The Trees
Valencia, Spain
We recently visited Valencia twice in a relatively short space of time.
First was a day stop-over trip from Javea. We drove from Javea to Xeraco, parked up and caught the 50 minute train to Valencia Nord and spent a great day and night exploring.
We liked it so much we decided to return at the first opportunity, and as luck would have it the Deleste music festival made for the perfect opportunity to spend a long weekend away to explore further.
Whether you arrive by train or plane (we did both) it's a breeze to get into the centre of the city quickly. The airport is a short 25 minute taxi from the centre of town, and the main station is in the centre of town, just a few minutes walk from the Plaça de l'Ajuntament which is a nice view to enjoy from your hotel balcony should you base yourself here.....and you should.
Why? Because it's on the edge of the old town and in easy walking distances of all the major sights you'll want to see. And there's also a good selection of bars, cafes and restaurants.
The Turia river used to run through the heart of Valencia. And it still does, as the Jardin de Turia.
In 1957 a catastrophic flood caused the authorities to divert the river, which created a dry riverbed on which the modern Valencia has been built. A nice thing is being able to drop down into the river bed from most of the original bridges that spanned the river. It is a thriving, busy and sociable area, that appears to have been embraced by the people of Valencia.
The green river encompasses wonderful gardens, a gigantic Gulliver figurine playground and the quite breathtaking City of Arts and Sciences. This huge complex houses, amongst other things, an opera house and performing arts centre, an Imax cinema, planetarium and laserium, and open-air aquarium or oceanographic park. There is a lot to see and do!
You can spend days taking in all the City of Arts and Sciences has to offer, or you just stroll around it taking in the wonderful modern architecture and setting.
Either way it is an unmissable experience.
You may have gathered by now that there is a lot to see in Valencia...so let's crack on..
Start at the beautfiul art deco main train station (admire the wondeful tiles) and then follow the city walls anti-clockwise. You'll take in theMUVIM museum, the grand Torres de Quart gothic defensive towers, and the IVAM modern art museum.
To lighten up finish off taking a look at the very bonkers miniature cat house built into the wall of a back ally north of the old town. Then grab a beer.
There is also a ceramics museum, González Martí, but ceramics isn't your bag the incredible palace building itself is enough to warrant a stroll past.
At the heart of the old town is the Central Market, which keeps the busy restaurants of the old town stocked with the freshest ingredients.
And with Valencia being the spiritual home of paella, make sure you partake, a small amount of research and you'll find plenty of vegetarian paella offerings available too.
The old town is dominated by the Cathedral of Valencia and it's worth the strain on the leg muscles to ascend the 207 steps up the historic bell tower "El Miguelete", named after the biggest bell, Miguel. The views of the city are spectacular.
It's also worth paying to wander around the main catherdral and take a look at the cup that Christ was supposed to have drank from at the last supper.
Yes, Valencia has the Holy Grail.
Despite not being religious it was a prettty impressive spectacle of art, and wealth.
One final area you must visit is the hip and chic Russafa, which is just behind the beautiful North (main) Station. Try a cocktail at Cafe Berlin and then pick from a varied choice of restaurants and eateries. And be sure to return the Cafe Berlin for a night cap.
Sometimes you can visit a city, get caught up in the moment and maybe return too soon, diluting your original excitement. But Valencia proved itself with what it had to offer and more than justified a quick return. It's now a firm favourite on our growing weekend city gig break list.
Valencia does have a lighthouse, but it's located deep within the industrial port area, and as such is not easily accessible.
But on our return drive to Javea we stopped by Cullera to check out the very nice lighthouse on the bend of of road overlooking the beaches.
We recently visited Valencia twice in a relatively short space of time.
First was a day stop-over trip from Javea. We drove from Javea to Xeraco, parked up and caught the 50 minute train to Valencia Nord and spent a great day and night exploring.
We liked it so much we decided to return at the first opportunity, and as luck would have it the Deleste music festival made for the perfect opportunity to spend a long weekend away to explore further.
Whether you arrive by train or plane (we did both) it's a breeze to get into the centre of the city quickly. The airport is a short 25 minute taxi from the centre of town, and the main station is in the centre of town, just a few minutes walk from the Plaça de l'Ajuntament which is a nice view to enjoy from your hotel balcony should you base yourself here.....and you should.
Why? Because it's on the edge of the old town and in easy walking distances of all the major sights you'll want to see. And there's also a good selection of bars, cafes and restaurants.
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In 1957 a catastrophic flood caused the authorities to divert the river, which created a dry riverbed on which the modern Valencia has been built. A nice thing is being able to drop down into the river bed from most of the original bridges that spanned the river. It is a thriving, busy and sociable area, that appears to have been embraced by the people of Valencia.
The green river encompasses wonderful gardens, a gigantic Gulliver figurine playground and the quite breathtaking City of Arts and Sciences. This huge complex houses, amongst other things, an opera house and performing arts centre, an Imax cinema, planetarium and laserium, and open-air aquarium or oceanographic park. There is a lot to see and do!
You can spend days taking in all the City of Arts and Sciences has to offer, or you just stroll around it taking in the wonderful modern architecture and setting.
Either way it is an unmissable experience.
 |
| City of Arts and Sciences, Valencia, Spain |
Start at the beautfiul art deco main train station (admire the wondeful tiles) and then follow the city walls anti-clockwise. You'll take in theMUVIM museum, the grand Torres de Quart gothic defensive towers, and the IVAM modern art museum.
To lighten up finish off taking a look at the very bonkers miniature cat house built into the wall of a back ally north of the old town. Then grab a beer.
 |
| Valencia, Spain |
There is also a ceramics museum, González Martí, but ceramics isn't your bag the incredible palace building itself is enough to warrant a stroll past.
Oh and Valencia has a beach...and a pretty spectacular one too!
The Las Arenas beach is a pleasant (depending on the temperature) one hour walk from the center of town taking in the marina and the port area. But despite being popular the beach is big and doesn't feel crowded, and rows of restaurants perch on the edge offering cold beer, the fruits of the sea and tapas.
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| Valencia, Spain |
And with Valencia being the spiritual home of paella, make sure you partake, a small amount of research and you'll find plenty of vegetarian paella offerings available too.
 |
| Mercado Central, Valencia, Spain |
The old town is dominated by the Cathedral of Valencia and it's worth the strain on the leg muscles to ascend the 207 steps up the historic bell tower "El Miguelete", named after the biggest bell, Miguel. The views of the city are spectacular.
It's also worth paying to wander around the main catherdral and take a look at the cup that Christ was supposed to have drank from at the last supper.
Yes, Valencia has the Holy Grail.
Despite not being religious it was a prettty impressive spectacle of art, and wealth.
 |
| Cathedral of Valencia, Spain |
One final area you must visit is the hip and chic Russafa, which is just behind the beautiful North (main) Station. Try a cocktail at Cafe Berlin and then pick from a varied choice of restaurants and eateries. And be sure to return the Cafe Berlin for a night cap.
Sometimes you can visit a city, get caught up in the moment and maybe return too soon, diluting your original excitement. But Valencia proved itself with what it had to offer and more than justified a quick return. It's now a firm favourite on our growing weekend city gig break list.
 | |
|
Valencia does have a lighthouse, but it's located deep within the industrial port area, and as such is not easily accessible.
But on our return drive to Javea we stopped by Cullera to check out the very nice lighthouse on the bend of of road overlooking the beaches.
 |
| Faro de Cullera, Spain |
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