The capital city of Carabobo State as well as the third largest city of Spain, Valencia is a fantastic destination, located on the Mediterranean Coast, about 350 km south of Barcelona. Valencia, also referred to as New Barcelona, is a prominent cultural and financial center. Filled with fun and light and within easy reach of majestic mountains, Valencia boasts of an incredible variety of attractions, covering cultural center, beaches, and excellent leisure and sports facilities.
Valencia Tourist Attractions
City of Arts and Sciences
Perhaps, most popular among the attractions of Valencia is the City of Arts and Sciences, also known as La Ciudad de las Artes y de las Ciencias. Among the things to see here are
• L'Hemisferic, a planetarium whose highlight is a huge IMAX cinema displaying science and geography related infotainments
• L'Oceanografic, an underwater area popular among kids. Sharks and other sea specialties can be found here
• Museo de las Ciencias Principe Felipe, a museum displaying most modern technological equipments
• Palacio de las Artes, housing a number of auditoriums for opera and music as well as play performances
Cathedral
Another great attraction of the city is Cathedral. The focal point of Cathedral is the mythical Holy Grail – the Chalice that is believed to have been used by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper. The Cathedral also has to its credit attractions like a museum exhibiting beautiful paintings and a 2300-kg monstrance made of gold, silver, jewels, donated by Valencians, and La Miguelete – an octagonal tower with 207 steps. Above all, the Cathedral is noted for its unique architecture, reflecting baroque, gothic, Romanesque, and neoclassical styles.
Museums and Art Galleries
• The Instituto Valencia de Arte Moderno, (IVAM) exhibiting an impressive display of Spanish modern art
• The Museo Nacional de Ceramica, where an interesting array of ceramics that have been collected across the world can be seen
• The Museu San Pío displays an amazing collection of Flemish and Valencian paintings done by such renowned artists as Bosch, Velazquez Goya, El Greco, Morales, Murillo, Ribera, and Sorolla
Other Attractions
• The Silk Exchange - Built in 1498, the Silk Exchange was formerly a beautiful silk exchange. It has been now declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO
• Palau de la Generalitat, a gothic style building built during the 15th century
Festivals and Art in Valencia
Valencia hosts a large number of festivals, which among many others, are Valencia Escena Oberta, International Youth Film Festival, and Alternative Music Festival.
Gastronomy
Gastronomically, Valencia is home to one of the most popular dishes of Spain, namely, paella, which is a saffron-flavored cuisine prepared from rice, chicken, and shell fish.
Recreational Activities
With a serpentine coastline stretching up to 110 km, Valencia is a perfect base for a number of water sport activities such as diving, windsurfing, and sailing. For adventurers, excellent opportunities are made available for activities such as cycling, rappelling, hiking, and mountaineering.
Shopping in Valencia
Valencia boasts of a great number of shops, selling items ranging from silver artifacts and panniers to wicker work and intricately designed silk embroidery items. The shops are usually located in such happening areas as Baja, Avellanas, and Ciutat Vella streets.
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