Geldo is a village just half an hour’s drive from the north Valencian and Castellon coast. Otherwise unremarkable, it hosts a fabulous collections of murals making it the ideal place for a morning or afternoon stroll admiring these works of art.
There is a map to help you find your way around, which I have posted here, but I found it much easier using the interactive map on Wikiloc. It’s not ideal, but using this we did manage to find every mural, although we didn’t wander down to the one at the sports centre.
Each mural has a QR code with it allowing you to learn more about both the picture and its artist. Surprisingly it’s only in Spanish. I did expect Valenciano too! No English though, so have a dictionary handy. Unfortunately the website assiociated with this does not allow you to simpy hop from mural to mural virtually: you have to scan every code! The alternative is to amend the number in the URL to the number of the mural on the map above! I’m sure you’ll agree that’s a cumbersome process. Here’s a link to the information about the mural below so you can see what I mean. https://www.elevha.net/geldo/mural/09/
It represents the evolution over time that we individuals have, and how our vision of the environment changes.
The subjects of the murals on the trail are quite varied and I’m sure you will find your own favourite as you view them all.
One mural, however, does not appear on the trail map! Entitled “Illustrious Women”, it shows the faces of nine high achieving women. Some are internationally known, whilst others have achieved great things in Spain. From left to right, they are Rosa Parks (American civil rights activist), Purificación Escribano (Spanish chemist and professor), Clara Campoamor (Spanish lawyer and politician who promoted women’s suffrage in the country), Marie Curie (Polish-French scientist who discovered radioactivity), Anna Lluch (Spanish oncologist and leader in breast cancer research), Frida Kahlo (Mexican painter), Pilar Mateo (Spanish scientist and world leader in the fight to end endemic disease due to poverty), María Zembrano (Spanish essayist and philosopher), and Valentina Tereshkova (Russian cosmonaut and the first woman in space).
New murals are being added so keep a look out for an artist in action.
There are other murals around the village. On the walls of the school you’ll find a fine collection of images. A wide variety of subjects are tackled there.
Other artistic touches can be found if you keep your eyes peeled. It could be a cool beaded curtain, an interesting piece of knitting on a tree, or even a strange face on a drainpipe!!
As you can see, there’s plenty to keep you occupied. Let me know in the comments if you visit. I’d love to know your thoughts.
