VALENCIA – A city of two integrated parts, it is fast becoming one of the most popular destinations in Spain. The combination of gothic and modern architecture makes Valencia a visual and cultural feast. This new Valencia, while still embracing its past history and culture, is a city that, far from remaining outdated, is entering the new millennium as one of the most futuristic cities in Europe.

Valencia is full of tourist attractions eager to captivate you – Museums, Festivals, Beaches, Sporting Events, Restaurants and Leisure Centers, together with a rich and varied historical, cultural and natural heritage to discover.

HOW TO GET TO VALENCIA – Valencia airport (VLC) is located 9 km from the city center and you can choose between 2 buses (the Aerobús is more direct) or a taxi (cost approximately 10 euros).

BY TRAIN – mainly from Madrid or Barcelona, ​​the Estacion Del Norte is located in the center of the city.

BY ROAD – Approx. 2 hours drive from Valencia via the main A7 toll motorway and approx. 3 hours by car from Barcelona. There are many bus and coach trips that go to the Valencia bus station, which is about a 15 minute walk from the center.

BY SEA – There is a ferry service to the nearby Balearic Islands of Mallorca (about 3 hours) and Ibiza (about 2 hours). CITY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES OF VALENCIA – The city of arts and sciences, the Palacio de Congresos, the Alameda Metro Station or the transformation of the port in preparation for the 2007 Sailing America’s Cup, have brought to Valencia the talent of such greats of the 20th century. architects like Santiago Calatrava, Norman Foster and Félix Candela. Between them, they have drastically changed the exterior appearance of the integral area of ​​the port, with panels of steel, white concrete and ceramics interspersed with water features, high areas with plants and lush gardens.

Conceived as a place to publicize scientific and artistic knowledge, the city of arts and sciences has five main spaces – L’HEMISFERIC – A half-sphere surrounded by enormous metal “tabs” and which is doubled through its reflection in the spectacular pool that surrounds it With a semicircular screen of 900 square meters, where three-dimensional films in Imax format are projected, this building seeks to instruct people in topics that are normally the responsibility of scientists.

REINA SOFIA PALACE OF THE ARTS – It is the jewel of the city of arts and sciences, with 40,000 square meters distributed in three auditoriums dedicated to opera, dance, theater and music in general. Like a great symbolic sculpture, its nautical form is a contrast between the opaque and the transparent, giving rise to sensations that change as we move. This building created by Santiago Calatrave is full of architectural surprises, a place that, according to its creator, seeks to “take people to a circular place so that they can move around the music.”

PRÍNCIPE FELIPE SCIENCE MUSEUM – The educational approach inherent to the complex finds its maximum expression here. In a center that aims to synthesize the contents of the 17 museums of this kind in Spain. It is an iron, glass and concrete structure that plays with light, creating the sensation of seeing the skeleton of a large white dinosaur. Modernity and Technology come together at the service of a museum of the future, a place where the visitor ceases to be a mere spectator to become an interactive element of this new way of understanding science.

L’UMBRACLE – Fantastically pleasing to the eye, this massive sculpted steel covered central walkway is a walkway of different trees and plants blending into the concrete and metal of its modern setting. A truly serene place to pontificate about life.

L’OCEANOGRAFIC – This is a new type of aquarium, an 80,000 square meter underwater city that allows you to discover the treasures of the seven seas. Designed by the late architect Félix Candela, the oceanographic park is considered the largest in Europe by the number and variety of its animal species and one of the largest in the world by volume of water.

THE HISTORIC CITY OF VALENCIA – The historic center of Valencia is the stretch of town that arose around the cathedral and was included within the medieval wall built in 1356, parts of which are still preserved.

