After Turin, Seoul, Helsinki, Cape Town, Taipei, Mexico City and Lille in 2020, Valencia will be the World Design Capital in 2022. This is an opportunity to (re)discover this sunny city on the Mediterranean coast, which is the third largest city in Spain in terms of population after Madrid and Barcelona, and ahead of Seville. Valencia is also known for an event that brings crowds together from the end of February until 19 March: the Fallas festival, when the locals end up burning huge cardboard statues. Here are 10 places to visit in Valencia during your stay!
The cathedral and the Miguelete
Baroque and Gothic in style, Valencia Cathedral is particularly well known for housing the Holy Chalice and the Renaissance frescoes above the high altar. If you want to get a bit of height, all you have to do is climb some 200 steps to reach the Miguelete, the bell tower of the cathedral. From here, at a height of about 50 metres, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the whole city.
The Lonja de la Seda
The Lonja de la Seda, or Silk Lodge, is a group of buildings constructed between 1482 and 1533, originally dedicated to the silk trade. Listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site, this trading post is considered one of the most beautiful buildings of European Gothic civil architecture.
The City of Arts and Sciences of Valencia
This futuristic-looking cultural complex was opened in 1998 by the Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava. On two kilometres of the former bed of the Turia River, several buildings now stretch out: the Oceanogràfic, the largest aquarium in Europe, the Hemisfèric 3D digital cinema, which has a gigantic 900-metre curved screen, the Science Museum, and the Umbracle, an open-air garden of more than 17,000 m2.
The Edificio de Correos (Post Office)
From the Plaza de la Ciudad de la Ciudad, go to the "Edificio de Correos", which houses the Valencian Post Office. Completed in 1922, the building, which combines classicism, baroque and modernism, was designed by the architect Miguel Angel Navarro and is one of the city's architectural gems. Walk through the doors of the building to admire the jewel inside, the glass dome, which also dates from the beginning of the 20th century!
The Valldigna Portal
In the historic centre of Valencia, the Valldigna Gate, opened in 1400, gave access to the old Muslim quarter, built after the reconquest of the city by the Christians. It is easily recognisable by its horseshoe shape.
The Mercado de Colón (Colón Market)
Designed by the architect Francisco Mora Berenguer at the beginning of the 20th century, the Colón market is certainly one of the most emblematic modernist buildings in Valencia. Some of its features are reminiscent of Gaudí's buildings in Barcelona, such as its façade, which is made up of red bricks, bas-reliefs, ceramics, mosaics and other brightly coloured trencadis (pieces of broken ceramics much appreciated by Gaudí).
The Towers of Serranos
The name Towers of Serranos refers to an old medieval gateway in the walls of Valencia in the late Middle Ages. Pere Balaguer began their construction in 1392, and today they are the only remains of Valencia's fortifications. For a beautiful view of the city, including the gardens of the Turia, you should climb to the top of the Towers.
The Centre del Carme Cultura Contemporánea (CCCC)
A former 13th-century convent with a Gothic bell tower and cloister is home to this unusual cultural institution: in the heart of Valencia, the Centre del Carme offers a rich cultural programme focused on contemporary art, with exhibitions that are both varied and interactive.
The Turia Gardens
Don't leave Valencia without visiting one of the largest urban parks in Europe, a large green lung covering 110 hectares. Built at the end of the 20th century in the former bed of the Turia, it is a paradise for joggers, strollers and cyclists, who can stroll there alone or with their families.
The beaches of Valencia
It is impossible to finish this selection without visiting the coastline: Valencia has several very pleasant beaches where you can relax. The most lively beach is certainly the Malva-Rosa beach, bordered by a promenade where several shops are located, while the Las Arenas beach, close to the city centre, offers a good place to watch the sunset.
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