Exploring the heart of the city will let you feel the young yet ancient spirit of Valencia:
Sightseeing
Jardines del Real or Los Viveros
Located outside the Museu de Bellas Artes, this is one of the city's largest parks and is a wonderful garden to enjoy a stroll through, filled with statues, fountains, a children's park and a zoo. The zoo is open daily from 10am to dusk.
La Lonja
A 15th-century silk exchange located in the Plaza del Mercado s/n, tel: 96 352 5478. Open 9am-2pm, 4:30-8pm. The Gothic building was declared an historical monument in 1931. Free entrance.
Plaza Redonda
Situated at the heart of the old city in barrio Cuitat Vella which on Sundays hosts a small market selling everything from canaries to sweets.
Mercado Central
This bustling market place, situated opposite the Plaza del Mercado, was built between 1914 and 1918. Covering 8,000 square metres, it is one of best in Europe. Closes around 2pm every day. Entry: 3 euros.
Torres de Serrano
Plaza de los Fueros, tel: 96 391 9070
Fourteenth-century pentagonal towers that formed part of the city's original defence system.Open: Tues-Sat 9:30am- 2pm, 4:30-8pm. Sun and hols 9:30am-2pm. Free entry.
L'Almoina Archaeological Site
c/De la Harina s/n, tel: 96 394 1417
Open: Tues-Thurs 6pm-9pm, Fri 6pm-12am, Sat 10am-1pm, 6pm-12am. Sun and fiestas 10am-1pm. Between April and Oct night visit recommended. Free entry.
Cathedral Plaza de la Reina
s/n, tel: 96 391 8127
Open: Mon-Sun from 7:30am-1pm and 4:30-8:15pm. Free entrance.
Palacio de la Generalitat
c/Caballeros 2, tel: 96 386 3461
Built in 1510 and today the seat of the Valencian government. The courtyard can be visited on weekdays from 9am-8pm. You can also do a tour of the building but you need to make an appointment beforehand. Open: Mon-Fri 9am-2pm. Free entry.
Corts Valencian
Pl San Lorenzo 4, tel: 96 386 6100
Open: Mon-Fri 9am-2pm.
The Malvarrosa and Las Arenas Promenade
The promenade is relatively new and is lined with numerous establishments serving seafood and typical Valencian dishes. Not an area to wander through late at night but bags of atmosphere.
Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias
tel: 90 210 001/032, www.cac.es/
Largest urban complex under development in Europe for cultural, educational, and leisure entertainment. There are four areas: L’Hemisferic, which consists of a planetarium; an Imax dome cinema (large format films and a Laserium laser show); the Museo de las Ciencias Principe Felipe; and the Palacio de las Artes and L'Oceangraphic which is scheduled to open before 2005. Exit next to the autovia of El Saler or take bus numbers 13, 14 or 15.
Convento de Santo Domingo
tel: 96 351 7737
Built in 1239, the church has withstood centuries of renovations and restorations which have produced its unique combination of architectural style. Today, it is home to the headquarters of the Valencian armed forces.
Palau de la Musica
Paseo de la Alameda 30, tel: 96 337 5020/fax: 96 337 0988, www.palauvalencia.com
Concert hall overlooking the Turia gardens. Also contains congress halls and exhibition rooms. Venue for international performers.
Museums
Museum of Fine Arts
San Pio St.
Open from 10am until 2pm and from 4 until 6pm from Tuesday to Saturday. On Sundays and holidays from 10am until 2pm. Closed on Mondays and in the afternoons in August. Phone: 96.360.57.93
One of the most important in Spain.
Municipal History Museum
El Ayuntamiento Sq.
Open from 9am until 2pm every day except on Saturdays and holidays. No charge. Phone: 96.352.54.78.
Historical documents of the city.
The Cathedral Museum
Zaragoza Sq.
Open from 10am until 1pm and from 4 until 6pm. Closed on Tuesdays and in the afternoons in January, February and December. In the summer: open from 10am until 1pm and from 4.30 until 7pm from Monday to Saturday, and from 10am until 1pm on Sundays and holidays. Phone: 96.331.81.27
Paintings by Goya. Juan de Juanes and early Valencia paintings. An exceptional relic is the Holy Chalice (Santo Caliz).
The "Gonzalez Marti" National Ceramics Museum
Rinconada Garcia Sanchiz.
Open from 10am until 2pm and from 4 until 6pm from Tuesday to Saturday. On Sundays and holidays from 10am until 2pm. Closed on Mondays.
Phone: 96.351.63.92. In the palace of the Marquis of Dos Aguas.
El Patriarca
1, Nave St.
Open every day from 11am until 1.30pm. Phone: 96.351.41.76.
Works of art by El Greco, Mabuse, Juan de Juanes, Ribalta, Van der Weyden and others.
Museum of Prehistory and Ethnology
36, Corona St.
Open from 10am until 2pm and from 4.30 until 6.30pm from Tuesday to Saturday. On holidays from 10am until 1.30pm. No charge. In the summer closed in the afternoons. Phone: 96.331.71.64.
The Valencia Institute of Modern Art (IVAM)
118, Guillen de Castro St.
Open from 10am until 9pm from Tuesdays to Sundays. Phone: 96.386.30.00.
Collections by Julio Gonzalez and Pinarro. Works of art by Tapies, Saura, Chillida, Equipo, Cronica, etc.
The Jose-Benlliure House-cum-Museum
23, Blanquerias St.
Open from 10am until 1.30pm and from 4 until 6pm from Tuesday to Friday. On Saturdays from 10am until 1.30pm. Closed on Mondays and holidays. In the summer open from 10am until 1pm from Tuesday to Saturday. In August closed in the afternoons. Phone: 96.331.16.62.
No charge. Dedicated to the work of this Valencia painter and his son.
Museum Fallero (of the Fallas)
4, Monteolivete Sq.
Open from 10am until 2pm and from 4 until 7pm every day except on Mondays. In the summer closed in the afternoons. Phone: 96.332.33.36.
An exhibition of the "ninots", the papier-mache figures not burned in the Fallas.
The Joaquin-Saludes Maritime Museum
Los Fueros Sq. (Serranos Tower).
Open from 10am until 1pm and from 5 until 6.30pm from Monday to Friday: from 10am until 1pm on Saturdays and Sundays. In the summer from 10am until 1pm from Monday to Saturday. Phone: 96.331.90.70. No charge.
Bullfighting Museum
Bullring. Open from 11am until 1pm from Monday to Friday. Phone: 96.351.18.50.
One of the oldest in Spain..
