Valencia is a city on the Mediterranean coast of eastern Spain. With
almost 790,000 inhabitants, Valencia (Valencian/Catalan València) is
the third largest city in Spain and, after Barcelona, the cultural
center on the Spanish Mediterranean coast. The city of Valencia is
also the capital of the autonomous region of Valencia. Located on
the Costa del Azahar, it borders the important tourist region of
Costa Blanca in the south. Valencia is not only known for tourism,
but also for the wide range of citrus fruits that are exported from
the Valencia region to all of Europe.
Foundation: According
to the Roman historian Titus Livius, the city was founded in 137 BC.
Founded as Valentia by the Roman consul Decimus Iunius Brutus
Callaicus. Later the settlement functioned as a Roman military
colony.
Islamic/Moorish phase: The city was conquered by the
Visigoths during the migration of peoples, but under their rule it
did not develop further. Only after the Arab conquest in 711 did
Balansiya make rapid progress. At the time of the Caliphate of
Cordoba, it had about 15,000 inhabitants.
In 1094 Rodrigo Díaz de
Vivar, better known as El Cid, conquered the city, converted mosques
into churches and installed a bishop in the city, the French monk
Jérôme. After the death of El Cid in 1099, his wife Doña Ximena
succeeded him to the throne. However, Valencia could only be held by
the Christians for two more years. After a long siege, the Moors
retook Valencia.
King James I of Aragon finally seized the city
from the Almohads in 1238 with an army of French, English, German
and Italian and made it the capital of the Kingdom of Valencia,
which belonged to the Crown of Aragon.
In the 15th and 16th
centuries, Valencia was one of the most important cities on the
Mediterranean. Here was the first printing press in the Iberian
Peninsula and it was also here that the first Bible in a Romance
language, Valencian, was printed in 1478. The city had become an
important commercial and financial center in which z. For example,
the banks that enabled Queen Isabella I of Castile to finance the
voyages of Christopher Columbus were based there.
Between 1701
and 1714, after the death of the Spanish King Charles II, the War of
the Spanish Succession raged, Valencia sided with Charles of
Austria. In 1706 the city was aided by the British under Charles
Mordaunt in driving back the Bourbons. The English were able to hold
the city for around 16 months, but then the French Bourbons emerged
victorious from the Battle of Almansa in 1707. The English army left
Valencia and the city lost its privileges.
The 20th Century:
During the Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939, Valencia was part of the
Republican-controlled area and from November 1936 was the seat of
government of the Republic instead of Madrid, which was directly in
the combat zone. Valencia suffered severe damage from the siege by
General Franco's army. Under General Franco, the Valencian language
was banned.
On October 14, 1957, the Río Turia (Valencian Riu
Túria) burst its banks and caused devastating flooding of the entire
city center. One consequence of this was that the river was drained
and diverted in the city area. Today it therefore flows around the
western and southern parts of the city. The conversion of the old
Turia bed into a park and leisure facility took place in the 1990s.
Valencia today: In 2007, the world's largest sailing regatta,
the America's Cup, took place in Valencia. Valencia was awarded the
contract for this mega event in the elimination against other large
Mediterranean regions such as Marseille or Naples and has taken this
as an opportunity to redesign and modernize the entire port area.
Thanks to its location on the busy Mediterranean coast of Spain,
Valencia is easily accessible by all means of transport. The primary
mode of transport is the car, with which you can get around quickly
thanks to the excellently developed infrastructure. Valencia also has an
international airport and a major Mediterranean port.
By plane
Manises International Airport (IATA code VLC) is about 10 km west of
downtown. It is well connected by road to the motorway network, with
quick and easy access to the AP-7 Mediterranean Motorway, which leads
directly north to Barcelona and south to Alicante, and the A-3 to
Madrid.
There are direct flights from Germany by Lufthansa,
Eurowings, easyJet and Ryanair. From Switzerland also with easyJet and
Swiss, from Austria exclusively with Ryanair. Spain's national airline,
Iberia, flies to and from Madrid and Vueling to Barcelona several times
a day.
