The dictatorship of Franco forbade political parties and began a harsh ideological and cultural repression countenanced and sometimes even led by the Church . The financial markets were destabilised , causing a severe economic crisis that led to rationing . A black market in rationed goods existed for over a decade . The Francoist administrations of Valencia repressed publicity of the catastrophic floods of 1949 , which brought in their wake dozens of deaths , but could not do the same after the more catastrophic flood of 1957 when the river Turia overflowed its banks again , causing many casualties . The official death toll was 81 deaths ; the real figure may be higher . To prevent further disasters , the river was diverted to a new course . The old river bed was abandoned for years , and successive Francoist mayors proposed making it a motorway , but that option was finally rejected with the advent of democracy and fervent neighbourhood protests . The river was divided in two at the western city limits '' ( Plan Sur de Valencia '' ) , and diverted southwards along a new course that skirts the city , before meeting the Mediterranean . The old course of the river continues , dry , through the city centre , almost to the sea . The old riverbed is now a sunken park called the ' Garden of the Turia ' '' ( Jardí del Túria or Jardín del Turia ) '' that allows cyclists and pedestrians to cross much of the city by avoiding the use of roads ; overhead bridges carry motor traffic across the park
flood of 1957
1957 Valencia flood
History of Valencia