One of the hidden treasures of Europe is Valencia Spain. It has been named the healthiest city in the world. It has it all…beaches, promenades, old neighborhoods as well as new, great public transportation and fantastic food.
Earlier this year I found myself wandering the beautiful streets of Valencia. This post will have two sections. Day 1 and Day 2. If you are really hustling you can get all of Day 1 if you hit the ground running.
I’d ou prefer listening to this post as a podcast: https://illuminate.google.com/library?play=7damdz1_nnxX5
Day 1
The airport is fairly easy to get a connection into and the subway runs into the city at an extremely reasonable day pass which includes buses, etc…for the whole city.
I stayed in a VRBO called Casa Reina just off the beach and loved the location. It is a five minute walk to the beach and in the middle of what was the original fishing village. It was local and has easy access to the historic downtown area via bus maybe a 10 to 15 minute ride. The house was built in 1925 and was recently renovated.
Just a couple of pictures of what the original fishing village now looks like compared to a more typical historical street.
The host recommended a local small restaurant called Anyora. I found the food there to be maybe the best of my time in Valencia.
Just a short walk from Casa Reina is the beach. Wow ! That’s all I can say. It is stunningly beautiful. Just a couple of shots from January.
A short walk down the street and you’ll find La Pepica which was Ernest Hemingway’s favorite restaurant for Paella.
So that’s a stroll around one of the beach district areas. Now on to a journey into historic downtown. The Cathedral in Valencia is famous for one precious treasure…The Holy Grail. It is a pilgrimage for many and the Church has built a chapel for display and a place of contemplation.
The main square in front of the Cathedral is a place of great social activity and not to be missed. Like any European city it is the hub of activity. And if you climb the stairs to the Bell Tower at the Cathedral sunsets and a view of the city are magical.
Just around the corner from the Cathedral you’ll find the Central Market. Rather than a long write up hit that link for a detailed trip to the market. For reference here’s a shot of it as well as some of the deliciousness found inside.
At night the downtown area comes alive and is a wash in lights, fountains, crowds, food, fun. It is a feast of activity for every age.
I’ve traveled to something like 23 countries and dozens of cities. Valencia is special. Really special. A true hidden gem. The Jardín del Turia translated to the Turia Garden is a masterpiece example of Green Space. It is a monumental five-mile green swath within a dense and diverse urban fabric, including the historic center of the city, and has an average span of 600 feet, from bank to bank. The park comprises over 450 acres and is characterized by bike paths, event spaces, active recreation fields, fountains, and many notable structures, such as the Alameda Bridge by Santiago Calatrava.
Here are a few pictures from just one weekend’s quick pass through and in no way do justice to the vast park. The park winds its way through the middle of the city for several miles and I barely got a chance to experience it in all its splendor. It is a Spanish version of Central Park. Locals and tourists alike bike, walk, lay in the sun, play in the fountains and on the playgrounds. A true picture of what a modern city with a fantastic green space can be.
I was there in January so you can imagine how the flowers and green space must really excel during the peak seasons of the year.
The Westin Hotel is just a block or two away and makes access to all things Valencia logistically easy to get to. I enjoyed the hotel. Breakfasts are something to be experienced with a vast array of fresh fruits and a large variety of all thing breakfast related.
This city has it all.
Historical downtown
Huge Park for Greenspace
Beach access
Modern museums
So if you are looking for something different and refreshing Valencia just might be your next vacation spot. It would be appropriate to say that for some Valencia might just be the Holy Grail of all journeys 🙂
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