The underground (lines 3 and 5) takes you to the city
center in about 20-30 minutes. The airport train station is in the
basement of the terminal, there is both a manned counter and several
ticket machines - you can only buy rechargeable magnetic stripe cards
(fee €1), €10 credit is enough for the round trip to the airport.
Alternatively, a certain number of journeys can be loaded - one card can
also be used for several people by loading the corresponding number of
journeys onto the card and then handing it back to the other person
after passing through the automatic check.
The 150 bus is not
quite as fast (about 30-40 minutes) but offers good views on the way
through the ceramic city of Manises right into the center, to the
Central Market. The ride can be purchased from the driver for €1.50.
Departures approximately every 20-25 minutes from 5:25am to 9:34pm
Monday to Saturday.
A taxi ride to the city center costs from
€15, depending on the destination and route (some taxi drivers like to
take longer distances in order to "optimize" the price in their
interest).
By train
Slow media distance connections run from
Estación de Norte main station to many large cities in Spain, and there
are direct connections with the state railway company RENFE to Alicante,
Barcelona and Madrid. Valencia is connected to the European railway
network via Barcelona, a journey from Germany to Valencia takes about 15
hours (you have to change trains in Paris). In local transport, the
train connects the surrounding area on six lines. There are lockers,
various snack bars and toilets in the station.
Estación Valencia
Joaquín Sorolla (shuttle bus from Estación de Norte approx.
7am-11.15pm). Final stop for the high-speed trains, a good 600 meters
from the Estación de Norte. The Euromed runs several times a day between
Barcelona and Valencia, the journey time is just under 2 hours. The AVE
goes to Madrid several times a day. However, the frequency of the
connections is not comparable with the German ICE network, you should
inform yourself in advance. The passport number is required to book
tickets on site at the counter or machine!
By bus
Alternatively, you can also reach Valencia by long-distance buses
(Touring or Eurolines), but you have to reckon with travel times of more
than 24 hours (possibly with a change in Barcelona). The prices are
often higher than those of cheaper plane tickets.
Estación de
Autobuses. Outdated building on the northern edge of downtown. Lockers
for 3-4€. Two hotels in the side wings.
In the street
Valencia
can be reached via the AP-7 (Autopista del Mediteraneo)
Barcelona-Alicante, which is no longer a toll road. The A-3 (Autovía) to
Madrid is also free. Other major highways: N-332 to Alicante.
The
city bypasses are well developed, but there are still traffic jams at
peak times. The city center itself is often choked with traffic, and the
parking situation in particular is catastrophic, as in almost every big
city.
By boat
Valencia has one of the most important seaports
on the Spanish Mediterranean coast with container terminals, ferry and
rail connections. Around 20% of Spanish exports go through the city's
port. There are ferry connections from Transmediteranea to Palma de
Mallorca, Mahon on Menorca and Ibiza. The port of San Antonio on the
latter island is better reached from nearby Denia or Gandia.
Metro: The Metro Valencia operates nine lines, including three tram
lines. The main hubs are the Ángel Guimerà, Colón, Jesús, Marítim and
Benimaclet stations.
Bus: Valencia has a well-functioning, dense
inner-city bus system with over 50 routes, including night buses. It is
operated by the company Empresa Municipal de Transportes (EMT). The
central bus station is north of the old town on Turiaufer (Menéndez
Pidal, 13)
Zones: There are tariff zones A to C with a large overlap
between A and B (see map). Most tourist destinations are in Zone A. Zone
C consists only of the airport.
Fares: A single trip on the metro
costs €1.50 for one zone and €4.80 for three zones (i.e. to the
airport). Metro cards are reusable and cost an extra €1 for a cardboard
card or €2 for a plastic card on first purchase.
The SUMA 10 card is
valid on the metro and bus and costs €8 for one zone (plus card or
plastic card). Within 90 minutes you can transfer as often as you like
between metro lines (including trams) and once to/from the bus or
between bus lines.
A single journey by bus costs €1.50. The Bonobús
ticket for 10 bus rides is hardly worth it compared to the SUMA 10.
The Valencia Tourist Card is a combined card valid for 1, 2 or 3 days
(€15/€20/€25), it entitles you to free use of public transport
(including the airport) and includes discounts for museums, Amenities,
shops and restaurants.
