Valencia, Spain
Mar 28th, 2017, 12:37 AM
#21
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If going to Valencia, and if you enjoy modern and contemporary art, I recommend visiting Valencia's IVAM (Institut Valencia d'Art Modern). They have a wonderful gallery of works by Catalan sculptor Julio González, a contemporary of Pablo Picasso.
https://www.ivam.es/en/
If you enjoy aquariums, one of the largest is in Valencia, the Oceanografic:
https://www.oceanografic.org/en/
It's in the City of Arts and Sciences designed by Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava:
http://www.visitvalencia.com/en/what...d-sciences-cac
Valencia's old town/historic centre (or Ciutat Vella) is wonderful, full of historic sites, plazas, and my favorite, the Mercat Central:
https://www.mercadocentralvalencia.es/El-Mercado.aspx#
Valencia is the home of paella, so the mercat is a great place to buy a paella pan, or the ingredients to make your own. I was especially impressed by the huge bags of paprika. We were happy to have stayed in an apartment, where we could enjoy some of our finds from Valencia's mercat. You must eat paella at least once while in Valencia.
The Ciutat Vella is also very walkable and full of fantastic street art; there's so much to look at.
The one place I regret not getting to was Albufera Natural Park, one of the Iberian peninsula's most important wetlands and home to rare wading birds, rice growers and fishermen.
http://www.visitvalencia.com/en/what...a-natural-park
https://www.ivam.es/en/
If you enjoy aquariums, one of the largest is in Valencia, the Oceanografic:
https://www.oceanografic.org/en/
It's in the City of Arts and Sciences designed by Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava:
http://www.visitvalencia.com/en/what...d-sciences-cac
Valencia's old town/historic centre (or Ciutat Vella) is wonderful, full of historic sites, plazas, and my favorite, the Mercat Central:
https://www.mercadocentralvalencia.es/El-Mercado.aspx#
Valencia is the home of paella, so the mercat is a great place to buy a paella pan, or the ingredients to make your own. I was especially impressed by the huge bags of paprika. We were happy to have stayed in an apartment, where we could enjoy some of our finds from Valencia's mercat. You must eat paella at least once while in Valencia.
The Ciutat Vella is also very walkable and full of fantastic street art; there's so much to look at.
The one place I regret not getting to was Albufera Natural Park, one of the Iberian peninsula's most important wetlands and home to rare wading birds, rice growers and fishermen.
http://www.visitvalencia.com/en/what...a-natural-park
Mar 28th, 2017, 03:13 PM
#22
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kja:
I am new. Nothing like making a grand entrance and getting noticed
But I do appreciate your advice.
Diamantina:
I knew Valencia was worth visiting. Thank you for the information and the links, I really appreciate it. I as well would enjoy staying in the historic center. Is there a particular area of the old town that you would recommend staying? Thanks.
I am new. Nothing like making a grand entrance and getting noticed
But I do appreciate your advice. Diamantina:
I knew Valencia was worth visiting. Thank you for the information and the links, I really appreciate it. I as well would enjoy staying in the historic center. Is there a particular area of the old town that you would recommend staying? Thanks.
Mar 29th, 2017, 01:43 AM
#23
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Michael, we were in Valencia for 4.5 days, so I'm not familiar with all old town areas. I can only describe where we stayed: a modest, comfortable one-bedroom apartment at Valenciaflats Cathedral, on an alley and facing its own tiny plaza that was lively during the day (when mostly we were out and about), but quiet at night, when we needed to sleep. Not many cars entered these narrow streets. It was about a block and half from Plaça de la Reina and about a 7-minute walk from the Mercat Central—once we figured out how to get around. We never minded getting "lost", as there was lots to look at, murals, shop windows, historic architecture, in all directions. Here are reviews for Valenciaflats Cathedral:
https://www.tripadvisor.co.nz/Hotel_...n_Country.html
Valencians have their own language, related to Catalan. To add to our initial geographic confusion, we had a map that showed showed Castilian Spanish names, for instance, "Calle de las Cocinas" instead of "Carrer de les Cuines".
Our accommodation was surrounded by restaurants. We walked to IVAM (Institut Valencia d'Art Modern). It took us about 10 minutes to walk to Torres de Serranos, which was next to the stop for the bus to the City of Arts and Sciences. We walked to Xàtiva metro station (to get the city beach). Along the way, there were shops or markets to pop into, photos to take.
