The modern side of Valencia boasts a series of breath-taking buildings that look boldly towards the future, but it also preserves its long and impressive history through numerous architectural masterpieces, and an old town buzzing with life.
There are some gorgeous beaches too, in a place that knows how to both excite and relax.
Grandeur and gardens
As the third largest city in Spain, Valencia has more than one focal point. There’s the charming old town, of course, but another hub can be found around Santiago Calatrava’s remarkable City of Arts and Sciences.
This multimedia landmark now stands as a beacon for the city, as well as a hotspot for arts and culture. Built into the Turia riverbed, here you’ll find everything from a planetarium and science museum to a colossal aquarium and opera house.
The fantastic Turia Gardens are next door, providing a vast array of green space. Follow a footpath, enjoy a game of tennis or just relax in the natural environment. There’s no finer place to be on a sunny day, and you can almost forget you’re in the heart of a city.
Moors and more
Like many coastal Spanish towns and cities, Valencia has a long history of being conquered by invaders – and reclaimed by the Spanish. This history is expressed by the oldest buildings, with churches constructed upon mosques built upon Roman temples.
Head into the Ciutat Vella, the old town, and you’re right where the Romans first laid down their roots. Visit La Almoina Archaeological Museum underneath the plaza to find Roman remains, second-century baths and two of the main streets from this ancient era.
Then delve into the story of the Moors, who held Valencia for more than 500 years. While many of their additions to the city were subsequently torn down, their presence is still felt in Moorish city fortifications, as well in their undeniable influence on the city’s cuisine and customs.
Once back under Spanish control, the city was rebuilt again in a new image, with the Gothic style of the cathedral and the sensational Silk Exchange, known as La Lonja de la Seda. Here you’ll be in awe of the Hall of Columns and the majestic ceiling into which they disappear.
Cruise the coast
Beyond the city lies a bounty of beaches, and with car hire at Valencia Airport you can easily drive to them – or head even further afield to Barcelona or Alicante.
A little known gem, just north-east of Benidorm, is Dénia. Often used as a hopping-off port for ferries to the Balearics, it has a handsome castle and old town that makes it more than worth a day trip.
The port city also plays host to perhaps the region’s best restaurant, Quique Dacosta, which currently holds three Michelin stars. Located close to the beach, meals here can be expensive – but provide a truly memorable experience.
Hire a car at Valencia Airport to uncover the best of a truly great Spanish city, and soak up the wider wonders that the region has to offer.