Bike rental: The daily prices for a bike
are between €10 and €15 (e.g. at valenciaGUiAS or DOYOUBIKE). Also in
the bus station is a rental.
For weekly rentals you can use the
Valenbisi (www.valenbisi.es or www.valenbisi.com) and use bicycles for a
week for €13, which are available at around 200 stations throughout the
city. It doesn't require pre-booking once you have a Valenbisi card,
just go to the station and book a bike on the spot. You can then turn it
off at any other station. Half an hour of rental is free, each
additional half hour is charged at €0.50. However, if you put your bike
back in a station and book one again immediately, the minutes start
counting from zero again.
1 Valencia Cathedral (Catedral de Santa María de Valencia). The
Catedral de Santa María de Valencia or La Seu is the Roman Catholic
cathedral of the Archdiocese of Valencia, located in the north-eastern
part of the old town and dedicated to Saint Mary. Built from 1262 in the
Gothic style on the foundations of an old Roman temple and was later a
mosque. The building was often redesigned up to the end of the 18th
century. The west façade, completed between 1703 and 1741, is one of the
most important works of Spanish Baroque. Noteworthy are the Puerta de
los Apóstoles, from the 14th century, and the Puerta del Palau, the
oldest portal of the cathedral, Romanesque with Mudejar influences. Also
worth seeing is the octagonal Gothic bell tower El Micalet, which is
attached to the cathedral and is one of the city's symbols. In addition,
an agate chalice is kept as a relic in the side chapel Capilla del Santo
Caliz in the Cathedral of Valencia, which is venerated by the faithful
as a holy chalice. It is said to be the origin of the legend of the Holy
Grail. Experts date the mortar-shaped stone cup to the 1st century BC.
2 Basilica of the Virgin of the Helpless (basílica de la Virgen de
los Desamparados; Plaza de la Virgen s/n). The baroque basilica , valc.
Basílica de la Mare de Déu dels Desemparats (Basilica of the Virgin of
the Defenseless) was built between 1652 and 1667 by Diego Martínez Ponce
de Urrana. Dedicated to the patron saint of the city, it represents the
most important 17th-century sacred building in Valencia.
3 Church
of Sant Joan del Mercat (Iglesia de los Santos Juanes) . The pilgrimage
chapel, valc. Sant Joan de l'Hospital was built in 1240 on the remains
of a former mosque and rebuilt after various fires in the 14th and 16th
centuries. Today's baroque appearance dates from the early 18th century.
4 St. Catherine's Church (iglesia de Santa Catalina). St.
Catherine's Church is hidden between the houses in the old town. It is
almost completely surrounded by houses that have been built using every
existing wall. The church from 1245 was badly damaged in the Spanish
Civil War (1936 - 39), but restored. Inside it is plain with gothic
structures. The church tower from 1705 is a hexagonal, baroque tower
that characterizes the cityscape and can also be climbed.
5
Monastery of San Miguel de los Reyes (Monasterio de San Miguel de los
Reyes). The monastery was built in Renaissance style by order of the
Duke of Calabria, based on a design by Alonso de Covarrubias and Juan de
Vidaña in 1546. Since 1999 the building has housed the Biblioteca
Valenciana.
1 Serrano Towers (Torres de Serranos) . erected in 1392. Remains of
the former city wall.
2 Quart Towers (Torres de Quart) . Modeled on
the towers of the Castell Nuovo in Naples. Can be climbed for an
entrance fee.
3 Silk Market (Lonja de la Seda) . The Lonja de la Seda
(Spanish) or Llotja de la Seda (Valencian), (Silk Exchange), was founded
in 1469 as an oil market. It took from 1482 to 1533 to complete the
construction with its crenellated tower and Gothic contract hall. During
the following centuries, the Lonja served as a silk exchange. It is
considered to be one of the most important secular Gothic buildings in
Europe. It consists of four parts: the Tower, the Consulado del Mar
Room, the Orange Tree Courtyard and the Columned Room. Next to the tower
rise (tower not accessible) is the chapel, which was a closed room until
1549 and is now a passage to the sea consulate. The chapel can be
recognized by the four evangelists in the corners: Matthew as a man,
Mark as a lion, Luke as a bull and John as an eagle. The Lonja de la
Seda has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since December 7, 1996.
