Valencia’s mix of modern and old is part of what gives it its unique appeal. A morning can be spend wandering the old town, marvelling at the way the city has preserved its architectural legacy. Then an afternoon can embrace the new, with space-age buildings dominating the skyline of a place that likes to keep moving forward.
Embrace the future
Much of modern-day Valencia is built upon a former river bed, diverted so that the city could thrive. Here, where the Turia once flowed, sits the City of Art and Sciences, known locally as the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencia. It’s a multi-faceted site, designed by Santiago Calatrava and incorporating not just a science museum but also a world-class opera house, cinema and excellent aquarium called the Oceanografico. There’s something for all the family here, while the nearby Turia Gardens are a wonderful place to explore on foot.
Pining for paella
There’s amazing food to be tasted throughout Valencia, whether you’re on a trail of tapas or looking for something more formal. El Poblet is much talked about, a Michelin star restaurant with truly inventive food. However, Valencia’s main contribution to gastronomy is the legendary rice dish paella, something you have to try while in the city. There’s no better place to sample it authentically with various recipes and variations available. Casa Carmela is a popular choice with locals here, dishing it up since 1922.
A whistle-stop tour
There’s so much more to see here that you’ll either need an itinerary or you’ll have to come back again. But make time for the Catedral de Valencia, one of the ancient highlights here. The building tells an old story, with a Roman temple making way for a Moorish mosque and then, in the 13th century, today’s Gothic church. Some biblical scholars claim this is the home of the Holy Grail. It’s also home to stunning art by Francisco de Goya, and this is one of the best places to see it.
Two more great sites to tick off are the Central Market (Mercato Centrale) and La Lonja, the city’s 15th century silk exchange. At the former, you can fill your bags – and your face – with fresh local produce inside a perfect specimen of Spanish modernism. You can pause to eat here too at one of the tapas spots – great for people-watching. At La Lonja, you can discover the history of the city’s financial prosperity in a Gothic masterpiece. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and, despite the large number of visitors, still a place of serenity with a lovely orangery and a sense of space and peace.
Choose car hire in Valencia and everything this truly special city holds is at your fingertips, whether it’s the palaces of the past or the modern city that captures your attention.