| VALENCIA - A city of two integrated parts, is | | | | districts. Among which the Barrio del Carmen |
| rapidly becoming one of the hottest destinations in | | | | (Carmen district) is most outstanding and popular. |
| Spain. The combination of Gothic and Modern | | | | Visiting the roman, Muslim and visigothic remains |
| architecture makes Valencia a visual and cultural | | | | at La Almoina, the Portal del la Valldigno or the |
| feast. This new Valencia, whilst still embracing its | | | | Banos Arabes del Almirante will allow you to go |
| past history and culture, is a city that far from | | | | deeply into the historical roots to the evolution of |
| getting outdated, is entering the new millennium as | | | | the town. The archaeological remains around the |
| one of the most futuristic cities in Europe. | | | | Plaza de la Almoina take you back over 2,000 |
| Valencia is full of tourist appeals which are eager | | | | years to roman times. Valencia was originally a |
| to captivate them - Museums, Festivities, | | | | walled town with towers sited in strategic |
| Beaches, Sports events, Catering and Leisure | | | | locations, with two still standing, the Quart and the |
| Centres, together with a rich and varied historical, | | | | Serranos towers. The Quart towers were built |
| cultural and natural heritage waiting to be | | | | between 1441 and 1460, for protection of the |
| discovered. | | | | Quart gate and the road to Castilia. The Serranos |
| HOW TO GET TO VALENCIA - Valencia Airport | | | | towers were built between 1392 and 1398 next |
| (VLC) is located 9km from the city centre, and | | | | to the bridge of the same name, for defending |
| one has a choice of 2 buses (Aerobus is more | | | | the road from the region of the Serranos, hence |
| direct) or a taxi ride (approx. cost 10euros). | | | | their name. Both towers have been used as |
| BY TRAIN - mainly from Madrid or Barcelona, the | | | | prisons. Quarts as a womans prison in 1626 and |
| Estacion Del Norte is located in the centre of the | | | | Serranos for noblemen and knights between 1586 |
| city. | | | | and 1887. Also of note is the cathedral of Valencia |
| BY ROAD - Approx. 2 hours drive from Valencia | | | | which was built between 1262 and 1356 on the |
| along the A7 main toll road and approx. 3 hours | | | | site of a roman temple and later a Muslim |
| drive from Barcelona. There are many bus and | | | | mosque. One can view recently discovered 15th |
| coach trips that go into Valencia Bus Station, | | | | century frescoes by Francesco Pagano and Paolo |
| which is about 15 minutes walk from the centre. | | | | De San Leocadio on exhibition. |
| BY SEA - There is a ferry service to the nearby | | | | For the history lovers there are many other |
| Balearic Islands of Mallorca (about 3 hours) and | | | | beautiful historic buildings, plus a number of |
| Ibiza (about 2 hours). VALENCIA'S CITY OF | | | | emblematic monuments, notably Plaza De La |
| ARTS AND SCIENCE - The city of arts and | | | | Reina. Also fantastic museums (24 in total) such |
| sciences, the Congress Centre, The Alameda | | | | as Museo De Bellas Artes (founded in 1683 and is |
| Underground Station or the transformation of the | | | | the museum of fine arts), Almudin (built in the |
| port in preparation for the America's Cup Sailing | | | | 14th century and between 1908 and 1991 |
| event in 2007, have brought to Valencia the | | | | became the museum of paleontology) and Museo |
| talents of such great 20th century architects as | | | | De La Ciudan (for the full history of Valencia) to |
| Santiago Calatrava, Norman Foster and Felix | | | | name but a few. LEISURE - For the Horticulturist |
| Candela. Between them they have drastically | | | | there are some beautiful gardens (jardines) in |
| changed the outward appearance of the integral | | | | Valencia, most inherited from the Arab culture. |
| port area, with steel, white concrete and ceramic | | | | Some of the must sees are the Jardines De |
| panelling intermingling with water features, high | | | | Viveros (nursery gardens) which previously |
| planted areas and lush lawns. | | | | belonged to the palace of Muslim king ABD |
| Conceived as a place to make known scientific | | | | Al-Aziz, Alameditas De Serranos which is a garden |
| and artistic knowledge, the city of arts and | | | | area on the right hand side bank of the river |
| sciences has five main areas - L'HEMISFERIC - A | | | | Turia, constructed in 1830 with many sculptures |
| half sphere surrounded by some enormous metal | | | | set amongst the varied fruit and palm trees and |
| "eyelashes" and which is duplicated through its | | | | multiple flora. Jardines De Monforte (now classified |
| reflection in the spectacular pool that surrounds it. | | | | as a national artistic garden) and Jardin De La |
| With a semicircular screen of 900 metres square, | | | | Glorieta (the oldest garden in Valencia built |