The old town is a great area if you enjoy walking, atmosphere, and people watching. Large concentrations of tourists could be found in the outdoor restaurants of the large plazas, such as Plaça de la Reina and Plaça de la Virgen. Otherwise, it was not so touristy. I must have visited the Mercat Central four times over four days, and never found the aisles close to crowded (in stark contrast to Barcelona's La Boqueria), though the area around the market was bustling.
The old town seemed as popular with Valencians as with tourists. We noticed this especially on the day we arrived, which was a holiday. The streets and restaurants of the old town were crowded with Spanish families and couples. This is not only a tourist zone, but a residential area.
https://www.tripadvisor.co.nz/Hotel_...n_Country.html
Valencians have their own language, related to Catalan. To add to our initial geographic confusion, we had a map that showed showed Castilian Spanish names, for instance, "Calle de las Cocinas" instead of "Carrer de les Cuines".
Our accommodation was surrounded by restaurants. We walked to IVAM (Institut Valencia d'Art Modern). It took us about 10 minutes to walk to Torres de Serranos, which was next to the stop for the bus to the City of Arts and Sciences. We walked to Xàtiva metro station (to get the city beach). Along the way, there were shops or markets to pop into, photos to take.
The old town is a great area if you enjoy walking, atmosphere, and people watching. Large concentrations of tourists could be found in the outdoor restaurants of the large plazas, such as Plaça de la Reina and Plaça de la Virgen. Otherwise, it was not so touristy. I must have visited the Mercat Central four times over four days, and never found the aisles close to crowded (in stark contrast to Barcelona's La Boqueria), though the area around the market was bustling.
The old town seemed as popular with Valencians as with tourists. We noticed this especially on the day we arrived, which was a holiday. The streets and restaurants of the old town were crowded with Spanish families and couples. This is not only a tourist zone, but a residential area.
Mar 29th, 2017, 07:48 AM
#24
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If you are driving down to Valencia that itself is a nice trip. Be sure to stop in UCLES, not far outside Madrid to see the monastery and quiet village and then later Alarcon about half way to Valencia. Makes a nice picnic spot or overnight if you have left late from madrid. Beautiful castle /parador hotel and village with numerous churches.
Actually, I would stop in Alcaáa de Henares, to see historic buildings, storks galore and Cervantes' birthplace on your way out of Madrid, also,
If you like beaches head south after Valencia to Altea/Denia/Moraria.
Then on to Alicante but stopping in Guadalest.
If you have kids you must take them to the amusement park near benidorm, an otherwise densely populated hug rise beach area.. but very fine beaches. The southern beach is the quietest and quite lovely, although Benidorm, itself, is not attractive.
La isla de Tabarca is a curious island from Alicante. take a boat for day excursion.
Sign up for groupon valencia.. discounted catamaran boat trips around the coast with a glass of cava. Also, eltenedor.es will give you discounts at some restaurants ( El Coso at the beach) if you book through that site.
Since you are driving i highly recommend you do not stay in the old quarter as there is no street parking and garages are very dear. Stay near the science center.. lots of street parking and take a bus into town. some hotels there also have a pool and you are much closer to the beach.
If you are not going to stop to see anything on the way to valencia just take the AVE to town and rent a car when you leave to go down the coast.
Actually, I would stop in Alcaáa de Henares, to see historic buildings, storks galore and Cervantes' birthplace on your way out of Madrid, also,
If you like beaches head south after Valencia to Altea/Denia/Moraria.
Then on to Alicante but stopping in Guadalest.
If you have kids you must take them to the amusement park near benidorm, an otherwise densely populated hug rise beach area.. but very fine beaches. The southern beach is the quietest and quite lovely, although Benidorm, itself, is not attractive.
La isla de Tabarca is a curious island from Alicante. take a boat for day excursion.
Sign up for groupon valencia.. discounted catamaran boat trips around the coast with a glass of cava. Also, eltenedor.es will give you discounts at some restaurants ( El Coso at the beach) if you book through that site.
Since you are driving i highly recommend you do not stay in the old quarter as there is no street parking and garages are very dear. Stay near the science center.. lots of street parking and take a bus into town. some hotels there also have a pool and you are much closer to the beach.
If you are not going to stop to see anything on the way to valencia just take the AVE to town and rent a car when you leave to go down the coast.
Mar 29th, 2017, 03:49 PM
#26
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Thank you.. I just have got out of the loop and also, I have to admit, irritated at the ZERO response to any of my emails to the editors.. or perhaps they have changed their email.. who knows. But I have asked them several things several times and the emails do not bounce back.. so ..
Nice to see a question about Valencia! I hope you are doing well.
Nice to see a question about Valencia! I hope you are doing well.
