Valencia’s Old Town is the city’s beating heart. It’s a tangle of mediaeval streets dotted with orange trees and grand monuments like the Silk Exchange, our amazing food market, Mercado Central. Start on a high by scaling the Cathedral’s “Miguelete” Tower for priceless panoramas. Then dive, map-less, into the Carmen neighbourhood and fraternise with locals in every corner.
In Ciutat Vella you will find the the most gorgeous historical buildings and places to sightsee.
Administrative: City Hall, Palace of the Generalitat Valenciana, many of the ministries, etc.
Commercial: Central Market, Plaza Redonda, Mossén Sorell market, little cozy stores, etc.
Cultural and museum: IVAM (Museum of Modern Art), MUVIM (Museum of Enlightenment and Modernity), Ceramics Museum, Museum of Prehistory and Valencian Museum of Ethnology.
Religious: Cathedral of Valencia, Basilica de los Desamparados, Santa Catalina, San Juan del Mercado, etc.
Historical: Lonja de la Seda, Torres de Serranos, Torres de Quart, Portal de la Valldigna, and many private palaces of the city.
Two ways of living life in Ciutat Vella. During daytime, where you can enjoy the littel boutique clothing, museums, galleries, bars and restaurants, and the after-dark moment, where you can frequent clubs, cafe terraces, around a table waiting for the long night out.
We start the day visiting el Mercado Central. Art-nouveau bulding, it is the biggest in Europe dedicated to the sale of fresh produce. 1.500 working daily. Proud to say, a couple of them are my sister and brother in law. Ask for “Pascual Bauset” shop. Around 10.00 am, stop and look for a bar around the Mercado to eat an “Almuerzo”. It is a traditional workers sandwich “bocadillo”.
Almost in front of the Mercado Central, we will see one of the main buildings in the city. The Silk Exchange building from the XV century, today a World Heritage Site, the Longja de la Seda. After seeing it, there is a nice walk through Ciutat Vella, where you will feel the spirit of its founding by the Romans. We walk through the narrow streets and historic squares until we reach the Cathedral, where the official Holy Grail is kept, and behind it, the Plaza de la Virgen, place very special for Valencians.
Depends on the time, you can go from Plaza de la Virgen to see the Torres de Serranos, well-preserved 14th-century towers, they over-look the bed of Río Turia. Impressive panoramic view after climbing the 132 steps. if you climbed the Cathedral tower, “el Miguelete” with 207 steps, is enough for one day.
Many tapas restaurants away from the tourist area, around Mercado de Mossen Sorell, and also in Calle Roteros, behind the Torres de Serranos.
#juanhouseadvice Ciutat Vella is for walking around the little streets, find nice bars, drink a beer or a coffee, enjoy, laugh, live with your group.
If you have any doupt, send me a message, I will help you anytime! 😀
Places To Visit during day:
- CATHEDRAL inside.
- CATHEDRAL Tower “El Miguelete”, get inside of the Cathedral, on the left. 3€ to get on top of the tower. Worthy 360º view of the city.
- MERCADO CENTRAL. Food market from 7.00 till 14.00. Nice to see, and to eat around many tapas places.
- MERCADO MOSSEN SORELL. Little food market, not that touristic, only locals, there is a winery and an onyster place.
Restaurants.
- EL BODEGÓ DE LA SARIETA. Tipical Valencian food. Good product and nice and near the Cathedral.
- EL BISBE. Very good place and nice for traditional tapas but modern way.
- VINTARA. Traditional Tapas. Plaza de la Reina. Tapas are nice and service also in a informal place.
- CANELA. Nice Mediterranean dishes.
Night life
- RADIO CITY. From 24.00.
- JIMMY JAZZ GLASS. Do you like Jazz? this is your place in Valencia. Amazing. Important: Make a reservation.
- JOHNY MARACAS. From 24.00.
- EL GUEKO
- BAR EL NEGRITO. It´s just a bar for drinking. Locals go to socialize, drinking and conversing from 18.00 till late night.
