On 22 May 2011 at 12pm, we organized a guided tour through the Centro del Carmen (C/Museo 2, Valencia). Our active member Quino Arnau together with professor José Luís Baró, presented the exhibition “Fabular edificando_ la obra de José María Manuel Cortina” to us which they prepared.

José María Manuel Cortina (Valencia, 1868-1950), reknown architect from Valencia at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century was recognised as municipal architect of Valencia from 1892 onwards, being involved in numerious architectural projects in the Ensanche barrio among others. He worked for a variety of religious institutions and upper class Valencians, constructing very different types of houses such as residential buildings, holiday houses, pantheones or restoring them. Some of his buildings are recognised among the most relevant architecture of the city of Valencia today. In addition, he received various important architecture prizes.

The exhibition took place at the recently restored Refectorio del antiguo Convento del Carmen and was comprised of maps, showcases, photography and other interesting objects showing 19th and 20th century life in Valencia. Cortina developed his own style and is easily recognizable through the dragons and gargoyles on this buildings.