4
Generalitat Valenciana (Generalidad Valenciana). The Palau de la
Generalitat was also built in the Gothic style in the 15th century and
was expanded between the 17th and 20th centuries. The building is now
the seat of the government of the Autonomous Community of Valencia.
5
Admiral's Palace (Palacio del Almirante (Valencia)) . The most important
private Gothic-style building that still survives in Valencia today,
despite numerous renovations.
6 Baths of the Admiral (Baños del
Almirante), Calle Baños del Almirante, 3 . Built in the 14th century
with the typical features of an Arab hammam, the Baños del Almirante are
currently being used. restored and restored to its original condition.
7 North Station (Estación del Norte). Tel.: +34 902.43.23.43
(Administrador de Infraestructuras Ferroviarias), +34 96.353.71.01
(Mall). The North Station is an Art Nouveau building designed by
architect Demetrio Ribes, which was inaugurated in 1917. The mosaics on
the ceilings, floors and walls are remarkable, as are the wrought iron
objects and the generous ceramic surfaces in splendid colors. Features:
parking space, public toilet. Open: Mon–Sat 4:45 am–1:00 am; Sun 0:00 -
24:00.
8 Central Market (Mercado Central de Valencia), Plaza del
Mercado, 5. Valencia . A magnificent Art Nouveau building is the Mercado
Central, consisting of a basement and a basement, with columns and
vaults in brick design.
9 Port Sheds (Tinglados del Puerto de
Valencia). The Tinglados del Puerto warehouse in the port of Valencia
was built in 1910. The Art Nouveau decoration with relief work shows
motifs from trade and shipping, the ceramic mosaics take up typical
Valencian themes: oranges, grapes and other fruits.
Bullring (plaza
de toros de Valencia) . Not far from the North Train Station is the
bullfighting arena, which has a diameter of 52 meters. The arena with
384 stone arches has 12,884 seats. It was designed by Sebastián Monleón
Estellés in the classicism style and built between 1850 and 1860. When
it opened on August 3, 1851, only 3 rows of seats were finished, but
income was urgently needed to have money for further construction. The
rows were expanded with wooden grandstands and the spectacle was
immediately sold out. Today, in addition to bullfights, concerts,
political events and an Oktoberfest also take place in the arena.
City of Arts and Sciences (Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias). The City
of Arts and Sciences was designed by the Valencian architect Santiago
Calatrava and consists of the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía (Opera and
Music Palace with four halls and 37,000 m² total area), L'Oceanogràfic
(the largest aquarium in Europe), Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe
(Museum of Sciences), the botanical garden L'Umbracle and the IMAX 3D
cinema L'Hemisfèric.
10 Palace of Music (Palacio de la Música de
Valencia). The Palau, designed by José María de Paredes and inaugurated
in 1987, is one of the most important concert halls in Europe and
impresses with a gigantic glass vault that serves as the main entrance.
11 Trinity Bridge (puente de la Trinidad). The city's oldest bridge
was built in the 14th century on the site of a previous Gothic-style
structure. It was destroyed during the flood of 1517 and had to be
completely renovated.
12 Exhibition bridge (puente de la Exposición).
The exhibition bridge was designed by Santiago Calatrava and because of
its characteristic curvature has been given the leg mane "La Peineta",
which means something like "stick comb".
13 National Museum of Ceramics and Pompous Art González Martí. (Museo
Nacional de Ceramica y de las Artes Suntuarias González Martí) . The
González Martí National Museum of Ceramics and Decorative Arts is housed
in the Palacio del Marqués de Dos Aguas, built at the end of the 15th
century and remodeled in the 18th century. The museum houses one of the
most comprehensive collections of ceramics from antiquity to Picasso.
Open: Tue – Sat 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. + 4 p.m. – 8 p.m., Sun + public
holidays 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., closed on Mondays. Price: Entry: €2.40.
