Valencia

Valencia is the capital of a region rich in history, offering a vibrant city alongside a beautiful coastline. There are historical buildings, plazas, gardens, marinas, shops, restaurants and a whole host of cultural options to explore, making it a popular destination.

Attractions

The fine sandy beaches contrast with the fertile mountainous region. The leisurely coastline of Canet d’En Berenguer offers stunning beaches and dunes or you may wish to visit the L'Albufera Nature Reserve or Saler Beach, enjoying the sun in unique surroundings. For watersports and more active facilites head to Cullera, Gandía and Oliva beaches.

The city can get very busy and traffic and parking can be difficult so some areas may be best explored by foot, especially the picturesque upper part of the town with its narrow streets in the Jewish Quarter. The Plaza de la Virgen is a popular meeting place and a base for visiting many of Valencia's historical buildings including the Cathedral with the Miguelete Tower, the gothic bell tower with its spectacular views and the Basilica of La Virgen de los Desamparados, a temple dedicated to the Valencian Patroness.

The castle looks over the old city on a hill and within the historical quarter you will find the churches of Santa Catalina, San Nicolás and San Martín. The Torres de Quart once formed part of the old city walls and you can still make out holes in the stone from the French shelling during the war of Independence.

Next to the station is the Plaza de Toros (Bullring). It was constructed in 1850 and is one of the largest and most spectacular in Spain.

There is a huge choice of museums to visit in Valencia including: the San Pío V Museum of Fine Arts, one of the most outstanding in Spain; The Patriarch's Museum with its 16th and 17th century painting collection; The González Martí National Ceramics and Sumptuary Arts Museum located in the Palace of Marqués de Dos Aguas, built in the 15th century and the Museum of the Fallas and the Falla Artist Museum which keeps the ‘ninots’ (paper mâché figures) spared from burning in the annual Valencia fire festival.

If you prefer something more modern you can visit the Institute Valencian Institute of Modern Art (IVAM) with its nine galleries or the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (City of the Arts and Sciences), a futuristic complex housing the L'Hemisfèric Cinema-Planetarium; the Palace of the Arts; the Príncipe Felipe Science Museum; and the Universal Oceanographic Park.

Valencia celebrates many festivals throughout the year, the most significant being the Fallas. Lasting a whole week from 15th to 19th of March and coinciding with the beginning of spring, huge Fallas (works of art) are displayed around the city and then are burned at midnight of the last day. The city becomes and explosion of colour and noise.

Shopping

There are plenty of shopping options to choose from in Valencia and you can shop for anything from the latest fashions to traditional hand made goods including ceramics, fans, wicker work and lace. In the market region you will find the huge Central Market, one of the largest in Europe, there are thousands of stalls. There are also a wide selection of street markets every weekday morning across the city.

Nightlife and Eating Out

Nightlife in Valencia is extensive. There are cinemas, theatres, dance halls, bars and restaurants to keep everyone entertained and in the city the parties often go on until the early hours. For a quieter evening out, the beaches of La Malvarrosa and Levante are an alternative, offering restaurants by the sea.

Tourist Information

Tourist Office: Calle Paz, 48 - 46003 Valencia (Valencia)Tel. +34 963986422 Fax +34 963986421touristinfo.valencia@turisme.m400.gva.eswww.comunitatvalenciana.com

Airport

Valencia Airport is located about 8km from the capital.