| Valencia | ||
 | ||
Coat of arms and flag  .svg/70px-Flag_of_the_Valencian_Community_(2x3).svg.png){kind=small} | ||
| State | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Valencian community | |
| Altitude | 15 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 134.65 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 791.413 (2018) | |
| Name inhabitants | Valencian, -na | |
| Prefix tel | 34 96 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 46000 | |
| Time zone | UTC 1 | |
| Patron | St. Vincent martyr, Madonna of the Abandoned | |
Position
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| Tourism site | ||
| Institutional website | ||
Valencia is a city of Spain, capital of the province of the same name.
To know
Geographical notes
Valencia is located on the banks of the Turia River and today extends to the Mediterranean coast in the center of the Gulf of Valencia. At the time the Romans founded it, the city was located on an island in the Turia River about four kilometers away from the sea.
The city is at the center of a coastal plain, the largest in the Spanish Mediterranean. It is surrounded by low hills such as the Sierra Calderona to the north, the Serrania del Turia mountains to the north-east, the Sierra de las Cabrillas to the west and the Caroig massif to the south-west.
The territory around the city bears the historical name of Huerta de Valencia (Horta de València in Valencian). Characterized by very fertile soils, the area was used since pre-Roman times for the cultivation of fruit trees, especially orchards, vineyards and various vegetables from which the name derives (gardens of Valencia). After the fall of the Roman Empire the gardens were abandoned but rearranged at the time of Muslim domination thanks to reclamation works and the construction of mills.
Ten kilometers south of the center is the Albufera de Valencia, property of the Crown of Spain until 1911, when it was redeemed by the municipality at a price of 1,072,980.41 pesetas. The lagoon is one of the largest in Spain and is surrounded by 14,100 hectares of marshland where the intensive cultivation of rice is practiced, which appears as an ingredient in the famous Valencian paella. The Albufera de Valencia has been a protected natural area since 1986.
When to go
| Climate | gen | Feb | mar | apr | mag | down | Jul | needle | set | Oct | nov | dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum (° C) | 15 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 22 | 26 | 30 | 30 | 26 | 22 | 17 | 15 |
| Minimum (° C) | 5 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 11 | 7 | 5 |
| Precipitation (mm) | 56 | 55 | 55 | 54 | 50 | 36 | 27 | 42 | 57 | 59 | 56 | 54 |
How to orient yourself
Valencia - Ciutat Vella: full screen map.Plaza de la Reina is the central square of the Old Town (Ciutat Vella) of Valencia. The cathedral overlooks it. The streets (calles) Micalet, Pau, Avellanes, del Mar and de Cabillers converge
Once you have taken calle Micalet you reach Plaza de la Virgen, an irregularly shaped square that stands on the site of the ancient Roman forum.
From plaza de la Reina the calle San Vicente Martir leads to Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
Among the districts of the Ciutat Vella, the barrio del Carmen gathered around the convent and the church of the same name. Its limits are marked by the calles Serranos and Caballero. The barrio is full of nightclubs frequented by young people.
How to get
By plane
- 1 Valencia Airport (Aeropuerto de Manises). The airport has 3 terminals, T1 and T2 are used for national, international and Schengen Community flights while the Regional terminal, inaugurated in 2007, is intended exclusively for regional aviation. The airport has duty-free shops, bars and fast food outlets. It also has a VIP lounge and other types of services such as ATMs, public telephones, Wi-Fi internet, medical and nursing assistance, pharmacy, elevators, ramps and toilets adapted for disabled passengers.
- As of 2019, the flights to / from Italian airports were managed by the following companies:
- Alitalia — Rome-Fiumicino.
- Ryanair — Bari-Palese, Bologna, Cagliari-Elmas, Bergamo-Orio al Serio, Milan-Malpensa, Naples-Capodichino, Palermo-Punta Raisi, Pisa-Galileo Galilei, Rome-Ciampino, Treviso-Sant'Angelo, Trieste-Friuli Venezia Giulia, Turin- Boxes.
- Vueling - From Catania-Fontanarrosa e Rome-Fiumicino, plus a seasonal flight only in the Christmas period from Milan-Malpensa.
- The airport has a train station at which Metrovalencia lines 3 and 5 terminate. The ride to Játiva Central Station takes approximately 20 minutes. Trains run from 05:30 22:29 on weekdays, from 07:30 to 21:08 on Sundays. Their frequency is 7/15 minutes. The airport also has a bus station where the Valencia MetroBus (Line 150) stops.
