Urban planning of the city of Valencia around the Turia: lessons for resilience

Abstract

Analysis of historical cartography provides key insights into Valencia’s changing landscape and its response to extreme weather events such as isolated high altitude depressions (DANA). Over time, the city has undergone major transformations to manage flood risks, with the diversion of the Turia in the 1960s being a pivotal intervention. Originally designed to prevent flooding, this project has since become a model for sustainable urban planning, leading to the creation of iconic spaces such as the Turia Gardens. Nevertheless, the 2024 floods revealed weaknesses in urban planning, particularly in the city’s Southern areas, where rapid growth has heightened vulnerability to extreme weather. This raises concerns about the effectiveness of pre-existing strategies in addressing climate change and urban expansion. These recent events highlight crucial lessons for strengthening urban resilience and developing strategies aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensuring a more sustainable and better-prepared approach to environmental challenges in the future.