University Students’ Perceptions of the Inner Cities of Murcia and Valencia

Murcia and Valencia are two medium-sized cities of 443,243 and 787,808 residents respectively (Spanish National Statistical Institute 2017) located in the SE of Spain (Fig. 1) and have not been previously compared on perception issues. They are both in flat fertile orchards. Murcia has not stopped its population increase, but Valencia’s has slowed down since 2010. Both cities are crossed by a traditionally dry riverbed, in Murcia the Segura and in Valencia the Turia.

Fig. 1

The adaptation of the Lynch model (1960) to different cities is not new. It has been used in the Spanish cities of Madrid (Bailly 1979), Segovia (García Ballesteros, Bosque Sendra 1989), Ourense (Somoza Medina 2005), Yecla (Morales 2012), A Coruña (González et al. 2015), Valencia (Morales 2015). Other cities such as Bordeaux (Escobar 1992), Bristol (Kelly, Kelly 2001), Sheffield (Shokouhi 2003), Tel Aviv (Casakin, Omar 2008), Armindale, New South Wales, Australia (Walmsley, Lewis 2014), have also being analysed under the Lynch model.

The five elements in Lynch’s way (1960) of building the image of a city are: –

landmarks, specific points of reference, highlights on the map: buildings, monuments, stores or other geographical features;

Pocock and Hudson (1978) simplify these visual elements reducing them to three: punctual, linear aspects and areas into which it is possible to integrate Lynch’ categories (Table 1) and that are related to the vector model widely used today in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and digital cartography.

The valued and preferential approaches, which refer to the appreciative dimension of the perception of the city, were done following Gould and White (1974). They considered very practical the ordinal scale (where 1 is the first chosen neighbourhood and n the last preference). They showed that too many elements to choose from would fatigue respondents. Thus, we have used 1 to 5 elements. This type of study, in which a questionnaire to choose the preferred neighbourhoods, municipalities or provinces has been carried out for several Spanish cities such as Malaga province (Oliva 1982), Malaga municipality (Lázaro y Torres 1990) and Toledo (Zárate 1986), and the urban neighbourhoods of Rome (Bonaiuto et al. 1999). This study has been organized not only considering preferences on neighbourhood, but also other issues related to satisfaction of students in being living in those cities. For these reason two questions were considered: what they think they would miss if they leave the city and what they would you like to show to other visitors.

The concept of sense of place shows the perceptions from the relationship between humans and their environment, focused on the feelings that a space evokes among the citizens who live there on a day-to-day basis. One of the main authors is Tuan (1974) who provides a focus of the evaluative space in relation to feelings: topophilia (solid and affective bonds); topophobia (aversion, fear, rejection); topolatry (reverential and mythical character); toponegligence (indifference to the place).

The main paths, nodes and landmarks of Murcia are delimited in a very significant way by students’ sketches (Figs 2 and 3).

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

They identify the historic centre and other spaces that are part of the collective memory of the citizens. 87% of the respondents identify the main axes or traffic of the city and draw them. All of them identify the Gran Vía of Salzillo as the most remarkable path of the city. The Segura river or the main traffic axes are edges of the city. The most important landmarks (Fig. 4) are the Cathedral and surroundings, and also Los Milagros Bridge.

Fig. 4

The most important nodes are the Round Plaza (Plaza Redonda), the Bus Station or La Fuensanta square, where a series of first-class streets converge, such as Gran Vía, Avenue of Liberty (Avda. Libertad), Jaime I or Avenue of the Constitution (Avda. Constitución). We summarize in Table 2 data from respondents according to Lynch’s categories (1960).

The landmarks perceived in Valencia according survey results are the City of Arts and Sciences (Ciudad de las Ciencias, whose official name is Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències), the most important landmark, followed by the Cathedral and surroundings, the Town Hall, North Railway Station and Bullring (Fig. 5).

Fig. 5

Students identify the historic centre in the urban area and also other spaces that are part of the collective memory of the citizens. They drew the main borders, paths, nodes and landmarks of Valencia (Figs 6 and 7).

Fig. 6

Fig. 7

Table 3 presents the places cited by respondents on the survey or drawn in the sketches.

The valued and preferential approaches, which refer to the appreciative dimension of the perception of the city, were done by asking individuals to select from a particular list of neighbourhoods. A topological map has been created with the results of respondents for Murcia and Valencia (Figs 7 and 8)

Fig. 8

Both of the cases have the ensanche as the most highly rated place to live in. But this ensanche has different characteristics in Murcia and Valencia.

In Murcia, the ensanche is the part of the city near the historical city built in the 20^th century, as the city had had no economical increase in the 19^th century to need more dwellings. La Flota, Vistabella, Vistalegre and Santa María de Gracia are part of Murcia’s 20^th century ensanche.

The ensanche in Valencia shows the growth of the city in the 19^th century, as in many others big cities in Spain. It was built following strict rules with modernist houses and subsequent growth of the city made it central, very well connected and with other infrastructures (commercial and cultural). Thus, it is very interesting for business and living. The Valencia ensanche consists of the neighbourhoods of Gran Vía Marqués de Turia Colón and surroundings, Ruzafa, and El Pla del Remei.

The central city/historical city follows the preference for ensanche. It is the urban center (centro urbano) in Murcia and San Francesc in Valencia.

After those, La Merced was very well rated in Murcia, as a good university and leisure environment, and the emblematic Santo Domingo and Romea squares. Also, Alfonso X El Sabio street. All of them considered as dynamic commercial, cultural and leisure places. The most recent high quality urban developments, such as the neighbourhood of La Flota, and Vista Alegre or San Antón, were also considered perhaps because of the high number of rental flats for university students. La Fama, La Paz and Vistabella are suffering a progressive degradation and they are perceived as insecure places, thus, they are not preferred for living. The population is ageing in San Andrés and San Antolín, and there are some buildings in a state of ruin and abandonment being occupied by immigrants. Social services, such as health centres and care spaces for the elderly, in peripheral neighbourhoods such as El Progreso or Los Rosales would be necessary.

Valencia’s student respondents prefer, after the ensanche and the city centre, the surroundings of the University City (Ciutat Universitària), the City of Arts and Sciences (Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències) and the new urban developments on the coast near the harbour, beaches, Formula One circuit and shopping centres. Malvarrosa and Cabañal are places that they consider that it is necessary to be improved (rehabilitation).

Surprisingly, it is not monuments or cultural affairs that people will miss, it is the shopping and commerce centres in both cases, perhaps because both cities are capitals of their region. The results can be seen on the spider chart below (Fig. 9). The second element is the way of leaving and environment, and also the local parties, festivities or celebrations (in Valencia the Fallas are very famous). The beach, in Valencia, and the cuisine, in Murcia which comes from the excellent orchards crops, are also appreciated things. Both cases are very similar. Green areas are not the most important thing for them.

Fig. 9

Respondents aware on the cathedral, as one of the main landmarks to show to others. It is the same in other cities such as Segovia (García Ballesteros, Bosque Sendra 1989) or Bristol (Kelly, Kelly 2001). Key streets such as the Malecón, the Town Hall, Museums (e.g. Salzillo), the Real Casino and some other nice streets are also important in Murcia.

The famous original initiative of the City of Sciences and Arts (Ciudad de las Ciencias y las Artes / Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències), a big entertainment place based on cultural (e.g. an interesting interactive Museum) and a modern architectural complex in Valencia. Beaches, the inner city and the Bullring are also attractive places to show to other visitors according to respondents’ opinions (Fig. 10).

Fig. 10