Have you ever had a magnificently juicy and sweet Valencia
orange? Then you've had a piece of Valencia, Spain, and
you understand why the Mediterranean region is famous for
its orange groves.
The city of Valencia is two thousand years old, and it shows
its age in the numerous structures that stand as living
historical monuments, betraying Valencia's centuries of
Moorish presence. The best preserved remains of Islamic
Valencia are "Abd-al-Malik's Baths," called Baños del
Almirante or Admiral's Baths by the locals. Additional
glimpses of Moorishness are the fragments of the walls
which encircled the Kingdom of Valencia in the 12th century,
down by Salinas Street.
Valencia also shows off its Gothic architectural heritage
with local buildings, the most notable of which is the
Metropolitan Cathedral (begun in 1262) and its famous
octagonal Gothic belfry. The 14th-15th century belltower,
affectionately known as El Micalet or Little Michael, is the
landmark of the city. If you can climb all 207 steps to the top
of the tower to catch the stunning view of the city, it's worth
it!
You'd never guess at Valencia's venerable history,
however, when festival time rolls around. The most popular
by far are the world-famous week-long Fallas in March,
where huge papier-mache sculptures are set ablaze in
festive bonfires as fireworks color the sky and the smell of
gunpowder fills the air.
The celebration developed from burning useless materials
accumulated in local carpentry workshops, but now local
artists vie to create the most colorful and elaborate
monuments, only to quickly torch them in the wild celebration.
The other famous local festivals commemorate the Christian
reconquest of Valencia, with mock fights between Moors
and Christians following spectacular "invasion" parades
filled with authentically-dressed troops with appropriate
pomp and circumstance.
Accommodation
is wide and varied in
Valencia, ranging from quaint establishments in the old city to modern, international chains. As a high percentage of this city’s
overnight guests are business travellers, vacancies (and discounts) increase during the weekend.
Google Map of Valencia
