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| Valencia, Spain |
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Visit Valencia on the Mediterranean for Culture, History and Fun
If you are looking for a unique Mediterranean vacation, try Valencia in Spain. Although it's popularity is growing, Valencia is a lively and charming place to visit, yet it isn't quite as choked with tourists as many other spots except in the summer months. Even then, you will find yourself immersed in the city's culture and daily life, less a tourist than simply an individual enjoying a daily life that happens to be wonderful.
Valencia has so much to offer, from fascinating attractions reflecting over 2,000 years of history to excellent food, gorgeous beaches, a vibrant nightlife and a strong cultural foundation. On top of that, it's a warm and friendly city that welcomes tourists, but has resisted abandoning its charm to tourism.
Hotel Accommodations in Valencia
If you plan to spend most of your time in Valencia enjoying the beach and seaside activities, you will probably want to stay in one of the many hotels along the beach. You can find very good quality hotels in the Beach/Port area, and there are luxury hotels available if you wish to be pampered. If you plan to spend time exploring city attractions, you may wish to stay closer to city centre, which is the focus of all non-beach related activities.
By choosing to stay in Valencia's Centre, you will still have easy access to the beach, but you will be in easy reach of all the shopping, nightlife, restaurants and cultural attractions the city has to offer.
Another option is to stay in the area around The City of Arts and Sciences, or CAS. There are many hotels there and if you're intrigued with shopping, this will be the place for you. It is located about halfway between the beach and the Centre of Valencia, so it is convenient if you'd like to spend equal amounts of time in both of those areas.
Eating and Drinking in Valencia
Although there are restaurants throughout the city, Valencia's Centre contains a large number of diverse places to eat. You can enjoy international cuisine in Valencia, but the local, regional food is outstanding. Paella Valenciana is the highlight of course, but you can also enjoy tapas at many, many bars throughout the city.
Tapas are the small, snack-sized meals that are enjoyed throughout the day in Spain. They are served with drinks in tapas bars, and it is common to order several rounds of tapas. Although tapas are small servings of food, multiple tapas can be shared among two or more people. All sorts of fresh, delicious foods are used to create tapas, including smoked meats, fresh seafood and shellfish, vegetables, eggs, cheese and mushrooms.
Though tapas are offered in many bars in Valencia, trying some special local tapas is a real treat. Search out Las Cuevas or The Caves in Carmen to enjoy a unique tapas experience in Valencia. A huge variety of both traditional and creative tapas is served in underground catacombs.
Valencia Nightlife
You can enjoy tapas and wine or beer until late into the evening, but this is certainly the tamer side of Valencia nightlife, especially from Thursday through Sunday. Valencia is a fiesta town, and there are tons of festivals held throughout the city every year. Fiestas involve fireworks, costumes, food, drink and plenty of Spanish music. Even without a fiesta, partying often carries into the next day in Valencia.
There aren't just discos and clubs in Valencia, although there are plenty if that's your preference. You can see all sorts of live music, too, from jazz and blues to rock and all sorts of world music. The bars vary tremendously in terms of atmosphere, and as you tire of one, there is another to explore up the block and around the corner. Nightlife in Valencia does not center on just one particular area or a handful of giant clubs.
Valencia Attractions
Valencia has so many interesting cultural and historical attractions; you will have to pick and choose among those that seem most appealing to you. You won't want to miss the architectural masterpiece, the City of Arts and Science. This is a "city within a city" designed to celebrate the start of the 21st century.
You can wonder around the complex without even entering any of the exhibits and be entertained, but the Planetarium, Oceanarium, and Reina Sofia Arts Palace are just a few of the exhibits to explore in depth.
The Cathedral Seu is another fascinating Valencia attraction. This predominantly gothic style Cathedral dates from the 13th century and is quite impressive. What's even more impressive is the chalice displayed on a side chapel that the cathedral claims is the Holy Grail.
There are many other architectural, cultural and historical attractions in Valencia, and you can walk to many of them if you are in the center of the city. There are many other sights located outside the Centre, including the beach. If you wish to travel around Valencia, you can take advantage of the bus or metro system. Taxis are also available, although for traveling large distances they can become an expensive choice. |
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