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Did you know that in Valencia you can ...?VALENCIA FOR YOU
There are few cities like Valencia, able to harmoniously combine the remnants of its farthest past, dating to the year 138 BC, with the most innovative and avant-garde buildings from the new millennium. There are outstanding beaches and dunes at Canet d’En Berenguer, where the coastline becomes leisurely and residential, as it does to the north of the Valencian capital, where small tourist town (La Pobla de Farnals, Alboraya, and El Puig) have emerged where only a few years ago fruit and vegetables were grown.
CULTURAL - From the Roman forum to the Arts and Sciences Centre When walking around Valencia, visitors can feel the pulse of many centuries in its walls and under the ground. From the remains of the Roman forum founded by Junius Brutus and now in the Plaza de la Virgen which gave rise to Valencia, to the emblematic Arts and Sciences Centre, the city has transformed its appearance whilst rescuing monuments that are witness to past eras. Valencia Cathedral is built in the same place where the first temple stood in the Roman times, and later on, a mosque. Because it was built between 1262 and 1426, and because of the extensions and renovations carried out later on, there are different styles superimposed on the predominant primitive Gothic. The Miguelete Tower, the tower that is usually identified with Valencia outside, is the cathedral's Gothic bell tower. It is 50.85 metres high, which is the same as its perimeter. It is a steep climb up the 207 steps, but worth it when you get to top and see the splendid views of the city. In the same square, Plaza de la Virgen, there is also the Virgen de los Desamparados Basilica, and nearby, the Santo Domingo Convent, commissioned by the Dominicans in the 13th century, with the approval of by King Jaume I. In Valencia's historic quarter you can find other interesting churches, like Santa Catalina, San Nicolás and San Martín. Civil architecture is very important in the city. Two old gates to the city remain from the old medieval wall - Serranos and Quart towers.
In Valencia you will be able to stroll around and still see the Gothic architecture of past times in the city’s historic centre. Then you can take a leisurely walk around the city, stopping to rest in the parks or in a café or bar. This poses no problem in Valencia, as there are plenty of pedestrian streets and squares with street markets and outdoor cafés where you will be able to while away a pleasant hour or two. On your walk you will come across buildings with beautiful façades such as the National Ceramics Museum. Other places worth visiting include the Silk Exchange or the Serranos towers, which are the main remnants of the city wall which once encircled Valencia. Outside the wall are the Turia gardens, the largest green area in the city and a perfect place for enjoying the open air.
ACTIVE - Endless possibilities on the shores of the Mediterranean The mild Mediterranean temperatures make it an ideal destination for outdoor sports at almost any time of year. Valencia has great sport facilities so you can keep fit, such as the modern Turia Gardens facilities. The Valencia Real Náutico Sailing Club becomes the ideal place for sailing, although the 112 kilometre long coast in the province offers the chance of practising many more types of water sports, such as scuba diving or windsurfing. Valencia is a real paradise for golf lovers - there are six courses, four of them with 18 holes: El Saler, El Bosque, Escorpión and Oliva Nova. The inland mountains also provide the ideal setting for sports such as hiking, cycle touring, canyoning, kayaking, horse riding routes, microlighting and paragliding.
GASTRONOMIC - Savour the taste of the market gardens and the sea Paella is the typical dish of Valencia and the best known in Spain. It represents the triumph of the flavours of the market gardens, the sea and the mountains, combined to produce an excellent result, which can vary every time - there are so many types of paella that you can enjoy a different one every time, and even if you spend a long time in Valencia, they will always be different. The experience of eating a dish of paella while gazing at the sea is a luxury everyone can enjoy in Valencia. Although you can find this dish in practically any restaurant throughout the city, we recommend the area near the port and the beaches of las Arenas and Malvarrosa. There, your experience will be heightened as you enjoy your delicious paella against the soothing backdrop of the sea. This healthy meal is even better when eaten outdoors while enjoying the sea breeze. And don’t forget to try the socarrat, the crispy rice which sticks to the bottom of the pan during cooking and which the Valencians consider the best part. For tea, the usual custom is to enjoy a refreshing glass of horchata (tiger nut milk) accompanied by fartons (typical sweet pastries).
FOR YOUNG PEOPLE - Throughout the year there are many festivals, concerts, and events. Valencia offers all kinds of fun and leisure alternatives for young people. During the Fallas festival there is a programme of activities that are specially designed for young people, such as concerts at night which take place in the Viveros Gardens. The large open space in the centre turns into an improvised auditorium for recitals - especially during the July Fair - and in spring, the paths fill up with marquees for the Book Fair and other cultural events. As well as these events, the restaurant terraces fill up during the Fallas, and they often remain that way until October. Thanks to its mild Mediterranean climate, Valencia is a city where nightlife is lived to the full. There are many places to enjoy the lively atmosphere: from different bars, pubs and discos, to many clubs that have appeared on the seafront and have turned La Malvarrosa beach and the promenade into an important leisure area. If you prefer, some of the most famous discos in Spain are in the province, especially on the route from Valencia to Cullera, situated next to the beach. The old course of the Turia River opens up for young people to enjoy one of the largest leisure areas in the capital. The Turia Gardens can be visited on foot or cycling, and the sports facilities there can also be used. Here you will also find the Arts and Sciences Centre, a place of leisure and culture where young people will be able to enjoy the 3-D films at the Planetario-L’Hemisfèric, visit the installations at the Príncipe Felipe Science Museum, and marvel at L’Oceanogràfic, Europe’s largest aquarium.