| where three-dimensional films in the Imax format | | | | between 1817 and 1844) BEACHES - Valencia is |
| are projected, this building seeks to instruct | | | | blessed with four beaches all with fine golden sand |
| people in the subjects that are normally the | | | | and range from 2,700 metres long to 4,940 |
| province of scientists. | | | | metres in length. Two beaches, Pinedo, south of |
| THE REINA SOFIA PALACE OF ARTS - This is | | | | Valencia's seaport and Arenas-Malvarrosa which |
| the jewel of the city of arts and sciences, with | | | | are the city beaches, both have bars and |
| 40,000 metres square distributed over three | | | | restaurants along the adjacent avenues, whilst El |
| auditoriums dedicated to opera, dance, theatre | | | | Saler and La Devesa beaches are a short walk |
| and music in general. Like a large symbolic | | | | from car parking areas and therefore much |
| sculpture, its nautical shape is a contrast between | | | | quieter beach areas. GOLF - There are five golf |
| the opaque and the transparent, giving rise to | | | | courses set around Valencia, Club De Golf El |
| feelings that change as we move. This building | | | | Bosque (18 holes), Club De Golf Escorpion (27 |
| created by Santiago Calatrave is full of | | | | holes), Club De Golf Manises (9 holes and the |
| architectural surprises, a place that according to its | | | | oldest club),Club De Oliva Nova (18 holes) was |
| creator, seeks to "take people into a circular place | | | | designed by Severiano Ballesteros, and Club De |
| so that they can move around music". | | | | Golf El Saler (18 holes) is considered one of the |
| THE PRINCIPE FELIPE SCIENCE MUSEUM - The | | | | best golf courses in the world. SAILING - Valencia |
| educational approach inherent in the complex, finds | | | | has a fantastic port which has recently been |
| its greatest expression here. In a centre that | | | | significantly upgraded to host the Americas Cup |
| seeks to synthesise the contents of the 17 | | | | and is open to the public with a host of activities, |
| museums of this kind of Spain. It is an iron, glass | | | | games, restaurants, bars and shops. |
| and concrete structure that plays with light, | | | | MOTORCYCLE RACING - Valencia has its own |
| creating the sensation of seeing the skeleton of a | | | | circuit which has been named after Ricardo |
| great white dinosaur. Modernity and Technology | | | | Tormo, the first Valencian rider to win a world |
| are combined at the service of a museum of the | | | | championship. |
| future, a place where the visitor ceases to be a | | | | NIGHTLIFE - Valencia offers a wide and varied |
| mere spectator and is transformed into an | | | | entertainment scenario for the young and not so |
| interactive element in this new way of | | | | young, straight and gay. From theatres (14 in |
| understanding science. | | | | total), concerts, discos, casinos, flamenco and |
| L'UMBRACLE - This huge covered central | | | | fiestas, it's all here in large quantities. |
| promenade of sculptured steel, fantastically | | | | HOTELS - Being Valencia there is, as expected, a |
| pleasing to the eye, is a walkway of different | | | | huge choice of exceptional hotels from three to |
| trees and plants which blend in with the concrete | | | | five stars. To name but a few, Hilton Valencia (5 |
| and metal of its modern settings. A truly serene | | | | stars), Hospes Palau De La Mar (5 stars), Sorolla |
| place to pontificate about life. | | | | Palace (5 Stars), Barcelo Valencia (4 stars), AC |
| L'OCEANOGRAFIC - This is a new kind of | | | | Valencia (4 stars), Husa Chil Art (4 stars), Husa |
| aquarium, an underwater city of 80,000 square | | | | Reina Victoria (4 Stars), Expo Hotel (3 stars), |
| metres that makes it possible to discover the | | | | Beta Hotel Valencia (3 stars) and Renasa (3 stars). |
| treasures of the seven seas. Designed by the late | | | | Other options are, Red Nest Hostel and Purple |
| architect Felix Candela, the oceanographic park is | | | | Nest Hostel which are good budget options in the |
| considered the largest in Europe in the number | | | | city centre and Home Hostels have four hostels |
| and variety of its animal species and one of the | | | | around the town. To rent an apartment go to |
| worlds largest in volume of water. | | | | Accommodation Valencia Apartments, who have |
| THE HISTORICAL CITY OF VALENCIA - The | | | | over 40 centrally located and equipped |
| historical centre of Valencia is the section of town | | | | apartments. |
| which arose around the cathedral and was | | | | Valencia has much more to offer the tourist or |
| included within the medieval wall built in 1356, parts | | | | historical buff. It must be ranked as one of the |
| of which are still preserved. | | | | most dynamic and versatile cities in Europe. Come |
| The Casco Antiguo (old town) consists of five | | | | see for yourselves. |