Valencia
Culture & Heritage

Explora la cultura de Valencia: Tradición viva

Sumérgete en la rica historia y cultura de Valencia a través de sus museos y monumentos.

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City of Arts and Sciences

City
4 days
Spain
City: Valencia

Valencia, the jewel of the Spanish Mediterranean, is a city of dazzling contrasts, where the futuristic architecture of Santiago Calatrava coexists with a thousand-year-old old town.Home of paella, sun-drenched and blessed with the vast Turia Garden, Valencia offers a perfect blend of culture, gastronomy, beach and vibrant urban life.

Recommended stay: 4 days
Valencia
Cultura

Culture & Heritage

Discover the rich history, art and traditions of Valencia

88/100cultural rating

A city with a strong cultural identity, marked by the Fallas, the art of Sorolla and a rich musical tradition.

Best of local culture

Las Fallas are a festival of art, satire and fire unique in the world, a World Heritage Site.Museum of Fine Arts, with an excellent collection of Valencian masters (Sorolla, Ribalta).Tradition of marching bands and pyrotechnics.The City of Arts and Sciences is a global icon of modern architecture.The Silk Exchange is a masterpiece of civil Gothic.Spectacular modernist markets (Central, Colón).The El Cabanyal neighborhood has a unique popular architecture.

Museums & Galleries

L'Oceanogràfic

The largest aquarium in Europe, located in the City of Arts.It represents the main marine ecosystems of the planet.

Silk Market

A jewel of Valencian civil Gothic and a World Heritage Site.Symbol of the commercial power of the city in the Golden Age.

Valencia Cathedral and El Miguelete

Gothic style cathedral that, according to tradition, guards the Holy Grail.Climb its bell tower, the Miguelete, for views of the center.

Carmen neighborhood

The heart of the old town.A labyrinth of medieval streets full of palaces, bars, shops and urban art.

Festivals & Events

Las Fallas

15-19 de Marzo

The most important festival, where the city is filled with monuments made of papier-mâché, gunpowder, music and fire.

Semana Santa Marinera

March or April

The celebration of Holy Week in the maritime neighborhoods, with their own identity and tradition and closely linked to the sea.

Gran Fira de València

Julio

The big month of summer, with concerts, fireworks and the Battle of Flowers as the culmination.

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Historia

History

Origins

Founded as the Roman colony of 'Valentia Edetanorum' in 138 BC, it was an important enclave.After the fall of Rome, it passed through Visigoth hands and flourished greatly under Muslim rule as 'Balansiya', a Taifa capital known for its poetry and gardens.

Development

The 15th century was the Valencian Golden Age. The city became an economic power in the Mediterranean thanks to the silk trade, leaving as a legacy the spectacular Lonja de la Seda, a World Heritage Site, and a rich Gothic heritage.

Modern era

The great flood of the Turia River in 1957 changed the city forever.The riverbed was diverted and the Turia Garden was created in its old bed, an immense urban park that is the lung of the city.At the end of the 20th century, the construction of the City of Arts and Sciences projected it as an icon of avant-garde architecture.

Ratings

Scores by category

Culture

88

A city with a strong cultural identity, marked by the Fallas, the art of Sorolla and a rich musical tradition.

Las Fallas are a festival of art, satire and fire unique in the world, a World Heritage Site.Museum of Fine Arts, with an excellent collection of Valencian masters (Sorolla, Ribalta).Tradition of marching bands and pyrotechnics.
The offer of large international museums is not as wide as in Madrid or Barcelona.

Heritage

90

A city with more than 2000 years of history, which experienced its maximum splendor as one of the commercial capitals of the Mediterranean.

The Silk Exchange (UNESCO) symbolizes its power in the Golden Age.Roman remains visible in the center.The Serranos and Quart Towers, imposing medieval gates.Seat of the Holy Grail (according to tradition).
It did not have the role of imperial capital of other Spanish cities.

Architecture

95

An architectural journey from Valencian Gothic to Calatrava's futuristic avant-garde.

The City of Arts and Sciences is a global icon of modern architecture.The Silk Exchange is a masterpiece of civil Gothic.Spectacular modernist markets (Central, Colón).The El Cabanyal neighborhood has a unique popular architecture.
The historic center is not as monumentally homogeneous as that of other Spanish cities.
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Consejos

Tips for Culture & Heritage

Beyond Malvarrosa

For a quieter and wilder beach experience, take a bus to El Saler beach, next to the Albufera Natural Park.

Explore El Cabanyal

Get lost in the old fishing district, with its modernist houses with colored tiles. It is a popular architectural gem.

Understanding Failures

If you visit during the Fallas, be prepared for the noise of firecrackers and crowds. The 'mascletà' (2:00 p.m. in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento) is a spectacle of noise, not light.

Horarios de Comida

Lunch is between 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Dinner usually does not start before 9:00 p.m.

Agua del Grifo

Tap water is drinkable but has a high lime content and a strong taste. Most people prefer to drink bottled water.

Protección Solar

Even outside of summer, the Valencian sun can be strong. Use sunscreen, especially if you go to the beach or walk along the Turia.

Ciudad Segura

Valencia is a very safe city. Apply common sense and keep an eye on your belongings in busy areas such as the Central Market or during festivals.

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Country
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