Valencia

The Serranos Towers (also known as the Serranos Gate) are located in Valencia’s charming Old Town, where they have stood guard over the city for thousands of years. The towers are one of the original 12 gates which provided entrance to the walled city. The defensive towers were built in the late 14th century in the Valencian Gothic style and have served a number of purposes over the centuries. At one time the towers were used as a prison and they were also used to store works of art during the Spanish Civil War. Today visitors can enjoy superb views of the city from the top of the towers.

Torres de Serranos (Serranos Towers), Carrer dels Serrans 31, Valencia 46003, Phone: +34-635-34-57-05

The very impressive La Lonja de la Seda (The Silk Exchange) building is also located in the Old Town. The building, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is considered to be a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Built between 1482 and 1533, this civil building was always intended to demonstrate the wealth and importance of the city of Valencia. As you walk through the main building, the Column or Contract Room, you will notice that 8 superb columns measuring over 17 meters support the elaborate vaulted ceiling. On the ground floor there is a chapel, while the upper floors were used as a prison for merchants who failed to pay their bills.

La Lonja de la Seda, Carrer de la Lonja 2, Valencia 46001, Phone: +34-963-15-39-31

The majestic Valencia Cathedral (aka Our Lady of Valencia or Metropolitan Cathedral) is a prominent city landmark which should definitely feature on your Valencia itinerary. The cathedral was built in the 13th century and is famously home to the Holy Grail, an elaborately decorated stone chalice which dates back to the 1st century. The interior of the church is mainly Gothic, featuring high vaulted ceilings, beautiful stained glass windows and loads of gilded moldings, statues and religious paintings. Visitors may climb to the top of the iconic bell tower (El Miguelete) for amazing city views before touring the adjacent museum to admire many religious artifacts.

Valencia Cathedral, Placa de l’Almoina, Valencia 46003, Phone: +34-963-91-81-27

As you walk the streets of Valencia’s lovely Old Town you cannot help noticing El Miguelete (Little Michael). Located right beside the Valencia Cathedral, this massive Gothic-style tower dominates the Valencia skyline. The 65 meter high octagonal bell tower was constructed during the 14th and 15th centuries. To reach the top of the tower you will need to climb an internal spiral staircase of 207 steps. However, once your reach the top you will be rewarded for your efforts with magnificent 360-degree views of the city. Architecture enthusiasts will notice that although the tower is mainly Gothic in style, it includes elements of Baroque and Romanesque styles, contributed by the various architects who had a hand in the design.

El Miguelete, Placa de l’Almoina, Valencia 46003, Phone: +34-963-91-81-27

Recommended Activities for Families

Valencia has always been famous for her beautiful tree-lined city squares, where locals and visitors can meet to admire the ancient architecture and the lively atmosphere. Plaza de la Reina is one of the busiest and most famous city squares, located in the heart of the Old Town (Cuitat Vella). At one end of the square you can find the Valencia Cathedral and the El Miguelete tower, while at the other end there is a smaller square called Plaza Santa Catalina. The square is lined with bustling cafes, bars and restaurants. A good way to soak up the atmosphere is to hop aboard a horse-drawn carriage and enjoy a ride between the two plazas.

Plaza de la Reina, Valencia 46000

You will need to travel far and wide to find a market which can compare to Valencia’s spectacular Central Market (Mercado Central). The building you see before you was built on the site of several former market places in the early 20th century. In order to blend in with the impressive surrounding buildings, a competition was held to choose a suitably impressive design. The winning architects surpassed themselves by designing one of the city’s most beautiful and most visited buildings. Today the market is a thriving fresh-food market where you can buy everything from fresh fish and meat to flowers, vegetables and fruit, all displayed under a beautiful central dome which would not be out of place in a cathedral.

Central Market, Placa Cuitat de Bruges, Valencia 46001, Phone: +34-963-82-91-01

Turia Gardens is the green lung of Valencia. One of the largest urban green spaces in Spain, Turia Gardens stretches through nine kilometers of the city, providing a relaxing inner-city recreational area. The park is home to walking/jogging trails, cycling trails and leisure and sports areas. The gardens were built in the river bed of the former Turia River, which was diverted in the 1950’s to protect the city from frequent flooding episodes. As you explore the gardens you can admire no fewer than 18 historic bridges and many historic buildings, monuments and museums which line the banks. Gulliver Park is a popular Children’s Playground and bicycle and Segway hire is available.

Turia Gardens, Valencia 46000, Phone: +34-963-37-02-04

Attractions for Couples

Bioparc is Valencia’s fabulous zoo, where you can spend many educational and fun hours observing animals from (just about) all parts of the African continent. The zoo covers 100,000 square meters where spacious habitats have been re-created to ensure that all the animals can enjoy natural surroundings. Habitats mimic African savannah, equatorial rain forests, African wetlands and the unique environment found on Madagascar Island. Some of the amazing wildlife you can observe includes African elephants, lions, giraffe, leopard, chimpanzees and ring-tailed lemurs from Madagascar. To fully enjoy all the exhibits and the raptor show you need to check their website for opening hours and show times.

Bioparc, Avenue Pio Baroja 3, Valencia 46015, Phone: +34-960-66-05-26

Gulliver Park is a must-visit Valencia destination for families with young children. Forming part of the massive Turia Park, Gulliver Park is a children’s playground featuring an enormous fiberglass Gulliver. The Gulliver’s Travels story includes an episode where Gulliver is tied down by the Lilliputs (little people) who climb all over him – at this surreal playground everyone gets the change to reenact the scene. Children (and parents) are welcome to climb all over the giant. Hidden all over his clothes you will find the many staircases, tunnels and slides to take you back to the ground. It is good fun for the whole family and makes a great change from visiting Valencia’s many historic sites.

Gulliver Park, Carrer de l’Alcalde Reig, Valencia 46023, Phone: +34-963-37-02-03

The beautiful palace of the Marques de Dos Aguas is a fitting home for a very special collection of ceramics. The palace is considered to be the finest example of Baroque architecture in Spain and is worth a visit in its own right. Once you step past the very impressive marble facade at the entrance, you can admire an outstanding collection of ceramics from all over Spain and beyond. Art lovers can take an in-depth look at the development of ceramics through the centuries. In addition to ceramics the museum also showcases merchandise from other parts of the silk route and offers in insight to the everyday lives of the Spanish nobility in earlier centuries.

Marques de Dos Aguas Palace (National Ceramics Museum), Rinconada Garcia Sanchiz 6, Valencia 46002, Phone: +34-963-51-63-92