You can reach Valencia from Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca, Mahón with one of the companies' ferries Balearia, Iscomar[link not working], Trasmediterranea
On the train
- 2 Estación del Norte, Calle de Játiva 2 (just 800 meters from Plaza de la Reyna). Long-distance trains from Barcelona, Tarragona, Seville, Murcia, Cartagena is Lorca, Elche, Alicante, Albacete, Ciudad Real, Cuenca, Alcoy, Zaragoza, Huesca is Tortosa. Information on timetables and trains can be found on the website of the RENFE.
- 3 Estación de Joaquín Sorolla, calle San Vicente Mártir and calle Maestro Sosa esquina Filipinas (A few minutes walk from the "Jesús" station on Metrovalencia lines 1, 2 and 7). Built between 2008 and 2010 as a high-speed train station. In fact, the AVE trains coming from Madrid-Puerta de Atocha. Euromed trains also stop at this station Alicante to Barcelona-Sants and Alvia trains from Castellón to Madrid.
By bus
- 4 Central suburban bus station (Estación Central de Autobuses de Valencia), Avenida de Menéndez Pidal nº 13 (200 meters from the Tubìa Metrovalencia station), ☎ 34 963 46 62 66. Most of the buses terminate there regional, national and international.
How to get around
Renting a bike is the most fun and enjoyable way to visit Valencia from Turia to Malvarrosa. To report BeBike in carrer del mar.
What see
- 1 Cathedral (Cathedral of Santa María de Valencia), Plaza de la Reina. Built in 1238 on the site of a mosque, the cathedral of Valencia has a heterogeneous style from Romanesque to Baroque, a consequence of the numerous restorations it underwent over the centuries. Inside, a relic of the Holy Chalice is venerated, which according to tradition was used by Jesus during the Last Supper. The complex includes the Museo Catedralicio Diocesano which exhibits, among other things, a work by Goya (V room, Borgia Chapel).
- 2 Miguelete (El Micalet in Valencian). The bell tower of the cathedral was built between 1381 and 1420. It is 51 m high. and it is possible to climb to the top of the terrace thanks to an internal staircase with 207 steps.
- 3 Valencian Institute of Modern Art (IVAM), Guillem de Castro, 118 (Barrio del Carmen - Ciutat Vella), ☎ 34 96 386 30 00, fax: 34 96 392 10 94. The institute is made up of two distinct buildings: An ultramodern building where works by Julio González, an avant-garde artist who obtained sculptures from iron working. The other museum is instead housed in the former convent of Carmen. It houses works by contemporary artists.
- 4 Museo Nacional de Cerámica y de las Artes Suntuarias González Martí, Calle del Poeta Querol, 2 (Metro stop: Plaza). The museum houses ceramic collections including Roman, pre-Roman and medieval. The museum is housed in a Rococo-style noble palace built by the Marquis Dos Aguas in 1740.
- 5 Museum of Bellas Artes, Calle San Pío V, nº 9 (Alameda metro stop), ☎ 34 96 387 03 00.
Free admission. One of the most famous museums in Spain, especially as regards the collections of oils on canvas. Among the most admired works are Velasquez's self-portrait, El Greco's Saint John the Baptist and Pinturicchio's Virgin and Child. Also noteworthy is the collection of Flemish paintings including works by Hieronymus Bosch. - 6 Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, Autopista del Saler Avenue. A modern complex with spaces dedicated to culture and entertainment, similar in concept to the expo of Seville. Among the buildings that compose it we must mention El Hemisfèric, the work of the architect Santiago Calatrava, the science museum (Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe), El Oceanográfico, Palacio de las Artes.
Free admission. One of the most famous museums in Spain, especially as regards the collections of oils on canvas. Among the most admired works are Velasquez's self-portrait, El Greco's Saint John the Baptist and Pinturicchio's Virgin and Child. Also noteworthy is the collection of Flemish paintings including works by Events and parties
- Las Fallas.
From 1st to 19th March..
From 1st to 19th March..What to do
Shopping
How to have fun
The essential starting point for any Valencian night is the Barrio del Carmen, the neighborhood of Arab origin and the oldest area of the historic center. Traditionally popular neighborhood and in decline until a few years ago, it was recently renovated and is now a center that perfectly blends different cultures and urban expressions. Here the night is spent moving from one pub to another, consuming Cerveza or Agua de Valencia, the cocktail made of orange juice, Cointreau, Vodka and the local Cava sparkling wine, eating the typical Tapas in the Cervecerie. The barrio del Carmen remains a point of reference even when in the summer the fun moves to the bars on the coast, which have become very trendy following the inauguration of the America's Cup space.
