Valencia from Barcelona will take you three hours by fast train or four hours by car on toll roads. But if the thought of getting a flight from Barcelona appeals, forget it, the prices are ridiculously expensive.
The drive from Barcelona, along the Mediterranean coast, under blue skies, is the best way to enjoy the trip. Especially if you aren’t the one driving.
You’ll find Valencia is a lot cheaper to stay than Barcelona, apart from during the Las Fallas festival.
If you have planned only one day in Valencia, we would suggest avoiding Saturdays, Sundays or a public holiday as the Valencians love to spend time in their city.
For us, three days would be a minimum, especially on a road trip around Spain. It gives you time to unwind and enjoy the best of Valencia.
We love history and we love architecture so it was a pleasant surprise to see the stunning old buildings and the fabulous new architecture of Valencia.
We started off exploring the old part of the city.
La Lonja de la Seda One area of Valencia not to miss is the group of buildings of La Lonja de la Seda:
During the 15th to 16th centuries, Valencia’s wealth came from trading silk. And like Seville, Valencia’s wealth as a trading port made the city prosper.
Go inside the Sala de Contratación (Contract Hall) which is a “gothic masterpiece” of Europe with twisted columns and decorations.
La Lonja de la Seda was made a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1996.
And nearby is the Church of St Nicolas where visitors come to view the fresco adorning the ceiling and walls of the church. And across from the La Lonja de la Seda is the central market
We always love to find the local market of a village, town or city to see what produce is on offer in a new region.
But it’s also the building the market is housed in that gets our attention too.
The Central Market of Valencia was completed in 1928 in a style called Valencian Art Nouveau. This is a style highlighted by iron and glass. Once inside, the number of stalls is expansive as it covers an area of 8,000 sqm, one of the largest in Europe.
Have your camera ready for the impressive dome allowing light entering the market. The roof was the integral part of a new roofed market design competition back in 1910.
And before you leave this area, next to the Central Market, is Santos Juanes church built over a mosque in 1240.
Valencia was constantly flooded. It was after the flood in 1957, the Turia river was diverted which left the riverbed of Turia still bordering the museums and monuments of Valencia historical city.
Opened in 1986, the Turia Riverbed Park runs from the Cabecera Park in the west along the nine kilometres to the east finishing at the City of Arts and Sciences. This impressive park is at first a little daunting as you walk along the brick-walled embankment looming near you. It feels a little weird like you’re expecting a great rush of water to come barreling down upon you. But you soon start to relax as you enjoy the landscaped palm trees and grassy areas all around you. With 18 bridges (old and new) crossing over the park, your walk becomes a history lesson. You can exit at the Serranos Towers, a gate in the old city walls or keep walking to the incredible building of the City of Arts and Sciences.
