Long overshadowed by the brilliant Barcelona, the city of Valencia is gradually reclaiming its rights on the Mediterranean. For more than 15 years, Spain's third largest city has been committed to an ambitious policy of urban and cultural renaissance. It is clear that the challenge has been brilliantly met! Quieter than Barcelona in summer, this is a good plan and a destination to discover urgently. Especially during thea Tomatina, this emblematic festival celebrated every year in Buñol in the province of Valencia.
A very rich architecture
A symbol of this newfound vitality, the City of Arts and Sciences is today the icon of a city that looks straight to the future. The construction of a 10 km long green corridor in the old Turia riverbed has changed the habits of Valencians. Today, joggers, cyclists and passers-by have a green lung that crosses the entire city. The installation of the Biopark and Oceanografic across the Turia Gardens speaks volumes about the city's ambition to transform Valencia into a leading city for sustainable development. To achieve this, Valencia counts on its 130 km of bicycle paths that crisscross the city. Or on the Albufera, a natural park that is home to hundreds of animal and plant species on more than 20 hectares, only 10 km from the city center.
But this ever-changing territory has also managed to preserve its rich heritage, the legacy of a Golden Age that made Valencia a powerful Mediterranean city in the 15th century. The sumptuous Lonja de la Seda is an example of this. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, this masterpiece of civil Gothic architecture was built between 1482 and 1548 to the designs of the Catalan architect Pere Compte. The Lonja de la Seda (Silk Hall) is an emblematic building of the Valencian Golden Age: its construction responds to the economic and cultural boom that made Valencia the capital of the Mediterranean in the 15th century. At that time, this was the place where merchants traded and sold precious raw materials, especially silk. True to its traditions, Valencia is home to one of the oldest civil courts in the world - the Tribunal des Eaux - whose members have been meeting every Thursday for more than a thousand years in front of Valencia's imposing cathedral. Built on the site of a former mosque, it was built between the 13th and 15th centuries. Gothic at first, then modified and restored in the eighteenth century, it has three doors of different styles: the semicircular facade is Baroque, the southern portal (Puerta del Palau) is Romanesque and, to the north, the Door of the Apostles is Gothic. The Holy Grail is kept here in a chapel inside the church. Every Thursday there is a mass of the Grail. Inside, there is still a spiral staircase that leads to the terrace from which you can admire the city and the bell tower - the miguelete (former minaret), built between the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.
A festive, trendy and cosmopolitan city
Tradition is best reflected in the art of the Valencian people: the art of the party! The world-famous Fallas, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2016, is a popular spectacle in March. But all year round, the Valencian is a nocturnal animal who likes to go out and indulge in the joys of the fiesta until the wee hours. The barrio del Carmen, a favorite neighborhood for night owls, is always buzzing with activity. The cultural vitality of Valencia is also reflected in the emergence of new trendy neighborhoods, especially Russafa, which has become the territory of the Valencian bobos. At the same time, the avant-garde has been introduced into the plates and design of the city's establishments. For if Valencia retains the serenity of Mediterranean cities, it claims to be trendy and cosmopolitan. Design bars and old bodegas, designer cuisine and paella, clubbing and fallas: no dichotomy stops the intrepid Valencia
Swimming and gastronomy
With more than 7 km of beaches accessible by public transport and a mild, sunny climate all year round, Valencia is a popular destination for its pleasant living environment. The coastline of the Valencian Community, lined with seaside resorts, is one of the most visited in Spain. With an average annual temperature of 18.9°C, Valencia can be visited all year round and enjoy its favorable climate. From June to the end of September, the average temperature is around 25°C, while the thermometer shows an average of 12°C from December to February.
The sea and the rice fields of the Albufera and the Huerta, it is true, are the source of Valencia's gastronomic excellence, famous throughout the world for its famous paella. Although faithful to tradition, Valencian cuisine is also eager to innovate. Although paella remains an unchallenged classic, a new generation of Valencian chefs is excelling in the rediscovery of Mediterranean flavors. Gastronomic addresses are multiplying alongside traditional restaurants, heralding a bright future for Valencian cuisine.
The Tomatina, an emblematic festival
The Tomatina, an emblematic festival, is celebrated every year in Buñol, about 40 kilometers from Valencia. Every year, it attracts thousands of participants from all over Europe to take part in its giant tomato battle. The principle: trucks loaded with tons of ripe tomatoes are stormed by the participants, who have exactly one hour to throw their tomato stock on whoever they want... before the big clean-up with the water jet! For the youngest, a tomatina infantil is celebrated in the village square. It's an experience not to be missed if you're in the area on Wednesday, August 28 this year..
Smart info
When is it? The climate of the coastline is Mediterranean: summers are hot and dry and winters are very mild. Overall, the best times to visit the Valencian coast are spring and autumn because the temperatures are still very pleasant and the few tourists are appreciable, unlike the summer, which is besieged by a crowd of visitors. To attend the 2022 edition of the Tomatina, go to Buñol on Wednesday, August 31.
How to get there. Average price of a flight from Paris to Valencia: 180 € in low season, 280 € in high season
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