Valencia Tourist Attractions

City of the Arts & Sciences

This enormous complex known as 'La Ciudad de las Artes y de las Ciencias' is undoubtedly Valencia's number one attraction these days attracting over 4 million annual visitors.
It consists of four main buildings:

(1) L'Hemisferic is a planetarium and a huge IMAX cinema showing science and geography .

(2) Museo de las Ciencias Principe Felipe containing exhibitions of the latest in high technology

(3) L'Oceanografic (favourite with the kids) is an underwater world where you walk through tunnels with sharks and other sea creatures swimming around you. This water world also contains a dolphinarium (with shows), fascinating aquariums which simulate conditions in the world's oceans and if the kids are still not impressed there's a place to play with remote controlled boats;

(4) Palacio de las Artes consists of auditoriums for the performance of plays, opera, and music in conjunction with all the latest technology. See pictures of this fascinating complex where education, technology and leisure operate hand in hand.

Cathedral

How could we have a page on things to see without mentioning a city's Cathedral? The particular claim to fame of Valencia cathedral is that it has reputedly been the home of the mythical Holy Grail (the chalice Jesus used at the Last Supper) for the past 500 years. In Plaza Zaragoza where the Cathedral stands is an unfinished 47m Gothic tower called the Miguelete which dates back to the 14th century. It's well worth climbing the tower to get a great view over the city towards the agricultural (huerta) lands beyond.

Palau de la Generalitat

This is a 15th century Gothic building which is the government building of the region of Valencia.

Mercado Central

The city's central market dates back to 1928. It is well worth a visit to experience the hussle and bussle as shoppers and traders go about their business among a fascinating array of fruit, vegetables, meat and fish stalls.

Bullring

Valencia's Plaza de Toros is one of the largest bullrings in Spain. It lies next to the train rail station at Calle de Xátiva 28. Bullfights take place every day during the Fallas festival in March though tickets are difficult to get hold .

The Silk Exchange

This beautiful former silk exchange (La Lonja de la Seda) was built in 1498. Today it is a Unesco World Heritage site.

Art Galleries and Museums

The Instituto Valencia de Arte Moderno (IVAM) contains an impressive collection of Spanish modern art was responsible for firmly adding Valencia to the list of European art centres. It lies near the Torres de Quart, 15th-century towers which face towards Madrid and guard the entrance to the city. You can see marks at the top of the tower left by cannonballs fired by Napoleon's troops during the 19th century invasion.

The Museu San Pío is a fine collection of with a particularly Flemish and native Valencian flavour. It includes works by Velazquez (look for his self-portrait of 1640), Goya, Bosch, Morales, El Greco (St. John the Baptist), Ribera, Murillo, and Sorolla.

The Museu de Belles Artes has one of Spain's best general collections and includes works by Velazquez, Goya, El Greco as well as plenty Valencia modern art.

There is an interesting Museu Fallero with some of the best creations from the previous Fallas festival which allowed them to escape being burnt.

The Valencia region is the capital of Spain's ceramic industry most notably as the home to Lladró porcelain. An interesting museum is the Museo Nacional de Cerámica which has examples of ceramics from all over the world.

More Information:

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