserved for this place, where he beheaded the executed and therefore, according to his status, to give him a faster and less agonizing death.
And so with a large number of sites of the city: the old river bed, the square of the Almoina or the Botanical Garden.
About killers
Pilar Paredes happened to be known as the poisoner of Valencia. And the facts thus corroborated. Pilar poisoned to death the owner of the house in which she served, the intention was to finish with the owner and thus take her place. Be the widow’s new wife and inherit the house. But nothing went well. After the death of the housewife, Pilar found herself on the street, without work and without husband. Over time, she returned to the role of maid and to set the march the plan that had previously failed. She did not murder her two new targets: the mistress of the house and a friend. Before she could kill the two women by poisoning, she was arrested and convicted, thus taking the «merit» of being the last woman executed with a vile club.
Valencia has a lot of history, and not all of it is nice to remember, but it is real. One more reason to know our city and see from another perspective the more emblematic sites of the city. If you are thinking about spending time in Valencia, we recommend you to visit CaminArt where they organice cultural visits around the city, visiting monuments, streets, squares and corners that hide a piece of history, every visit is thematized and theatrical. A different way to travel the streets of the city transporting you in time.
