Architectural Wonders And Tomato Festivals In Valencia

While Barcelona and Madrid may be the cities that first come to mind when you imagine the thriving metropolises of Spain, Valencia steps it up a notch when it comes to cultural experiences.

On the edge of the Balearic Sea, it boasts striking futuristic architecture and a buzzing dining scene beside underwater excursions and a short flight to the party island of Ibiza. A mix of old and new means that you can be admiring the 360-degree views from the 13th – 15th Century Gothic Cathedral, before visiting the complex of the City of Arts and Sciences, complete with an IMAX cinema, science museum and the largest aquarium in Europe. It’s not just architecture that has received the modern touch; the Bioparc transports you away from the city to Africa and Madagascar with the illusion that animals are roaming free (don’t be alarmed if a lemur starts playing around your feet). Species can live in groups and cohabit with each other, just like in the wild, so you feel as if you’re on safari rather than in Valencia City.

Valencia’s courage to innovate has resulted in many contemporary sights and experiences, but it still manages to look after tradition. It certainly hasn’t forgotten its roots where food is concerned. Tapas and paella are on almost every menu, and dining out is a regular occasion whether you’re local or visiting. Restaurants really come to life in summer, when the terraces open up and Mediterranean cuisine is enjoyed how intended. As with most European cities, there’s an old town with all of the major official buildings including the Norte Railway Station, Town Hall, markets and tower gates.

Not only does the city hold true gems, there are many tourist destinations found just outside of Valencia. You can fly to Ibiza in well under an hour if the nightlife of the mainland isn’t up to scratch. Or you can head inland to the outstanding beauty of Sierra Calderona Natural Park, blessed with great rocky mountains, fresh springs and botanical life. One of the most famous festivals also takes place just outside of Valencia, in the town Bunol. 38km from the city, thousands gather on the last Wednesday of August to throw tomatoes at each other, in an event called La Tomatina. While not your average festival, it is in fact one of the most historic, with origins as far back as the 1940s. As a result of La Tomatina’s growing popularity, there are now many tours available that will take you to the festival from Valencia.

Just by stepping foot in Valencia, you can feel it has more to offer than meets the eye, but its architectural diversity, social dining and surrounding treasures are a good place to start if you want to discover what makes it so special.

Images courtesy of Emmanuelbaltasar, flydime and Sapijema.