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    Valencia, Spain: Klaava Travel Guide
    Valencia, Spain: Klaava Travel Guide
    Valencia, Spain: Klaava Travel Guide
    Ebook220 pages1 hour

    Valencia, Spain: Klaava Travel Guide

    By Ari Hakkarainen

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    About this ebook

    Valencia, the third largest city in Spain, has been a busy Mediterranean trading center since ancient times. The fascinating history is still present in the city for visitors to explore, along with recently created modern wonders. What makes Valencia a unique Spanish destination is not only the fact it is regarded as the home of paella or the host city of the Holy Grail, but it is a city of contrasts.

    Temperate Mediterranean climate makes Valencia a pleasant destination to visit any time of year. A trip to the city can be planned as a dive into its culture and urban environment, as a relaxing break on the beach, as a road trip to nearby mountains and towns, or a combination of all of these elements. All these aspects are covered in the book.

    A traveler can spend days exploring ancient houses and public buildings in the old city center. Only a few minutes away from the narrow alleys, the ultramodern City of Arts and Sciences easily takes the breath away from accidental visitors.

    Valencianos know how to have a good time, and fortunately, they organize massive parties – fiestas – around the year so that everyone can join them. Fiestas are celebrated on the streets, bars and restaurants with the biggest event, Fallas in March, lasting for a couple of weeks. Discover tips for this Unesco Heritage fiesta along with other events in the book.

    The guidebook features hundreds of images – photos and maps – that allow travelers to visually discover the sights and places they would like to visit. Readers who want specific information on the destinations in Valencia find the details in the book as well, along with the history of the city from the Roman era to modern times.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherKlaava
    Release dateJan 3, 2019
    ISBN9789527074909
    Valencia, Spain: Klaava Travel Guide

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      Book preview

      Valencia, Spain - Ari Hakkarainen

      cover image. valencia, spain, travel guide

      Valencia, Spain

      The Key Sights, Places, and Events

      Ari Hakkarainen

      Klaava Travel Guide

      Valencia, Spain

      The Key Sights, Places, and Events

      Klaava Travel Guide

      ISBN 978-952-7074-90-9 (EPUB)

      Copyright Ari Hakkarainen

      Images by Ari Hakkarainen unless credited to other photographers.

      Editor: Lisa Lord

      Published: January 2019

      Publisher: Klaava Media / Andalys Ltd

      www.klaava.com

      book@klaava.com

      Table of Contents

      Introduction

      Why Visit Valencia

      Valencia on a Map

      About the autonomous communities of Spain

      Climate

      Essential Tips

      Two languages

      Meal times

      Business open hours

      Cash and tipping

      Safety

      Photography

      Requests and agreements

      Accessibility

      Personal space

      Night people

      Local dogs and your dog

      Traffic

      Television

      Mobile networks

      Clothing

      Getting to Valencia and Moving Around the City

      Air

      Bicycle

      Bus

      Car

      Metro

      Sea

      Taxi

      Train

      Top 5 of Valencia

      Top 5 sights

      Top 5 historical places

      Top 5 trendy neighborhoods

      Top 5 beaches

      Top 5 parks and plazas

      Top 5 walking and cycling routes

      Top 5 curiosities

      The Key Places and Sights

      The old town (city center)

      In the city, outside the old town

      Towns and sights near Valencia

      Fiestas and Other Major Events

      Public Holidays in Valencia

      Accommodations

      Location

      Pets

      Tips for booking a private apartment

      Other considerations

      Food and Drink

      Meal times

      Lunch

      Tapas

      Paella

      Rice dishes

      Chorizo

      Spanish Ham

      Horchata

      Coffee

      Wine

      Sangria

      Beer

      Agua de Valencia

      Shopping

      The city center

      Carrer de Colon

      Ruzafa

      Local markets

      A Brief History

      The Roman Period

      The First Wall

      The Muslim Period

      The Business of Silk

      The Rule of the Church and the Kings

      Napoleon's Influence

      The Last King

      From a Flooding River into an Arts Center

      Practical Information

      Fast Facts

      Valencia

      Spain

      intro-oldtown_08-1000

      An alley in the old town.

      top5-ciudaddesarts-outside-may_09-1600

      The City of Arts and Sciences.

      intro-oldtown-night-plazadelavirgen_03-1200

      The fountain at Plaza de la Virgen

      Valencia, Spain city center old town

      Turia Park.

      intro-beach-arenas-may-1200

      The city beach.

