Valencia, Spain. Part 2...

In the covid interrupted interim, we have visited Malvern, Cotwolds, Norfolk, Wales amongst other UK delights.

When visiting Valencia In March 2020 we vowed to return for a longer trip, as the city and the surrounding area offers many things to do. The thinking was to travel over the same period to enjoy more of Las Fallas, to rent an apartment and live like the locals for a couple of weeks. Valencia, after Madrid and Barcelona is the 3rd largest city in Spain, that said, it does not feel like it though...

The day after we arrived we enjoyed the opening of the festival of Las Fallas , La Crida which is held at the Serrano Torres in the north of the city. Crowds flock into this event, with speeches, visual graphics on the tower walls and a large and noisy firework display...the start of many fireworks!

On our trip this time we ventured out on the local railway southbound to Xativa, which has a castle that started its roots in 300 B.C. A fine climb up to the top to see the older "Castillo Menor" (minor castle) and the later "Castillo Mayor" (main castle), which was built during the medieval period. The following day, a visit to another sprawling castle to the north of the city, accessed by train to Sagunto. a much longer walk around the castle walls before entering the castle itself, which has Spanish, Islamic and Roman remains lie there within.

As before, Las Fallas was an overriding visual of the stay, we visited two permanent galleries where the the best component ninots (figures) earned reprieve from the annual traditional burning of all of the monuments on 19th March each year. This festival has been celebrating the feast of St Joseph since the mid 18th century, the burning welcomes in the spring. The monuments are stunning, over 700 of them are erected around the city, many them taller than the height of a house, they are then burnt to the ground on 19th March.

We also visited the ninot display at the science museum. The science museum and the neighbouring oceanographic museum were both well worth a visit, the latter with bird life and superb aquariums with sharks, dolphins and many other sea creatures. The science museum has many interactive exhibits borne by their mantra “It is prohibited not to touch, not to feel, not to think”. and the building itself is a fine scientific creation too.

We also ventured to the Belle Arts Gallery, Corpus Museum, Ethnology museum, Silk Exchange (Lonja de le Seda) , Basílica de la Mare de Déu dels Desamparats, Benlliure House-Museum, Colon Market, Central market, Torres Quart, Serrano Torres. We also availed of the rather handy Valencia Tourist card conferring unlimited travel on the local public transport network and free or discounted entrance tickets to many sites.

The food here is lovely, paella options everywhere....my favourite version of it is Arroz Negro, squid ink infused risotto and jet black in appearance.. it is rather delicious.

It was an unusual city break in the real sense, as it was an un-pressured 14 night stay, living in this beautiful city. Right from the start, you have the ease of getting into the city via the metro from the airport. It has plenty of local museums and attractions, old and new, and being able to walk or cycle to the sandy beaches and the general close proximity to everything in this green and compact city make it an attractive destination. Culture abounds here.

The funny thing is... I'm certain that I will come back here, yet again.