8 Things You Cannot Forget on an Unforgettable Trip to Valencia

Valencia is located in the eastern coast of Spain, and is the third largest city in the country. One of the greatest marks of the city is the coexistence of ancient structures and modern buildings. Flying or traveling by train, it takes 1 hour to arrive in the city, and 2-3 days is sufficient to explore the city.

The Cathedral of Valencia located in the old town is the most symbolic architectural marker of the city. It began construction in the 13th century, and from the top, the entire scene of the old city is visible. According to local tradition, the holy grail of the last supper of Christ is kept here. The Cathedral of Valencia is constructed in the Catalonian Gothic style, however since it took such a long time to construct the building, there are styles from different time periods. The front gate is in the Baroque style, the lofty bell towers are in a gothic style, and the dome in the rear section is in the Roman style. After entering from the main door, the right side contains the altar of the holy grail, which is said to have been used by Jesus during the last supper. According to tradition the cup kept in a hidden room is the holy grail.

The Fallas Festival: Come to Valencia to greet the spring with fire. The Fallas Festival is one of the most representative and unique holidays of Valencia. Each year it attracts numberless tourists to come and greet the spring with fire. The Fallas festival, also called the festival of fire, is a festival in commemoration of Joseph the carpenter who was the stepfather of Jesus. The festival is held each year from 3/12 - 3/19, and takes up the longest period of time of all festivals in Valencia. During the festival, carpenters of the city make different Fallas (figures made of wood or paper) and carry out a procession and competition. On 3/19 in the night these are then lit on fire to welcome the spring. Starting on 3/1 each day at 2 pm the Valencia city government will have a ceremony setting off firecrackers called Macaletas, and the local people will wear traditional clothing and participate in marches of different sizes, in a very lively way.

Try Paella from Valencia Valencia is the place of origin of Paella. This fine food with excellent flavor has become popular all over Spain. There are many varieties - everything from only sea food to vegetarian varieties exist to please any palate. However the Paella from Valencia remains unique. La Riura is an award-winning local and extremely traditional Paella restaurant. The walls are ornamented with decorated plates of all kinds, and there is an area for all the awards that the establishment has won. The service is very good, and the stream of diners is endless. There is sea food for every taste, so there will certainly be something for you.

The best city beach and tanning spot in Valencia The most welcoming beach in the eastern side of the city of Valencia is Malvarosa beach. The local people love to come here to swim, and suntan, and if your luck is good you may encounter Spanish soccer stars. The best period for sun tanning is from June to September, which is also the most crowded season. Many young people will also play volley ball here at this time. Also, the beach has parking, toilets, restaurants, and other basic facilities.

See a soccer match for EUR 20 in the Estadio de Mestalla It is said that the Estadio de Mestalla is the oldest soccer stadium in Europe, since it has already been in use for more than 100 years. It is the main stadium of the famous “Devil” of la Liga. At Valencia’s height, they managed to get into the UEFA champion’s league finals, with their home stadium being here. Many of the top soccer stars in the world have once contested right here. If you are a soccer fan of Valencia, you absolutely cannot miss the Estadio de Mestalla, which is a five star soccer stadium. This place is not the same as the Camp Nou and Bernabeu sights, this is pure soccer. For around the inexpensive price of approximately 20 Euros, you can see a soccer match here.

Barrio del Carmen is located in the northern section of the old town, and is a famous nightlife district of Valencia, which has all kinds of bars. Everything is available from high end designer bars to dingy dives are available here. The Barrio del Carmen area is circumscribed by Calle de Guillem de Castro, Calle de la Blanqurias, and Calle de los Serranos; the narrow and precipitous streets are full of restaurants, specialty bars, and tapas establishments. During the summer weekend nights, you will see many young women wearing cool clothes and high heels on Calle Caballeros rushing to meet their friends and “share a cup.”

Be a foreign species in the Valencia Zoo Valencia zoo is a natural paradise for animals, and it is really the humans that seem to be an introduced species. This institution is an example of the cutting edge concept of an “immersive zoo,” with animals that are not behind obstacles or in cages, but rather sharing the same space with people. Full of curiosity, they may even come close by and touch you. This zoo is the result of the work of many European biologists, architects, ecologists, and sculptors and it incorporates many kinds of plant covering and rock imitations to create a special effect. Each area is named after a continent that it represents. Walkers explore the areas and come into a contact with a series of different flora and fauna at close range, the animals are the bright spots of each of the different realistic caves.

Valencia Zoo: See rare tropical plants Valencia zoo is the foremost botanical garden of Spain, and has become an important research botanical garden with more than 3 thousand species, including rare tropical plants and desert plants. The Botanical Garden of Valencia was originally constructed in the 19th century for a Botanical College, and currently plays host to a series of artistic expositions, botanical expositions, and painting and botanical activities. It is a perfect place for families to bring their children along.