A new Spanish city for us
Valencia is a new city for us but we’ve always enjoyed our Spanish city breaks for the food, weather and sights and as this came highly recommended by several people we thought why not. We’ve decided to take a very modern approach to this trip and allowed Chat GPT, which is the much talked about Artificial Intelligence, to create the itinerary for us. I must say it does appear to cover most places and in a logical way. Let’s see….
Day 1: Arts, Sciences, and Beaches
We started our day in the heart of Valencia at Plaza del Ayuntamiento, admiring the grand architecture of the Town Hall and the Central Post Office. We tried to look sophisticated as we took in the neoclassical beauty, but mostly, we were just waiting for coffee to kick in.
Feeling adventurous, we took a short stroll via the old river to Gulliver Park, where we rediscovered our inner kids. Enroute there were a few markets and a very nice handmade bracelet was purchased
Then it was off to the City of Arts and Sciences, Valencia’s modern architectural wonderland. We wandered through the futuristic landscape designed by Santiago Calatrava, trying to wrap our heads around the fact that this whole place was real and not a sci-fi movie set.
Next, we made our way to the Oceanogràfic, Europe’s largest aquarium. With 45,000 creatures from 500 different species, we were basically swimming in a sea of marine life (metaphorically, of course). We spent way too much time staring at jellyfish and wondering how sharks could be both terrifying and cool at the same time.
By late lunchtime, we were ready to soak up some sun, so we headed to Malvarrosa Beach. We strolled along the promenade, but beachfront restaurants were calling our name, so we sat down for a beer n pizza which was so good that made us wonder if we could just move to Valencia permanently. Paella by the sea? Yes, please.
Day 2: Explore the Historic Old Town
From our hotel in the Placa we took a leisurely stroll to the Central Market, one of Europe’s largest fresh produce markets. The stalls were bursting with local delicacies like Iberian ham, cheeses, and fresh seafood.
Next, we wandered over to La Lonja de la Seda, right next to the market. This UNESCO World Heritage site was like stepping into a medieval fairytale, with its Gothic architecture and ornate carvings.
Not ones to pass up quirky attractions, we soon found ourselves at Plaza Redonda, one of the most unique spots in Valencia with its circular design.
We popped into the nearby Basilica, a lovely Baroque church dedicated to Valencia’s patron saint, to ask for some divine leg recovery.
We then made our way to the Torres de Serranos, two massive medieval towers that used to be part of Valencia’s city walls. Still feeling adventurous, we headed to the Quart Towers, another set of defensive gates that had seen some serious action. Not only had they survived attacks from Napoleon’s troops, but they also used to be a women’s prison.
We wandered through Barrio del Carmen, a historic neighbourhood famous for its narrow, winding streets and colorful street art. The atmosphere was lively, and we soaked up the vibe, passing medieval towers like the Torres de Serranos and Torres de Quart (because clearly, we hadn’t seen enough towers today).
Feeling full of culture (and ham), we headed over to the Valencia Cathedral, where the Holy Grail (yes, *that* Holy Grail, according to some) was waiting for us. We braved the “ Knights who say Ni” and all manner of dangerous things but eventually got to see the Holy Grail
Day 3: Culture, Gardens, and Shopping
First stop, as it was closed the previous day, we visited San Nicolás de Bari y San Pedro Mártir, aka the Valencian Sistine Chapel. Our jaws dropped at the sight of the spectacular frescoes, and we spent the next while craning our necks to take in every last detail. If neck cramps were the price of art, we were willing to pay it.
Next up, we made our way to the Museu Nacional de Ceràmica i de, les Arts. We were surrounded by ceramics of all kinds, from 18th-century masterpieces to contemporary pieces by Picasso. We never thought we’d be so fascinated by pottery, but there we were, wondering if we should pick up a new hobby—ceramic appreciation, perhaps?
Feeling in need of some fresh air, we took a breather at Jardins de la Glorieta, a lovely little park with big old trees, sculptures, and fountains. We briefly debated whether the playground was meant for kids or if we could sneak in a go.
Next, we checked out Placa de Bous de Valencia, the city’s bullring. We didn’t plan on watching any bullfights, but we couldn’t resist popping in for a look. The sheer size of the place had us imagining dramatic showdowns, though we were more interested in whether the snack bar had churros.
Then we wandered over to Estacio del Nord, Valencia’s stunning railway station. Even though we weren’t catching a train, we pretended like we had somewhere important to go just to hang out inside and admire the mosaics and stained glass.
We ended our day (and our trip) in the trendy Ruzafa District, where we wandered through eclectic boutiques and art galleries, pretending like we hadn’t already spent most of our budget on ceramics and shoes. The vibrant nightlife started to kick in, and we found ourselves a cozy local restaurant for dinner.