Valencia, Spain

Valencia Cathedral

Cathedral of Valencia (built in 1238) is one of the most fascinating religious landmarks in the city. Gothic architecture blends with elements of the Renaissance and classicism, as well as with the Moorish Micalet tower, which was later renamed in Christian traditions in honor of the Archangel Michael. A spiral staircase leads to the 68-meter Micalet tower (for a long time it was the tallest structure in the city). At the top there is an observation deck with nice views. Valencians believe that it is here, in the cathedral, that the agate Grail cup is kept-the cup from which Jesus Christ was given communion at the Last Supper.

Quart Watchtowers

Two powerful towers of Quart form the gateway to the central part of the city. They were created under the guidance of architect Pere Bonfill in 1441-1460 and have witnessed many historical events. The walls of this monument are pocked with impacts from French shells from the War of Independence. And now, birds build their nests in these pockmarks-among them you can even see parrots. In the 17th-18th centuries, a women’s prison was located inside the towers. In 1931, the Quart towers were declared a national treasure, and a few decades later they were added to Spain’s Cultural Heritage List.

Bullfighting arena

The bullfighting arena in Valencia was built between 1850 and 1860 by the famous Valencian architect Sebastián Monleón Estellés. According to historians, he was inspired by the Colosseum in Rome, after which he designed the structure. The arena is 17 meters high and 52 meters in diameter. Decorated with beautiful prehistoric ornaments, the square has been the main bullfighting arena for one and a half centuries. This giant bullring for corridas is one of the most popular places to visit for tourists. As a rule, the corrida season starts in spring during Holy Week. To visit such a momentous place, it is recommended to order tickets in advance online.

The narrowest house in Europe

The narrowest house in Europe is located in Plaza de Lope de Vega just behind the Santa Catalina tower. To find it, you need to make quite an effort. The little house is so narrow-only 105 centimeters-that many people very often walk past it without noticing. Not long ago, the owner of the building painted its façade a bright color so it would be easier to spot and see more clearly. Many architects from Scotland, the Netherlands, Poland, and even Ukraine have tried to outdo the author of this house. Not long ago, a Polish architect designed a building of roughly the same size, but the house in Valencia still remains the narrowest in the world-one where you can also practically live a full life.

City of Arts and Sciences

City of Arts and Sciences is the most ambitious architectural project of recent years not only in Valencia, but across all of Spain. This vast, fantastic educational and entertainment complex was created by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. The complex includes five buildings: an opera house, a shell-like IMAX cinema (the largest in the country), a science museum (which will be interesting not only for adults, but also for children, and where all exhibits can be touched, felt, and activated), a park exhibition gallery and an oceanarium (with dolphins, penguins, sea lions, and belugas). In the latter, if you wish, you can even swim with sharks.

Historic Centre of Valencia

Valencia is the third-largest city in Spain. The city’s convenient geographical location on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea has made it a major coastal hub with a history full of events. For many centuries, power in the city changed repeatedly, with different conquerors driving one another out. As a result of these transformations, distinctive features of each culture and era were preserved in the city’s appearance. All these traces were woven into a single picture on the city map. Narrow winding streets, shady gardens, magnificent squares, and the city’s temples create an amazing atmosphere.

Valencia Bioparc

This place will appeal to nature lovers and those who don’t like watching animals in cramped cages. There are no barred enclosures here, and the animals’ habitat is as close to natural conditions as possible. While strolling along the park’s paths, you may come across a lemur and watch an exotic bird fly overhead. On the park’s vast grounds, you can also find elephants, giraffes, rhinoceroses, gorillas, and dozens of other animals. Three areas are open for visits: “African Savannah,” “Madagascar,” and “Equatorial Africa.” In the future, two more are planned to be added-“Southeast Asia” and “Neotropics.”

Valencia Old Town Guided Tour

The old part of Valencia (Ciutat Vella) is bordered by a fortification wall that stood until 1865, and from which only two watchtowers remain to this day. They serve as a kind of grand gates of the city - Torres de Serrano (Torres de Serrano) and Torres de Quart (Torres de Quart). Once in this part of Valencia, we can find a high concentration of historical monuments, mostly belonging to the Golden Age. After the expulsion of the Moors from Valencia in 1238 (la reconquista) led by Jaime I of Aragon (Jaime I de Aragón - el Conquistador).

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