Fallas? Paella? This can only mean Valencia! Even though I visited this gorgeous city not even close to the time of Fallas (the celebration of fire, essentially the most known festival that takes place in Spain) I still enjoyed my stay very much and would happily place Valencia among my top places in Spain.
It is worthy to mention that it is the 3rd biggest spanish city after Madrid and Barcelona. Located on the south-east of the coast by the Mediterrenian Sea. Valencia simply bursts with life and positive energy making it a very attractive place to be for students, artists, tourists and possibly for its habitants too etc.
Valencia grew from a small Roman settlement founded in 138 BC, and went through Moroccan and Arab occupations to be eventually conquered by christians around the year 1250 of our era. It went through a lot, but as a result it has one of the largest historic quarters in the country, with multiple plazas, churches and cathedrals.
I was lucky enough to find a hostel right in the mere heart of the old town literally 2 minutes walk from the Plaza de la Virgen - a historic square on the back of the Cathedral with a nice fountain in its middle (you have already scrolled by one photo of it, but there are more to come bellow).
For a Spanish city, Valencia seems to be one of the most progressive when it comes to architecture and design. As a testimony of that, lets have a look at The City of Arts and Science (Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias). It consists of a few different facilities like oceanarium, operahouse, theatre stages, science museum, art gallery and a nightclub. Every building is designed in a very modern style that is visibly playing with the structural elements and turning them into a piece of art.
It is a very unusual thing to see in such a historic city as Valencia. Introducing something like this was quite a risky experiment because it could have destroyed the historic atmosphere, but it is working fantastically and functions as one of the top places to see in Valencia. Locals are attending it too, so everybody is happy.
It is a very unusual thing to see in such a historic city as Valencia. Introducing something like this was quite a risky experiment because it could have destroyed the historic atmosphere, but it is working fantastically and functions as one of the top places to see in Valencia. Locals are attending it too, so everybody is happy.
The next day right after getting up I wandered off around the old quaters, waiting to meet up with my friend who was in Valencia for an exchange at that time. Starting of from the Plaza de la Virgen I slowly made my way to the north-west direction.
I stumbled upon a very peculiar neighbourhood called Barrio del Carmen, it is a part of the old town but treated with lots of colourful street art and artistic installations. It reminded me of Lavapies in Madrid (but I haven't really analysed Carmen that closely).
I love markets and markethalls. The central market in Valencia is a real treat. Its building is just beautiful and very spacious, It seemed very bright for a market, instead of being barely lit and gloomy. I didn't look for food really, but I reckon it sells more fresh products than food to go, maybe I just didn't see it.
The cathedral was OK, but it didn't impress me. I might have seen too many cathedrals already.
Plaza de'l Ajuntament (plaza of the city hall) is the heart of the more classical part of Valencia. Very elegant and classty, reminded me of Madrid's main street Gran Via. This plaza is a great meeting spot that makes you somehow slow down and take a look around. I think this is also the place where the festival of Fallas takes place.
Oh, and a few snaps from the City of Arts and Sciences during daytime.Me and my friend spent most of the time sitting and resting in the Umbracle - an open-air gallery with palm trees. As well we rented a boat by the Hemispheric what was quite fun.
Oh, one of my favourite things about Valencia is that a park was built in the dry riverbed of Turia river. On a distance of a few kilometers a very well maintained park is spreading, with picnic areas, playgrounds, ponds and decorative collumns. A bunch of people were doing sports there or just slowly strolling and enjoying their afternoon.
I couln't miss my chance to go to the beach in a coastal city, right?
Last, but not least it is worth to mention the city gate that opens up to a bridge over Turia. It used to be the main gate and looks pretty splendid. It was possible to climb it and have a look from the top.
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