The futuristic architecture of the City of Arts and Sciences contrasts with far older buildings and traditions. This beautiful port city in the south-east of Spain masterfully combines the avant-garde and traditions. And it also has the best paellas in the country!
Where the River Turia meets the Mediterranean
The Plaza de la Virgen is the central hub of the city. It is surrounded by three of the most beautiful buildings in Valencia: Santa María Cathedral, the Palace of the Generalitat and the Basilica of the Virgen de los Desamparados. Another building you must not miss in Valencia is the Church of San Nicolás de Bari, which many people call the Valencian Sistine Chapel. The Central Market is a great example of Valencian modernism, spectacularly combining metal and glass, and a great place to buy “horchata” and “fartons”, the traditional Valencian drink and sweets. Just a few metres from the market is the Lonja de la Seda, declared a World Heritage Site. The enormous Plaza del Ayuntamiento is the place where all the fireworks of the Mascletá are let off during Las Fallas, one of the most popular festivals in Spain.