The city of all possibilities: the picture perfectly fits the third city of Spain. Delusions of Gothic or avant-garde architects, lush gardens or long sandy beach, old-fashioned bodega or trendy restaurants, Valence has no shortage of attractions. We can live it in idleness mode or in conscientious tourist. But each time with great pleasure.

Traditional Valencia
Strolling through the old town of Valence, pure happiness! Start your stroll at the Quart Tower to cross the winding alleys of Carmen, a bohemian district that pulsates day and night. Take Caballeros Street to admire the facades of the houses of richly decorated notables. Today, many administrations have taken up residence there, so do not hesitate to cross the heavy wooden doors to slip into the shaded patios, constructions inherited from the Arab occupation which lasted five centuries.

Continue to Plaza de la Virgen where the Palace of the Generalitatand part of the cathedral offer the best examples of Gothic architecture. Visit the interior of the cathedral to discover some Goya but also one of the three supposed Holy Grail in the world. As you leave, you can enjoy a glass of horchata , a delicious local specialty made from almonds, before continuing on to Lonja , the old silk exchange, built in the 15th century in a flamboyant Gothic style and listed as World Heritage. of UNESCO.

The ultra-modern city
Take the time to stop by the central market, across from the Lonja. Its structure is reminiscent of our national Eiffel Tower, but inside the products are 100% regional. With nearly 1,000 stands, it is the largest market in Europe. An appetizer, before discovering, the main dish in terms of architecture: The City of Arts and Sciences (photo), avant-garde delirium imagined by Santiago Calatrava. The zoomorphic constructions of this revolutionary urban planner have given a new face to the city. Seen from the sky, the whole looks like fish.

Seen from the ground, the Palau Arts Reina Sofía , which houses a concert hall, evokes a shark head, the Príncipe Felipe science museumforms the skeleton of a fish, the Hemisfèric , which houses a giant projection room like at the Géode, looks like an eye. Dumbfounded, one easily spends several hours admiring the buildings from all angles, before entering places. The Spanish quickly adopted this impressive site, which becomes, at sunset, a playground for children and wedding photographers.

A natural city
We may be in the third city of Spain, there is no shortage of flora and fauna. Within the city of arts and sciences, the Oceonografico amazes young and old with the reproduction of the ecosystems of the five oceans. It is the largest oceanographic park in Europe with 45,000 specimens spread over 110,000 m 2. The underwater tunnels, which give the impression of being among sharks, moray eels and other fish, offer a striking spectacle. Further north of the city, the Bioparc is lived like a barrier-free museum.

Valencia is above all a Mediterranean city. For a long time, she turned her back on the sea, but she now seems determined to take advantage of this exceptional situation. With its freshly lifted harbor to host the America’s Cup in 2007 and several sandy beaches, it is displayed as a seaside town in its own right. At lunchtime, we scramble to come and taste an authentic Valencian paella in one of the restaurants of paseo Neptuno like Marcelina or Pepica, the restaurant acclaimed by Hemingway.

Want fresh air? Direction the gardens of Turia. Built in the old riverbed, this tree-lined promenade invites strollers to picnic. It is also a place devoted to sport. Long cycle paths, sports grounds, numerous joggers come to train. Once here, you are safe from cars and traffic noise: a true haven of peace that crosses the city. Two other parks also deserve attention, the botanical garden and, on the other side of the shore, the garden which adjoins the Museum of Fine Arts. The latter was built in the time of the Arabs and is home to African species. It smells good of orange trees. Change of scenery guaranteed.

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