Where to eat
The best known dish of Valencian cuisine is the Paella. It is a preparation based on rice, saffron and olive oil, which takes its name from the metal container in which it is cooked, called in Valencian Paella. This dish, which is internationally associated with Spanish cuisine, originates from Valencia, and has spread to the rest of Spain only since the end of the 19th century. There are now many variations, but the traditional recipe, which has taken the name of "Valencian paella", is seasoned with meat (chicken and rabbit) and vegetables (tomato and green beans). Another typical Valencian specialty ishorchata, a refreshing drink prepared with water, sugar and chufa, a tubercle of a plant, the Cyperus esculentus, widespread in the plain of Valencia. Traditionally it is eaten as a snack together with a couple of fartons, typical elongated biscuits. It is served in most bars, in street kiosks, as well as in dedicated places called horchaterías: the original and best horchata can be tasted in one of the numerous horchaterie (the most famous is "Daniel") by Alboraya, a small town adjacent to Valencia. There is also theAgua de Valencia, which literally means "Valencian water", is actually a cocktail made with orange juice, cava (Spanish sparkling wine) and vodka.
Moderate prices
- Cerveceria 100 Montaditos, Plaza de la Reina 10. A chain spread throughout Spain where you can eat small and tasty sandwiches of all kinds (montaditos) and dozens of delicious tapas, spending just over one euro for each sandwich and 1 euro for a medium beer
Average prices
- La Marcelina, Paseo Neptuno, 8 (Malvarrosa). It is a slightly retro restaurant frequented exclusively by Spaniards who arrive at 3pm and eat all afternoon, amidst the 60s dolce vita background music, excellent food and elegant service
- [link not working]The estimat, Avenida de Neptuno, 16 (Malvarrosa). It is a historic place, the first to open on the beach, where Hemingway used to go for a spree. Let's say it keeps going, the location is fantastic and eating a paella in front of the Malvarrosa coast is always very nice. The prices are not cheap, minimum 16 euros for a paella, but it's worth it, the wines are great.
- Orio, C / San Vicente Martir, 23. Modern, very neat and clean, at the counter an infinity of tapas with beer and aperitifs, all very good for all tastes, you pay for the toothpicks in the Basque dish. Inside the à la carte restaurant a little more compliant, the service is pleasant.
High prices
- La Pilareta (formerly El Pilar bar), Calle Moro Zeit, 13 (On the Bolseria square). Certainly the most famous and well-stocked tapas-bar, it has existed since 1918 and is always very busy despite the somewhat high prices.
Where stay
Moderate prices
- Red Nest Hostel, Calle de la Paz 36, ☎ 34 963427168, fax: 34 963427128, @[email protected].
- Purple Nest Hostel, Plaza Tetuan 5, ☎ 34 963532561, fax: 34 963427128, @[email protected].
- Hôme Hostels, Plaza Vicente Iborra S / N, ☎ 34 963913797, @[email protected]. From € 15. Youth hotel of the Nest Hostels chain.
- Center-Valencia, Calle Samaniego 18 (Barrio del Carmen). 11 AM. New functional hostel, with beds in dorm rooms. Free access to the network via wi-fi. Laundry service. Smoking or drinking alcohol is not permitted.
- [link not working]Hostal al Rincon, Calle Carda 11, Mercado. Prices starting from 17 € for single room without bathroom. The structure is equipped with wi-fi service.
Average prices
- Hostal Venecia, Pza. Ayuntamiento, 3. Valencia, 46002, ☎ 34 9635242. Renowned, despite the moderate prices, the Hostal Venecia is located in the center. Its rooms, all with bathroom, are rather simple but comfortable.
Safety
Like all other European states, it runs the remote risk of terrorist attacks. Local crime is generally low and not very widespread, although pickpockets are quite common in the main tourist areas. It is therefore recommended not to walk alone after midnight in suburban areas, and to take the normal precautions for personal safety.
How to keep in touch
Around
- Albufera - Possible guided navigation tours (in Spanish or English). Natural environment, partly left intact, partly converted to rice cultivation.
- El Saler - Beach with protected dunes, Mediterranean scrub.
- Pinedo - Country overlooking the Turia, has its own rather wide beach, near the port. Inside the village there are some restaurants where freshly made paella is served.
