Valencia: Between modernism, tradition and gastronomy

Valencia, the resplendent capital of the Valencian Community, appeals to all types of traveller. One of the reasons for this is its diversity. You can go to the beach, take a stroll through the old town, hop on a bike to explore the Jardins del Turia, discover the many museums and the City of Arts and Sciences, not forgetting the amazing Bioparc zoo. And don't miss the famous La Albufera Nature Park.

With 800,000 inhabitants and 1.5 million including the metropolis, Valencia, Spain's 3rd largest city after Madrid and Barcelona, is a modern city that has exploited its proximity to the sea and extended its borders beyond the traditional city walls. Valencia was the capital of the Kingdom of Aragon in the 15th century, and the Parliament of the Valencian Community was the seat of the Spanish Republic in 1937, before the city was taken by Franco's troops.

Similarly, the powerful Borgia family, which produced many popes, came from Valencia. The city thus benefited from Italian influence during the Renaissance. The old town is home to the Colón Market, the Central Market and the Silk Exchange (la Lonja), all three of which bear witness to its commercial past, as well as the Gothic cathedral and the two surviving gates (there were originally 12, in the 14th century) that marked the city limits. The 30-metre-high Puerta de Serranos boasts an interesting Gothic style, with its five pointed arches and gargoyles. A dozen mosques dating from the Muslim occupation in the Middle Ages have been converted into churches. The emblematic Santa Catalina tower, a stone's throw from the cathedral, is clearly shaped like a minaret.

In the 1980s, the city began to change with the emergence of modern art and Ricardo Bofill's transformation of the riverbed into a 7-kilometre garden. It was then that Calatrava's Cité des Arts et des Sciences was born, with its interactive museum, hemispherical cinema and Oceanografic, Europe's largest aquarium.

In the evening, head for Calle Caballeros, which runs from the cathedral in the Carmen district. There are plenty of tapas bars and nightclubs. Another nice spot is the arty Ruzafa district, with its many trendy bars, restaurants, boutiques and art galleries, not to mention the market. Don't forget to try the local specialities, including the world-famous Valencian paella, Horchata de Chufa, which is only found in the Valencia region!

We recommend eating some tapas at the Colón market, a sort of London Covent Garden, built in the 1920s as a centre for the export of oranges and vegetables in general. Nowadays, a variety of bars are set up in a pleasant atmosphere and unique decor. The 8,000 m² and 400 stalls of the Marché Central offer a wide variety of local produce in a huge building constructed in the 1920s from iron, bricks, earthenware and mosaics.

If you want to relax after an intense cultural activity, head for one of the public beaches 15 minutes away by bus, or take a stroll along the old riverbed of the Turia, which has been converted into green spaces offering a wide range of leisure activities. It links the City of Arts and Sciences with the astonishing Bioparc, a cross between a zoo and a safari.

If you visit Valencia in March, particularly between the 15th and 19th, you'll be treated to one of the city's most important and world-famous festivals, Las Fallas. Valencians prepare for this festival all year round by making ninots (figurines) and other objects, which they burn at the end of the festivities. Admiring the sunset in the Parc de l'Albufera is a must. Music lovers can enjoy a concert at the Palau de la Musica or an opera at the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia.