At the tail end of our trip to Valencia and Malta we enjoyed a brief layover in Madrid. Although we were tired from our flight and sad to be on our way home, we took full advantage of our two days to see some great art and get a small taste of the huge city.
Read the full post »Russafa Eats
When we decided to stay in the Russafa neighbourhood of Valencia, we knew that it was home to many restaurants, cafes, and bars. But we didn’t realize the extent of the choices until we were there. During our three week visit we ate most of our meals in this compact area within walking distance of our apartment, yet we barely scratched the surface of potential places to eat.
Read the full post »Jardines del Real & Museu de Belles Arts
On our last Sunday in Valencia we took the subway to the neighbourhood of Benimaclet, then walked down through the Jardines del Real to the Museu de Belles Arts (Museum of Fine Arts).
Read the full post »City of Arts and Sciences
We wandered through some of the City of Arts and Sciences (Ciudad de las Artes
The complex sits within the Jardines del Turia, the park created from the former Turia riverbed. It includes an IMAX theater, a planetarium, an opera house, an aquarium, a sporting and events center, and an interactive science museum — among other things.
Read the full post »Castillo de Sagunto
During our day trip to the town of Sagunto we climbed up the winding road to explore the Castillo de Sagunto, a 2000-year-old castle built by the Iberians, Carthaginians, Romans, Muslims and Catholics.
The castle was conquered by the armies of both Hannibal (in 219 BC) and Napoléon Bonaparte (in 1811). Parts were repurposed for anti-aircraft defenses during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930’s.
Read the full post »Teatro Romano de Sagunto
Along the road between Sagunto’s town center and the castle we paused at the Teatro Romano de Sagunto. This 8,000-seat Roman amphitheater was built into the natural slope of the mountain during the 1st Century AD.
Read the full post »Sagunto
On Saturday we took a day trip to visit the town of Sagunto, located about 30 km north of Valencia. The town is known for its sprawling castle ruin, restored Roman theatre, and historic town centre.
Read the full post »Mercado Central
We visited the Mercado Central in Valencia, one of the largest markets in Europe. It was built between 1914 and 1928 in the Art Nouveaux style, which gives it the stunning high ceilings and a light, airy atmosphere.
Read the full post »Jardines del Turia
Valencia sat on the banks of the Rio Turia until 1957, when the city had the river diverted after a series of devastating floods. The former river bed was turned into the Jardines del Turia, a 9 km-long park that now curves across the top of the city centre.
Read the full post »Museo Nacional de Cerámica
A museum of ceramics might not sound particularly enticing, but the Museo Nacional de Cerámica in Valencia is housed in an 15th century building that was re-modeled into a dramatic Rococo palace in the 1740’s. It’s impressively overwhelming — if gaudy to modern eyes — and well worth the €3 admission.
Read the full post »Centro Arqueológico de la Almoina
Many layers of history are buried beneath the streets of Valencia. We visited the Centro Arqueológico de la Almoina where we were able to go underneath the city’s oldest square and walk through excavations from the Roman, Visigoth and Arab eras.
Read the full post »Mercado de Colón
During our first week in Valencia, we had lunch inside the Mercado de Colón, a former traditional market that’s been renovated to house two floors of upscale restaurants, shops and cafés.
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