¡Vámonos!

Best known as “La Peineta” (“side comb”) for its resemblance to the Spanish ornamental comb, the Calatrava Bridge was designed by world-renowned Valencia architect Santiago Calatrava.
Photo by Vicente Villanueva

The 2008–2009 academic year marks the 25th anniversary of the University of Virginia Hispanic Studies Program in Valencia. All program alumni and their loved ones are invited to Silver Celebration festivities in Valencia Oct.9–11. “We sincerely hope we can count on seeing all of our alumni in Valencia this fall,” says program director Fernando Operé.

“It will be a wonderful opportunity for us to be together and for our alumni to relive memories of their study abroad experience, see their former classmates and the Spanish friends they made in Valencia, too.”

U.Va. President John T. Casteen III will attend, along with full program staff. Lots of cultural and leisure activities are planned, says Operé: talks, concerts, tours—and paellas and tapas.

Valencia itself has undergone change over the past 10 years, he says, and program alumni will enjoy taking in the new as well as revisiting spots they frequented as students, including La Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, the new America’s Cup Port facilities and Barrio del Carmen. “It will definitely bring back fond memories,” he says.

For more information, to register and to book travel, click here.