Valencia

Valencia is a modern metropolis made of skyscrapers and buildings that break the traditional architectural rules, but its primitive appearance dates back to the first centuries BC, when it was only a commercial street of luxury ceramics, around which the first community of Iberian peoples was established.
However, its foundation took place later, with the arrival of the Romans in the year 138 BC, and since then the city prospered and experienced a peaceful coexistence with the Visigoths, Swabians, Jews and Hispano-Romans who had settled in the territory.
Then came the Muslims who made urban improvements and major civil and military engineering works that left their mark.
Subsequently, after a long series of conflicts, the King of Aragon James I conquered the city, in 1238, and he had the Arabs expelled.

Over the centuries, Valencia experienced a period of great architectural splendour with the construction of important buildings such as the Porta dels Serrans, the Micalet and the chapel of the Kings of the Convent of Santo Domingo; cultural splendour with the publication of popular literary works written in the Valencian language; and economic splendour with the production and processing of silk that the nobles, the clergy and the bourgeoisie bought to dress or to adorn their palaces, churches and houses.
Furthermore, the Guild of Velluters (velvet weaver) was born, the most practiced trade in the city, and an impressive palace for the silk trade was built: the Llotja de la Seda.
Later, social, economic, political and religious problems resurfaced and for a long time there were wars and internal conflicts that caused so much death and destruction, but with time and the spread of new currents of thought, the appearance of the city began to change.
The old medieval walls were demolished to make way for an urban expansion project of the territory and many wonderful palaces, monuments and museums were built which today constitute a major tourist attraction.

PARKS AND GARDENS

As for the parks and gardens that you can see in Valencia, they are:

• Jardí del Xalet de Panach (Garden of the Panach Chalet);
• Parc Lineal de Benimàmet (Lineal Park of Benimamet);
• Jardí de Beniferri (Garden of Beniferri);
• Parc de Orriols (Orriols Park);
• Jardí de la Universitat Politècnica de València (Garden of the Polytechnic University of Valencia);
• Jardí de Albalat dels Tarongers (Garden of Albalat dels Tarongers);
• Parc Doctor Lluch (Doctor Lluch Park);
• Jardins de Neptú (Gardens of Neptune);
• Parc Bufa la Nau (Bufa la Nau Park);
• Parc Mar Blava (Mar Blava Park);
• Devesa del Saler;
• Parc natural de l’Albufera (Albufera Natural Park);
• Jardí de Polífilo (Garden of Polifilo);
• Bioparc;
• Parc de Capçalera (Park of Capçalera);
• Jardí Profesor Antonio Llombart (Garden Professor Antonio Llombart);
• Parc de Benicalap (Benicalap Park);
• Jardí del Camino de Moncada (Garden of Camino de Moncada);
• Parc de Marxalenes (Marxalenes Park);
• Jardí de Morvedre (Garden of Morvedre);
• Jardins del Real (Royal Gardens);
• Vivers municipals (Gardens of the nurseries);
• Jardí de Monforte (Garden of Monforte);
• Jardí del Turia (Turia Garden);
• Jardí d’Aiora (Garden of Aiora);
• Parc Urbà de Malilla (Urban park of Malilla);
• Parc de la Rambleta (Rambleta Park);
• Parc del Oeste (West Park);
• Jardí de les Hespèrides (Garden of the Hesperides);
• Jardí Botànic de la Universitat de València (Botanical Garden of the University of Valencia);
• Jardí Arqueològico (Archaeological Garden);
• Jardins de l’Hospital Vell (Gardens of the old hospital);
• Jardins de Parcent (Parcent Gardens);
• Jardins de la Glorieta (Gardens of the Glorieta);
• Parc Central (Central Park).

MUSEUMS

The museums that you can visit in Valencia are:

• Museum of the Falles Artist;
• Bombas Gens Art Centre;
• Concha Piquer House Museum;
• Museu Belles Arts (Museum of Fine Arts);
• Museu de Ciències Naturals (Museum of Natural Sciences);
• Museo Histórico Militar (Military History Museum);
• Blasco Ibáñez House Museum;
• Museu de la Setmana Santa Marinera (Museum of the Maritime Holy Week);
• Museu de l’Arròs (Rice Museum);
• Reales Atarazanas (Royal Arsenals);
• Museu Faller (Museum of the Falles);
• Museu d’Història de València (History Museum);
• Centro Museístic La Beneficència (The Charity Museum Center);
• Museu d’etnologia (Museum of Ethnology);
• Museu de la Paraula (Museum of the Word);
• Museu de Prehistòria de València (Museum of Prehistory);
• IVAM, Institut Valencià d’Art Modern (Valencian Institute of Modern Art);
• Benlliure House Museum;
• Centro del Carme Cultura Contemporània (Centre of Carmel for Contemporary Culture);
• Casa de les Roques (House of the Chariots);
• Galería del Tossal;
• Iber Museo de los Soldaditos de Plomo (Museum of lead soldiers);
• Almoina Center Arqueològic (Almoina Archaeological Centre);
• MUMA (Marian Museum of the Our Lady of the Forsaken);
• Museo Catedralicio Diocesano (Diocesan Museum of the Cathedral);
• Museu de la Ciutat de València (Museum of the City of Valencia);
• Cripta arqueológica de la cárcel de San Vicente Mártir (Archaeological crypt of the prison of Saint Vincent of Saragossa);
• Aula Grial;
• Palau de Cervelló (Palace of Cervelló);
• Fundación Bancaja (Bancaja Foundation);
• Museu de Ceràmica i de les Arts Sumptuàries González Martí (González Martí Museum of Ceramics and Sumptuary Arts);
• Museu Històric Municipal de València (Municipal Historical Museum);
• MuVIM Museu Valencià de la Il-lustració i de la Modernitat (Valencian Museum of Enlightenment and Modernity);
• Centro de Artesanía Comunitat Valenciana (Valencian Community Craft Centre);
• Museu de la Seda (Silk Museum);
• Lonja de la Seda (Loggia of the Silk);
• Museu Taurí (Bullfighting Museum).