14
Patriarchal Museum (Museo del Patriarca) . The museum in the Colegio del
Corpus Christi has a collection of paintings from the 16th and 17th
centuries, as well as works by Juan de Juanes, El Greco and early
Flemish painting. Open: Mon – Sun 11 a.m. – 1.30 p.m. Price: Entry:
€1.50.
15 Valencia Museum of Fine Arts (Museo de Bellas Artes de
Valencia), C/San Pío V 9 . The museum is one of the most important
museums in Spain. It displays works by artists from the Valencian school
such as Hernando Yáñez de la Almedina, Juan de Juanes, los Ribalta,
Ribera, Espinosa, Vicente López, Sorolla and Pinazo, as well as
collections by artists such as Pinturicchio, Andrea del Sarto, Van Dyck,
Murillo, Velázquez, Hieronymus Bosch, El Greco and Goya. Open: Tue – Sun
10 a.m. – 8 p.m., Mon closed.
16 Valencian Institute of Modern
Art (Instituto Valenciano de Arte Moderno, IVAM), Guillén de Castro, 118
. The exhibition by the Instituto Valenciano de Arte Moderno (Institute
of Modern Art) covers the artistic avant-garde of the 20th century, from
abstraction and pop art to European informalism and the new figurative
art. Open: Tue – Sun 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., Mon closed. Price: Entry: €2, Sun
free.
Museum of History of Valencia. Housed in the former water
supply reservoir of the city of Valencia, the museum displays
archaeological finds, works of art, scientific instruments, books and
photos related to the history of the city. Open: Tue – Sat 10 a.m. – 2
p.m. + 4.30 p.m. – 8.30 p.m., Sun + public holidays 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Price: Admission: 2 €, Sat, Sun + public holidays free.
Centro
Valenciano de Cultura Mediterránea, Corona, 36. The Centro Valenciano de
Cultura Mediterránea building, built in 1841, houses the Prehistoric
Museum, the Museum of Ethnology and the Valencian Institute for Studies
and Research and specialized libraries of prehistory, ethnology and art.
Open: Tue – Sun 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., in summer until 9 p.m. Price:
Admission free.
Casa Museo Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, Isabel de Villena,
157. The museum, in his home, displays portraits and sculptures as well
as personal belongings of the Valencian writer and politician. Open: Tue
– Sat 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. + 4.30 p.m. – 8.30 p.m., Sun + public holidays 10
a.m. – 3 p.m. Price: Admission: 2 €, Sat, Sun + public holidays free.
Fallero Museum. The museum exhibits the ninots indultats , the satirical
figures of the Fallas that are "pardoned" by the public every year, i.e.
not burned in the bonfire. Open: Mon – Fri 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. + 4 p.m. – 8
p.m., Sat 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Sun + public holidays closed. Price: Entry:
€1.80.
Museo L'Iber, Caballeros, 22. The museum presents a journey
through the history of Valencia, Spain and the world with the world's
largest private collection of tin soldiers. This collection of around
one million figures is on display in an old Gothic palace near Valencia
Cathedral. Open: Wed – Fri 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. + 4 p.m. – 7 p.m., Sat + Sun
11 a.m. – 3 p.m. + 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Price: Entry: €4.
Casa de la
America's Cup, Muelle de la Aduana, s/n (entrance between Edificio del
Reloj and Tinglado nº 2 buildings). Interactive permanent exhibition
about the America's Cup. Open: Mon – Thu 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. + 4 p.m. – 8
p.m., Fri – Sun 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. + 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Parks
University of Valencia Botanical Garden, C/ Quart, 80. Jardí
Botànic, often just called El Botànic, was founded in 1567 as a garden
for medicinal plants. In 1802 the university moved the garden to its
current location in the Huerto de Tramoyeres, outside the city walls at
the Convento San Sebastián and the Torres de Quart. In the 20th century
the garden fell into disrepair and from 1987 to 2000 it was renovated by
the university. The plants are well marked today. Open: Daily except
Mon: November to February 10am to 6pm, March and October 10am to 7pm,
April and September 10am to 8pm, May to August 10am to 9pm. Price:
Admission: €3.00.
