Culture of Valencia. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Valencia Cathedral is certainly one of the main symbols of the city. The first church on the site of the modern cathedral was built in ancient times. Later it was destroyed by the Moors, who built a beautiful mosque instead of the church. The foundation of that ancient mosque became the basis for the cathedral, which travelers can see these days. The walls of the cathedral keep a valuable relic - Sagrada Cena - an old bowl, which many experts consider to be no more than the Holy Grail. Each year the cathedral is visited by tens of thousands of people, who come to look at the legendary artifact.

Serranos Gates are a no less striking tourist attraction. The gates were built in the beginning of the 13th century. They act as a symbolic entrance to the street with the same name. Originally the gates belonged to a massive system of fortifications. All the buildings and the wall, which had surrounded the city, were destroyed in the 14th century, so today only Serranos Gates remind of magnificent buildings of the past.

Vacationers should definitely not forget to visit Science Center, which is located just a few steps away from the pond. This is a beautiful hemispherical building. The total square of the large-scale complex of is more than 350 thousand square meters. Every day Science Center holds interesting lectures and laser shows devoted to natural science topics. Here you can watch films about mysteries of nature and great discoveries of scientists, visit the local planetarium and see interesting exhibitions in Museum of Natural Science. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Palau de la Generalitat is a true example of architecture. The beautiful building was constructed in 1403. Today the palace is occupied by Catalan government. Palau de la Generalitat is traditionally used as the venue for receptions and important negotiations. The entrance to the palace is crowned by a statue of St. George - the patron saint of Catalonia. The palace’s courtyard is also worth your attention. It is made in unique Gothic style and is decorated with sculptures created by most famous medieval craftsmen. There is an ancient chapel of Sant Jordi near the palace. It also attracts visitors by its elegance and beauty.

Art connoisseurs should definitely make an excursion to Museum of Fine Arts, which exhibits a wonderful collection of paintings by eminent artists. Priceless works by Goya, Joaquin Sorolla, and El Greco attract numerous art lovers to the museum. A walk through historic district of Valencia will also bring a lot of unforgettable memories. You can find beautiful old buildings and monuments simply everywhere.

Many tourists begin their acquaintance with the city from the Plaza de Toros de Valencia – such arenas are in every major city of Spain, and, in fact, they demonstrate the “soul” of the city. And, of course, if you manage to attend the bullfight during your holidays here, it will be remembered forever. The Plaza de Toros in Valencia is very similar to the Roman Colosseum; while building the arena the architect was inspired by this very building. Another place that should be visited is the Plaza Redonda – a kind of “square-arena”. It has a rounded shape, and inside you can find a textile market. There is a fountain in the center. In fact, it is not so easy to find the square, as it is located inside the buildings surrounding it. Therefore, it is better to ask the local residents for direction.

A stunning walk awaits those who would decide to stroll along Casco Antiguo. Here along the streets, you will meet costumes that the locals wore during the carnival. A completely unusual sight and the impressions that a walk along this street gives you is amazing. Also, the amount of greenery on the balconies is impressive, and all these bring a special share of romance. It is also worth taking a walk along the oldest neighborhood of the city, namely, the Barrio del Carmen. It is quite easy to lose the feeling of time here – while walking here, you cannot be completely surprised that a knight can come around the corner, and a carriage with a noble lady will ride towards him. And you can truly meet them – themed parties in Valencia are really popular.

Great views of Valencia open up from the city’s highest bell tower. It is about the Miguelete. The rise is quite long – a spiral staircase leads to the top of the bell tower, but the views that can be beheld are definitely worth it. Another beautiful viewing platform is called Ateneo. There is a 360-degree view here. You can have a great time by walking along the Puerto de Valencia – from here also unbelievably beautiful views of the sea are opened up. This is a great place at any time of the day, but during the sunset, a walk will be the most romantic one.

An interesting architectural structure is the Edificio de Correos y Telegrafos, the construction of which began in 1915. Three styles were mixed here: modernism, baroque and classicism. A very beautiful facade with sculptures of winged creatures, clocks, emblems, and ornaments will immediately attract your attention, as well as the elegant steel tower. The Ayuntamiento de Valencia is another public institution, thanks to which friendly envy is felt towards those who were lucky enough to work in such a beautiful building. The building is luxurious – richly decorated facade with columns, sculptures, clocks and some symbols of the city contribute to this.

One of the oldest buildings in the city is the La Lonja de la Seda. It was built in the 15th century and was a guild house where silk was traded. Spiral columns, arched ceilings, and marble floors make a special impression. Nearby you can find the tower where dishonest traders were punished in the olden days. The place is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Around here you can wander into the liveliest place in Valencia – namely, the Mercat Central. The market is interesting not only in terms of the fact that you can buy all sorts of goods here but also from an architectural point of view.

There are many interesting religious monuments in Valencia, which will be mention sacrilegious not to mention. First of all, we are talking about the Iglesia de San Nicolas de Bari y San Pedro Martir, a beautiful example of the 15th-century gothic style. The building is decorated with Baroque elements, which gives it a special charm. The interior is not inferior in elegance to the exterior, if it does not surpass it. The Monestir Sant Miquel dels Reis is another fascinating place. It was founded in the 16th century in place of the Order of the Cistercians that existed here at the time. The monastery is majestic and this is what makes it attractive to begin with. One more place to visit is the hidden pearl of Valencia, located in the Universidad Católica de Valenci building. We are talking about the Cripta Arqueologica de San Vicente Martir.