      Introduction

      Valencia is a genuine Spanish city. Its authenticity is one reason it is such an attractive destination. It is an ancient city, built and inhabited by multiple cultures. Romans established the settlement, Arabs expanded it, but Valencians have developed it into the special place we can visit today. It has all the fun, attractions, and oddities a major Spanish city has (although the residents are always proud to be Valencians first).

      Valencia has both key features that Spain is renowned for across the world: long beaches and a city full of history. The city is not resting on its ancient laurels but has built an ultra-modern center of arts and sciences: a magnificent tourist destination that residents love as well. Also, the port area is undergoing a thorough renovation, providing new attractions to visitors.

      Travelers who have time to explore Valencia and beyond can find majestic mountains, ancient castles and fortresses, like Sagunt, fishing villages, beach resorts, and nature parks, such as Albufera within one hour's drive from the city.

      On the Mediterranean coast in South Europe, Valencia is a pleasant year-round destination. A mild Mediterranean climate dominates the region. Only during the warmest summer months (July and August), can weather be hot and humid, and in the winter months (January and February), evenings and nights are chilly.

      Spain's third largest city has about one million residents (within city borders this is slightly less, but the total of the metropolitan area including nearby towns with commuters is more than a million). It is the capital of the Spanish autonomous region Comunidad de Valencia.

      Every region in Spain has its unique traditions, fiestas, and culinary culture. Valencia is known as the home of paella, and many other rice dishes. Arabs who once ruled the Iberian Peninsula brought rice cultivation to Valencia, and it continues to be a significant farm crop in the wetlands of Albufera, just outside the city borders.

      Even the tiniest village has its own fiesta in Spain, and since Valencia is a major city, there are festivities throughout the year. The biggest festival is Fallas, celebrated in March. Unesco has acknowledged the tradition of creating and presenting giant puppets as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Read more about the colorful fiestas and other thrilling festivities in chapter Fiestas and Other Major Events.

      intro-plaza-girls-eating-800

      Lunch at a plaza in the old town.

      Band on the street

      It was the first weekend of the Fallas fiesta. At 9 pm, the official opening ceremony at the Torres de Serranos had just ended. I decided to roam around the old town to find out how the celebrations were proceeding on the streets and in the bars.

      The festivities were at full speed. Bars were crowded, large groups of revelers who wore similar fleece jackets indicated that groups, teams, and small communities all enjoyed the fiesta together.

      Tourists slowly walked along the streets encountering joyful groups and performances until they discovered the Plaza de la Virgen. The lighted fountain on the square was such a hit that selfie-takers caused some congestion at the best spot.

      Small orchestras, often consisting of a guitarist, horn player, a drummer, and an accordionist roamed the streets, playing both traditional music and their versions of contemporary hits.

      I pushed the record button on my camera to film one of these bands. It caused a chain reaction. The drummer and the horn player started a song called Despacito, the biggest hit at the time. People on the street didn't miss a beat but began dancing and singing along. Soon, more people joined the fun until I was in the middle of the action, unable to film anymore.

      It was pure and simple fun. It was like the band and the revelers had been doing it all their lives. But wait…they have!

      intro-cabanyal-houses_02-1600

      El Cabanyal neighborhood.

      Valencia is easy to explore on foot or by bicycle. Underground, buses and taxis complement personal transportation, allowing you to reach all the key places in Valencia. A car is only needed if you want to venture outside Valencia to nearby towns, beaches or mountains.

      For a quick look at the key sights and destinations of Valencia, view the Top 5 chapter that highlights the best of the city, organized by category.

      Valencia is a city of contrasts: the magical, ancient old town versus the magnificent, ultra-modern city of arts and sciences; the city made of

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