Jardines del Turia. An approximately 230 hectare
large and quiet city park is located in one of the former riverbeds of
the Río Turia, which was drained in the 1960s. The park includes
playgrounds for children, a fountain and various sports and leisure
facilities, including football pitches. The Ciudad de las Artes y de las
Ciencias (City of Arts and Sciences) is also located in this particular
urban park.
various
Water Court of Valencia (Tribunal de las
Aguas de Valencia). The Water Court meets every Thursday at 12:00 in
front of the Cathedral's Apostle's Gate (Puerta de los Apóstoles).
However, you should be in front of the Puerta de los Apóstoles by 11:40
a.m. at the latest during the season to get a good seat.
The area
around Valencia, the so-called Huerta, with its extensive fruit and
vegetable plantations has been artificially irrigated since time
immemorial. It is not surprising that disputes arose again and again. To
this day, the water court, which is made up of farmers from the Huerta,
regulates withdrawal quantities and irrigation times, arbitrates
disputes and makes judgments, all of this orally, nothing is recorded in
writing. As the only court of this kind in Europe, the water court has
been legitimized by the government in Madrid. What is decided here
applies and cannot even be revised by the highest court in Spain and the
EU.
The Fallas (Spanish) or Falles (Val.), the most important festival in
Valencia and numerous places in the Comunidad Valenciana, takes place
from March 15th to 19th. The main attraction are the towering sculptures
made of papier-mâché and other combustible materials, which are
ceremonially lit on the last day of the festival. They each address a
specific topic. The largest sculptures often weigh more than ten tons
and sometimes cost over €100,000.
Every year there is a competition
in which the population chooses the best fallas and the most popular
individual figure (ninot, doll in Valencian). This figure is then
"saved" (ninot indultat, saved doll) from the cremation on March 19th
and goes to the museum.
The Fallas program includes the Ofrena de
Flors, a two-day "sacrificial walk" in honor of the Verge dels
Desamparats (Holy Virgin of the Defenseless), the patron saint of
Valencia. Over 100,000 men, women and children in colorful costumes take
part in the Ofrena de Flors. A 14 meter high wooden statue of the Virgin
Mary will be erected in the Plaza de la Virgen. The Madonna dress is put
on from the flowers, almost 50 tons of flowers are needed.
The
nightly fireworks on the banks of the Turia attract several hundred
thousand spectators each time. A special feature are the mascletàs,
which are ignited every day at 2 p.m. on the town hall square and also
attract tens of thousands of visitors, with firecrackers attached to
long cords exploding every second.
The public holiday calendar is
redefined every year by the individual autonomous regions of Spain. For
example, if a public holiday falls on a Sunday, in some cases the
following Monday or the preceding Friday is also designated as a public
holiday.
January 1: Año Nuevo (New Year)
22nd of January. San
Vicente Martir
March 19: San Jose
April 5: San Vicente Ferrer
Good Friday: Viernes Santo
Easter Sunday: Pascua
May 1st: Día del
Trabajo (Labor Day)
9 October: Sant Dionís (Valencia Region Day)
1
November: Todos los Santos (All Saints' Day)
December 6: Día de la
Constitución (Constitution Day)
December 8: Immaculada Concepción
(Conception)
December 25: Navidad (Christmas)
The two most famous football clubs in the city are FC Valencia
(Valencia Club de Fútbol) and UD Levante (Llevant Unió Esportiva), which
play in the top Spanish division, the Primera División and the Segunda
División, respectively.
FC Valencia plays its home games at the
Estadio Mestalla, UD Levante in the smaller Estadio Ciudad de Valencia.
Known as Ché (which means 'colleague' in Valencian), FC Valencia
supporters are some of the most fanatical fans in Spain. In addition to
the home games of FC Valencia, the Mestalla Stadium often hosts Spanish
national team games.
The ADT Valencia Firebats, an American
football club, play their home games at the Estadio Municipal Jardín del
Turia, they play in the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Americano (LNFA).
The basketball club Valencia Basket Club plays in the highest
Spanish basketball league, the ACB, home games are played in the
Pabellón Municipal Fuente Sant Lluís de Valencia.
The Open de
Tenis Comunidad Valenciana is a tennis tournament that has been held as
part of the ATP Tour since 1995 and is hosted by the Club de Tenis
Valencia.
