Valencia, Spain, may not be as refined as Barcelona or Madrid, but it is nonetheless pretty and worthy of a visit. Just 4 hours from Barcelona, getting to Valencia is easy on the autopistas [highways]. So it is a good destination to put on your list if you have decided to go on a tour of Spain.
There is lots of activity in Valencia, and heaps of construction happening too. You should not be surprised to see huge cranes dotting the landscape. There are also two distinct sections to this town: one more modern and the other historical. The newer section of Valencia will have all the usual amenities you will find all over the world, including a McDonald’s. So if you’re tired of the native foods, here’s your chance to have a Big Mac. This area is pretty much residential and industrial, so I recommend you avoid it since there is not much to see.
Old Town is more like what you’d expect to see in Spain, with it’s charming churches and winding roads. Valencia has a marvelous bull ring, and if you get the chance, you should see a bullfight [Editor’s note: Ten Foot Square does not necessarily support this activity]. Museo Taurino is a terrific bullfighting museum right next to the ring, which is free of charge. The display of matador costumes offers a colorful perspective on the sport, and the old photos are a marvel of action.
You must not leave Valencia without tasting some Paella Valenciana, which is named specifically for the area. This delightful dish is a feast for the senses, with it’s colorful ingredients of red peppers, yellow saffron rice, chicken and fresh seafood. It is fairly cheap here, in comparison to other parts of the world and it usually comes in enormous portions big enough for two to share. Couple your paella with a divine sangria, and you’re guaranteed a tasty and filling meal to carry you through the rest of your sightseeing.
I recommend the Hotel Astoria for your stay, as it is centrally located and quite inexpensive. The rooms are very large and clean, and my husband marveled at the luxurious bathroom suites, complete with a bidet. Valencia is a city made for walking, and a rental car is completely unnecessary as the public transportation system is well designed.
There are many parks and squares around Valencia, with the largest being Plaza de l’Ajuntament. Here you’ll find the town hall building, a movie theater and many restaurants and bars. Plaza de la Verge is the most popular with locals and tourists alike, and has the famous Turia Fountain.
If you happen to be going in March, you’re in great luck as Las Fallas is running. This festival brings the best potters and paella makers to town to celebrate. In August, neighboring Bunol hosts the wild Tomatina festival. It is nothing more than an enormous food-fight, where thousands of visitors take part in throwing tomatoes at each other and gives adults a chance to behave like a kid again. The place is an absolute disaster after the event, but miraculously everything is perfectly cleaned up within days.
Shopping in Valencia is a treat, as you can purchase traditional Spanish ceramics or a trendy outfit from a boutique all on the same block. There is the famous El Corte Ingles, a brilliant and enormous store that is located in the bigger cities in Spain, and it is a great place to pick up interesting souvenirs to bring home to family and friends as well as indulge in some personal mementos as well.