WITH CHILDREN - A city which has everything to offer its younger visitors Valencia offers numerous possibilities which are tailor-made for children. Throughout the whole length and breadth of the city there are numerous parks and gardens to enhance the urban landscape and offer a setting for recreation. Younger visitors are guaranteed fun in the Parque Gulliver (Gulliver’s Park) children's play complex, with the giant himself transformed into slides, and also containing a model of the city and surrounded by a mini golf course, giant chessboard, skating ramps, and endless games to enjoy throughout these gardens in the heart of the city. Other outstanding green areas to visit include the Botanical Gardens, considered one of the best-stocked and most interesting botanical gardens in Europe; the Monforte gardens, in the neoclassical style; or the extensive Turia gardens. Animal lovers should definitely make for the Bioparc, one of the new generations of zoos based on the concept of zoo-immersion, where visitor are submerged in the wild habitats, and all the bars separating the animals from the humans are completely concealed. In the tributaries of what was once the old riverbed stands one of the most avant-garde symbols of modern Valencia, the Arts and Sciences Centre. Surprising both for its dimensions and its architecture, this site offers visitors the chance to enjoy 3-D films and other screen offerings in the L’Hemisfèric Cinema-Planetarium, learn interactively about science in the Príncipe Felipe Science Museum, and marvel at the L’Oceanogràfic, Europe’s largest aquarium. Valencia’s festive calendar also offers lots for children, who take an active part in the children's fallas bonfire festival, which includes all kinds of special activities for younger visitors. What’s more, most of the cinemas in the city screen films in special children's matinees on weekends and public holidays. And throughout the year –but particularly in summer– children and grown-ups can enjoy the wonderful urban beaches of Levante and Malvarrosa.
SHOPPING The streets of Valencia are filled with shop windows exhibiting everything from handmade arts and crafts to the latest fashion designs. Fans, lace work, Manises ceramics and clothes are just some of the things you can buy in Valencia. Whatever your likes and dislikes, in Valencia you are bound to find what you are looking for. The shopping possibilities are endless. Both the arts and crafts shops in the Ciutat Vella and the more modern establishments around Colón, the street markets and numerous shopping centres offer the visitor a wide and varied range of products. Other useful information Timetables: most shops open from 10am-2pm and from 4.30-8.30pm. The shopping centres open from 10am-9.30pm. Sales: the winter sales generally begin in the second week of January and go on until the end of February, and the summer sales begin on 1 July and run until the end of August. How to pay: most people pay in cash or with a credit card, when you must show your passport or identity card. Tax free: residents from outside the European Union are entitled to have Value Added Tax (IVA) refunded on purchases of more than €90.15. Valencia Card: this card can be bought in many hotels, estancos (licensed tobacconists) and newspaper stands, and it gives you interesting discounts in many shops, restaurants, shows and leisure centres. It also gives you free access to public transport in Valencia.
BUSINESS - A meeting point for big professional events Valencia has become an outstanding convention centre for the whole of Europe, and a first-class meeting place for those who wish to expand their business, or take part in conferences and trade fairs. Facilities equipped with all that is necessary to hold all kinds of conventions and business meetings; an excellent communications network providing easy access to the city; a wide variety of accommodation; and an excellent climate all year round guarantee a perfect stay to those who come to Valencia on a business trip. All this in a cosmopolitan city that makes it possible to combine business with pleasure, and to enjoy the many leisure and cultural activities available, as well as the outstanding cuisine. The Valencia Convention Centre is a prime example of the city's capabilities and consolidates Valencia as an ideal venue for any commercial activity and cultural exchange. This space perfectly combines audacious design with the most advanced equipment and technology available. Auditoriums will all kinds of facilities, conference rooms, restaurants, cafeterias, etc. all framed by 7,000 square metres of green space, with ponds and fountains that are ideal for rest and relaxation. Feria Valencia, a pioneering Spanish trade fair centre, holds more than forty annual events, with an attendance of 10,000 exhibitors from all over the world and more than a million visitors. The centre is equipped with a complete infrastructure for holding conventions and conferences. The Valencia Concert Hall and Convention Centre, in the gardens of the old bed of the River Turia, is an excellent venue for holding conventions and exhibitions, right at the heart of the city.
NIGHTLIFE Valencia is a city where you can enjoy the nightlife to the full. There are a whole host of places where you can sample the lively atmosphere: from the various bars, pubs and discos to the numerous clubs that have sprung up along the seafront, transforming the La Malvarrosa beach and the promenade into a nightlife hotspot. Here are a few ideas to guide you when you set out to enjoy a night out on the town, from the early evening until the sun comes up. Valencia’s nightlife is full of people who are raring to get out and have fun, feel the music and dance. The most popular area is the neighbourhood known as the Barrio del Carmen, right in the old part of town, although the clubs and bars around the Avenida de Aragón, and Cánovas, Honduras and Xúquer squares are also very well known. And the younger student vibe is to be found centred around the Avenida Blasco Ibáñez. If you’re visiting the city in July and August, check out the beach areas and the Paseo Neptuno promenade, as this where is the partying goes on for longest in the summer.
See all the information on the destination at: http://www.visitvalencia.com/en/what-to-visit-valencia/must-sees |