The 12th World Indoor Championships in Athletics will
take place from March 7th to 9th, 2008 at the Palau Velódromo Luis Puig
About 20 km west of Valencia near Cheste on the A3 is the Circuit de
la Communitat Valencia Ricardo Tormo, where races for the FIA World
Touring Car Championship WTCC, the Grand Prix of Valencia as part of the
Motorcycle World Championship and races for the Superbike World
Championship and the FIA GT Championship.
In August 2008, the Gran
Premio de Fórmula 1 de Europa was held for the first time on a newly
built racetrack at the port of Valencia.
In and around Valencia there are some beautiful beaches that invite
you to swim:
North of Valencia, in the Urb. Port Saplaya in
Alboraya is a small marina with a sailing school and a beautiful large
beach.
Playa La Malvarrosa and Playa El Cabanyal are two small urban
beaches, each about 1 km long, north of the port.
South of the port
and the Club Náutico de Valencia is the approximately 3.5 km long
beautiful Playa de Pinedo.
Already located in the nature reserve
Parque Natural de la Albufera, the 5 km long Playa El Saler and Playa de
la Devesa are certainly the most beautiful beaches.
Located at the eastern end of the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències (CAC), the Oceanogràfic is said to be one of the largest aquariums in Europe. Designed by architect Felix Candela, the complex consists of a series of pavilions, each dedicated to a different climate zone and its aquatic inhabitants. The areas are: the Mediterranean, the wetlands & aviary, the temperate with harbor seals, seals, Aldabra tortoises, the tropical, the islands with South American sea lions, crocodiles, flamingos, the oceanic islands (not yet open), the dolphinarium (with Dolphin shows (several times a day), the oceans with sharks, the Arctic with belugas and walruses, the Antarctic with penguins Address: C. Eduardo Primo Yúfera 1 Opening hours usually 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (until midnight in summer) Admission: € 28.50 (as of: 10/2018)
The shops are usually open from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 4:30
p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Department stores and shopping centers have non-stop
opening hours from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The Mercado Central market
hall, which is over a hundred years old, is an architectural sight in
itself - but it is also a special place to stroll and shop. Their slogan
is "Shopping with all five senses". Here you can get fresh fish and
seafood, fruit and vegetables, meat and poultry, Spanish cheese, sausage
and ham, wine, confectionery and much more.
The prettiest store
is without a doubt Bueno para comer on Calle Almirande Cadarso 14. It is
a grocery store run by star chef Bernd Knöller (see Restaurante RiFF)
that dates back to 1923. It has been lovingly renovated but still has
the old flair not lost. In addition to wine, champagne, pasta from all
over the world, etc., there is also a glass of cava and excellent tapas.
The branches of the well-known department store chain El Corte
Inglés are located at Pintor Maella 37 (Avda. de Francia), Colón 1 and
27, Menéndez Pidal 15, Pintor Sorolla 26 and Avda. Pío XII 2-6 and 51.
There are numerous shopping centers in the city (but of course also
outside of it):
Galería Jorge Juan, Jorge Juan 21. The gallery has 40
shops and restaurants.
Aqua Multispacio, Avda. Menorca 19. Near the
City of Arts and Sciences. In addition to two hotels, it houses a
cinema, a bowling alley and numerous shops.
Centro Comercial El
Saler, Autopista del Saler 16. Also close to La Ciudad de las Artes y
las Ciencias. It has numerous restaurants and shops.
Nouevo Centro,
by the bus station. The shopping center is on Avda. Pío XII and was
opened in 1982. There you will find more than 80 shops in addition to
department stores (El Corte Inglés, C&A).
A Chinatown with
several Asian supermarkets and inexpensive Chinars restaurants has
developed in the streets near the Estación del Norte train station.
Almost all banks are open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00
p.m. or 2:30 p.m., some branches are also open on Saturday mornings.
ATMs are available 24/7 throughout the city and accept most major
international cards.
In almost all shops and in many restaurants you
can pay with all major credit cards, paying with the Maestro card (EC
card) usually works without any problems.
Paella is a traditional Valencian dish. Although Spanish cuisine is
regional, paella is very well known in Spain.