ARCHITECTURE

The palaces and architectural works that you can admire in Valencia are:

• Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències (City of Arts and Sciences);
• Casa de la Serena;
• San Juan de Dios Asylum Hospital;
• El Casinet;
• Calabulg House;
• Tinglados del puerto;
• Clock building;
• Barrio de El Cabanyal (Neighborhood of El Cabanyal);
• Palau de l’Exposició (Palace of the Exposition);
• Asilo de Lactancia (Infant nursery school);
• Tabacalera (Tobacco Factory);
• Sala de Máquinas (Room of Machines);
• Pabellón de Motores (Motor Pavilion);
• The Valencian Lanera Industry;
• Palau de la Música;
• Pont de l’Exposició (Bridge of the Exposition);
• Pont de les Flors (Bridge of Flowers);
• Pont del Mar (Bridge of the Sea);
• Edificio Ferrer (Ferrer building);
• Casa de los Dragones;
• Casa Castelló (Castelló House);
• Cortina Pérez building;
• Peris building;
• Manuel Peris House;
• Casa de Lorenzo Colomer;
• Chapa building;
• Casa de las Golondrinas;
• Ortega House;
• Francisco Sancho Building;
• Estació del Nord (North Station);
• Serranos Towers;
• Quart Towers;
• Palacio de Correos y Telégrafos (Palace of Posts and Telegraphs);
• Palacio de Justicia (Palace of Justice);
• Palacio de Fuentehermosa (Castellfort Palace);
• Palau de la Generalitat (Palace of the Valencian Generality);
• Palau de la Batlia (Palace of the Batlia);
• Palau del Marqués de la Scala (Palace of the Marquis of La Scala);
• Palau de Benicarló or Palacio de los Borja (Palace of Benicarló or of the Borgias); Palacio del Temple (Palace of the Temple);
• Casa Boldún;
• Suay building;
• Noguera House;
• Ernesto Ferrer House;
• Banys de l’Almirall (Baths of the Admiral);
• Palau de l’Almirall (Admiral’s Palace);
• Palacio Escrivá y Boil (Escrivá y Boil Palace);
• Palacio de los Catalá de Valeriola (Palace of the Catalá de Valeriola);
• Centre Cultural La Nau;
• Casa de los Gatos (House of the Cats).

CHURCHES AND CONVENTS

The churches, convents and monasteries that you can visit in Valencia are:

• Iglesia de San Juan del Hospital (Church of San Juan del Hospital);
• Convent of Saint Dominic;
• Iglesia de Santa Catalina Mártir (Church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria);
• Iglesia de Santa Catalina y San Agustín (Church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria and San Augustine of Hippo);
• Real Monasterio de la Santísima Trinidad (Royal Monastery of the Holy Trinity);
• Catedral de Santa María de Valencia (Cathedral of Saint Mary);
• Micalet bell tower;
• Real Colegio Seminario del Corpus Christi (Seminary of the Body of Christ);
• Monasterio de Sant Miquel dels Reis (Monastery of St. Michael of the Kings);
• Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Misericordia (Church of Our Lady of Mercy);
• Iglesia de Santa Úrsula (Church of Saint Ursula);
• Iglesia Parroquial de San Nicolás y San Pedro Mártir (Church of Saint Nicholas of Bari and Saint Peter Martyr);
• Basílica de la Virgen de los Desamparados (Basilica of Our Lady of the Forsaken);
• Iglesia de San Esteban (Church of Saint Stephen);
• Iglesia de Santo Tomás y San Felipe Neri (Church of Saint Thomas and Saint Philip Romolo Neri);
• Iglesia de San Juan de la Cruz (Church of St. John of the Cross);
• Real Parroquia de los Santos Juanes o Iglesia de San Juan del Mercado (Royal Parish of Saints Johns or Church of San Juan del Mercado);
• Iglesia de las Escuelas Pías (Church of the Pious Schools);
• Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Pilar y San Lorenzo (Church of Our Lady of the Pillar and Saint Lawrence);
• Iglesia de San Valero y San Vicente Mártir (Church of Saint Valerius of Saragossa and Saint Vincent of Saragossa);
• Iglesia de San Martín Obispo y San Antonio Abad (Church of Saint Martin of Tours and Saint Anthony);
• Real Iglesia del Santísimo Cristo del Salvador (Royal Church of the Most Holy Christ the Saviour);
• Iglesia de San Vicente de la Roqueta called Cristo Rey;
• Real Monasterio de San Cristóbal (Monastery of Saint Christopher);
• Convent of Santa Clara.

BEACHES

The beaches of Valencia are:

• Patacona;
• Malvarrosa;
• Cabanyal;
• Platja de Pinedo;
• Platja de la Garrofera;
• Platja del Recatí;
• Platja del Perelló;
• Platja de l’Arbre del Gos;
• Platja del Saler;
• Platja de la Creu;
• Platja de la Devesa del Saler.

OTHER CITIES OF THE VALENCIAN COMMUNITY TO VISIT:

• ALICANTE: is surrounded by an impressive natural landscape with Mount Benacantil, on which stands the castle of Santa Barbara, Mount Tossal, on which there is the castle of San Fernando, and the beaches of its coastline. Read more here about Alicante
• CASTELLÓN DE LA PLANA: is a modern city which extends over a flat area and it is four kilometres from the Mediterranean coast. Read more here about Castellón de la Plana

HOW TO GET TO VALENCIA

• By train
• By boat
• By bus
• By car
• By plane