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Considered by many intellectuals as an Italy graft in the
Iberian Peninsula –the Renaissance enters into Spain
through Valencia- the country of Valencians requires
a slow learning. One will never end up fully understanding it, as is the case of almost all Italian regions.
Mediterranean, festive, bustling, Valencia struggles to overcome the darkest years of its recent
history. The engine of the Spanish rampant economy in the first decade of 2000, the region of
Valencia has evolved into a caricature of itself
and a symbol of some of the major excesses that
characterized the Spanish crisis in recent years.
A controversial vision, unfair and abusive, despite it contains elements of truth.
The primitive austere building of Saint Nicholas
parish, built in the 13th Century, was reconverted
into a Gothic style church and ornately decorated
at the initiative of Borja family (Italianised Borgia).
This happened in the 15th Century, at the time of
Valencia’s greatest splendor; in the Century of the
First Globalization Pope’s -the Valencian Alexander VI- who divided the World into two oceanic
areas of influence (Treaty of Tordesillas between
Castile and Portugal). Over time, the Gothic evolved
into Baroque in a new twist.

Cheerful, festive, irreverent, in the “leaden years” of
the Cold War, the Soviet Union bought more than 6
million kilos of Valencia oranges in 1950 (4.7 millions
East Germany, 4 million Czechoslovakia, 1 million
Poland, etc.). Valencians were nearly the only Westerners, together with the Italians and their Fiats,
who managed to pierce the iron curtain with a cargo
of oranges on their shoulders. Valencia, Italian city.
Many miracles are attributed to Saint Nicholas, known
as Saint Nicholas of Myra in the East (on account of his
place of death) and as Saint Nicholas of Bari in the Western nations (on account where his mortal remains can
be found to this day). His figure is remarkable in the
Christian world because has given rise to the myth of
Santa Claus. In the Italian city of Bari exists a widespread popular devotion to him, as do in Valencia. Parishioners will continue praying but under more luster.
Valencia is rediscovering its place on the world in the
midst of a tremendous economic, social and political
turmoil. The final result of Saint Nicholas Church restoration’s made Valencians feel proud and contributed
to return a bit of their self-esteem lost in recent years.
It seems Valencia has initiated a reverse path, more
Gothic and less Baroque. Perhaps Valencians learnt
the lesson. Or perhaps Saint Nicholas is acting again. n

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