Paella Valenciana
consists of rice dyed bright yellow with saffron and consists mainly of
chicken or rabbit, the meat always chopped into bite-sized pieces with
the bone (chicken and seafood paella (paella marinera) is rejected by
the vast majority of Valencians) . Small snails are also occasionally
added. There are also vegetables, grated tomatoes, green beans or giant
beans, occasionally quartered artichoke hearts and garrafones, broad
beans. It is seasoned with salt, occasionally with finely grated fresh
garlic and saffron. Rosemary sprigs placed on top of the rice during the
last few minutes and added to the fire (if traditional cooking) add an
extra Mediterranean flavor.
Those who want to eat real paella and not
a microwave tourist dish should avoid restaurants that offer paella at a
different time than between 2pm and 5pm and/or with sausage, ham or meat
stock! It is considered a sign of freshness and quality when orders for
a paella in some restaurants are only accepted for 2 or more people.
The Fideuà comes from the area around Gandía. It is prepared like
paella, but the rice is replaced with noodles. The "black" variant is
popular, the color of which is achieved by squid ink.
Onions,
chard, butter beans and potatoes are used to prepare the famous bullit,
a stew that used to be the almost obligatory dinner for all Valencian
families. Almost every family has its own recipe for the preparation of
stews, called ollas or putxeros. B. Pork, sausage, pumpkin, chard
leaves, wheat grains, chickpeas, kidney beans and rice are used.
Fish naturally plays an important role in the cuisine of a port city.
Cassolas or cazuelas, oven-cooked fish stews, contain tomatoes, onions
and finely chopped garlic, on which slices of fish are placed. Suquets
de peix are simple dishes of stewed fish of various kinds, served in a
sauce often flavored with crushed almonds and garlic.
Also
typical for Valencia is the Horchata de Chufa, a drink made from
tigernuts, which are tubers of a lily plant. The horchata is offered in
many bars and cafes, but also in mobile stalls that stop on many street
corners. Fartons (a yeast pastry) are eaten with Horchata.
Agua
de Valencia is a drink made from Spanish sparkling wine (cava), orange
juice and other ingredients.
Spaniards eat a little later than
Central Europeans: breakfast (bread, pastries, juice and coffee) is
usually taken between 07.30-10.00 in the morning, there are inexpensive
"breakfast menus" in many cafes for €3-5. The restaurants serve lunch
from 2pm to 3.30pm and dinner from 9pm to 11pm (especially in the
summertime, it is common to eat after 10pm). If you are hungry at other
times, you will find something in the tapas bars everywhere.
Cheap
Búho Bio, Carrer de Murillo, 9. Tel: +34 962 057 369. Nice
little restaurant with vegetarian options. Unfortunately now closed
according to Google Maps.
Bar El Torito, C/ Guillem de Castro, 76
(near the Torres de Quart). Typical Spanish bar/cafe with meals.
Family-owned for decades, now with a Vietnamese operator who continues
to uphold tradition.
Middle
Phileas Fogg, C/ Correjería, 28.
Tel.: +34 963 155 250. Traditional dishes from different Spanish
regions, rustic setting, run by the Valencia Hotel School. Price: Menu
of the day €20.
Comer Beber Amar, Passeig de l'Albereda, 38. Tel: +34
963 37 52 37. Paella, fideuà, steak & fish, no tapas, good wine
selection.
upscale
Albacar, Calle Sorni, 35. Tel.: +34 963 951
005. Mediterranean cuisine.
Ben Fet, C/ Correjería, 28. Tel.: +34 963
155 250. The "genteel" edition of Phileas Fogg, run by the Hotel School
of Valencia. Price: Menu from €35 to €55.
Ca Sento, Calle Méndez
Núñez, 17. Tel.: +34 963 301 775. Raúl and María Aleixandre have been
spoiling their guests with modern, Mediterranean cuisine since 1975.
Price: Tasting Menu: €110.
RiFF, Calle Conde Altea, 18. Tel.: +34 963
335 353. Chef and owner Bernd Knöller is nationally known for his
creative cuisine and has cooked up a Michelin star in 2009. Price:
Tasting menu: €85-135, lunch menu is €45.