The Old Town consists of five districts. Among which the Barrio del Carmen stands out and is popular. Visiting the Roman, Muslim and Visigothic remains of La Almoina, the Portal de la Valldigno or the Arab Baths of the Admiral will allow you to delve into the historical roots of the evolution of the town. The archaeological remains around the Plaza de la Almoina take you back more than 2,000 years to Roman times. Valencia was originally a walled city with towers located in strategic places, of which two are preserved, Quart and Serranos. The Quart towers were built between 1441 and 1460 to protect the Quart gate and the Castilla road. The Serranos towers were built between 1392 and 1398 next to the bridge of the same name, to defend the path of the Serranos region, hence its name. Both towers have been used as prisons. Barracks as a women’s prison in 1626 and Serranos for nobles and knights between 1586 and 1887. Also noteworthy is the Valencia Cathedral, which was built between 1262 and 1356 on top of a Roman temple and later a Muslim mosque. Recently discovered 15th century frescoes by Francesco Pagano and Paolo De San Leocadio can be seen on display.

For history buffs there are many other beautiful historic buildings, plus a number of iconic monuments, notably the Plaza De La Reina. Also fantastic museums (24 in total) such as the Museo De Bellas Artes (founded in 1683 and is the museum of fine arts), Almudin (built in the 14th century and between 1908 and 1991 became the paleontology museum) and Museo De La Ciudan (for the full history of Valencia) to name just a few. LEISURE – For the Horticulturist there are some beautiful gardens in Valencia, most of them inherited from the Arab culture. Some of the obligatory visits are the Jardines De Viveros (children’s gardens) that previously belonged to the palace of the Muslim king ABD Al-Aziz, Alameditas De Serranos which is a garden area on the right bank of the Turia river, built in 1830 with many sculptures placed among the varied fruit trees and palm trees and the multiple flora. Jardines De Monforte (now classified as a national artistic garden) and Jardín De La Glorieta (the oldest garden in Valencia built between 1817 and 1844) BEACHES – Valencia is blessed with four beaches, all with fine golden sand and ranging from 2,700 meters in long up to 4,940 meters in length. Two beaches, Pinedo, south of the Valencia seaport and Arenas-Malvarrosa, which are the city beaches, have bars and restaurants along the adjacent avenues, while the beaches of El Saler and La Devesa are a few steps from the car parks and, therefore, are much quieter beach areas. . GOLF – There are five golf courses spread throughout Valencia, Club De Golf El Bosque (18 holes), Club De Golf Escorpion (27 holes), Club De Golf Manises (9 holes and the oldest club), Club De Oliva Nova (18 hoyos ) ) was designed by Severiano Ballesteros, and the El Saler Golf Club (18 holes) is considered one of the best golf courses in the world. SAILING – Valencia has a fantastic port which has recently been significantly upgraded to host the America’s Cup and is open to the public with a wealth of activities, games, restaurants, bars and shops. MOTORCYCLE RACING – Valencia has its own circuit named after Ricardo Tormo, the first Valencian rider to win a world championship.

NIGHTLIFE – Valencia offers a wide and varied leisure scene for young and old, heterosexuals and gays. From theaters (14 in total), concerts, discos, casinos, flamenco and parties, everything is here in large numbers.

HOTELS – Being Valencia there is, as expected, a huge range of exceptional hotels from three to five stars. Among others, Hilton Valencia (5 stars), Hospes Palau De La Mar (5 stars), Sorolla Palace (5 stars), Barceló Valencia (4 stars), AC Valencia (4 stars), Husa Chil Art (4 stars), Husa Reina Victoria (4 Stars), Expo Hotel (3 Stars), Beta Hotel Valencia (3 Stars) and Renasa (3 Stars). Other options are Red Nest Hostel and Purple Nest Hostel, which are good budget options in the city center and Home Hostels has four hostels around the city. To rent an apartment, go to Alojamiento Apartamentos Valencia, which has more than 40 centrally located and equipped apartments.

Valencia has much more to offer the tourist or history buff. It must be classified as one of the most dynamic and versatile cities in Europe. Come see for yourself.