| City - Airport | Arrival: | ||
| Iasi | Chisinau | ||
| from Bucharest (BUH) | BUH → IAS | BUH → RMO | |
| - Henri Coanda (OTP) | OTP → IAS | OTP → RMO | |
Valencia in a quiet seaside setting, this lively Mediterranean port city lives up to the local saying: "a piece of heaven fallen to earth". Under the warm rays of the southern sun, the city's squares are bustling and its churches shine with colorful azulejo domes. As the old capital of the Kingdom of Valencia, the city is rich in cultural heritage. Magnificent historical monuments such as the 15th-century silk exchange, the 18th-century Marquise Palace and the Museum of Fine Arts tell of a rich trade and aristocratic past. However, Valencia entered the 21st century with gusto. The elegant Institute of Modern Art, alongside the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences, immerses visitors in a daring world of artistic and scientific discovery.
Tourists can experience a cutting-edge world of arts and sciences at this futuristic complex on the outskirts of Valencia. Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias is one of the most impressive European centers dedicated to cultural and scientific exhibitions. Spanning two kilometers along the Turia River, the complex includes some stunning examples of avant-garde architecture designed by architects Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela. The Ciudad complex has six main areas: Hemisfèric IMAX Cinema which films on digital screens; Umbracle landscaped area with excellent views; Príncipe Felipe Science Museum, an interactive science museum; Oceanographic aquarium; Reina Sofía opera, and Agora concert space. The City of Arts and Sciences also hosts conferences, exhibitions and workshops related to science and art topics.
Every year in March, Valencia becomes a scene of joyous celebration during the Fiesta de San José (Saint Joseph's Feast Day). This lively religious festival is known for its creative installations called Fallas, large floats with papier mâché figures. These creations are created in the streets and then burned at midnight on the last day of the fiesta. The custom originates from the Middle Ages, when carpenters and other craftsmen would burn scraps of wood and other materials left over on the feast of Saint Joseph.
Museo Fallero (Museum of Fallas) is a good way to experience some of the energy of this event if you visit in another season. Here are some examples of ninot (digits) that were saved by popular vote. It's also interesting to see how the ninots have evolved through technology, from the early wax figures dressed in real clothes to the modern ones made of papier-mâché and, more recently, polystyrene.
The striking building designed by architect Félix Candela, as part of the City of Arts and Sciences, houses the largest aquarium in Europe. It is actually a complex of several buildings, each dedicated to one of Earth's most important ecosystems and marine environments: Wetlands, Temperate and Tropical, Oceans, Mediterranean, Antarctic, Arctic and Islands and the Red Sea. More than 500 marine species are represented by 45,000 sea creatures, visible in nine towers that allow viewing as if visitors will be underwater. The most dramatic of these is the tunnel, where visitors walk surrounded on both sides and waters by swimming sharks. Elsewhere there are beluga whales, sea lions, molluscs, penguins, seals, sea turtles and dolphins. Along with viewing marine life, you can experience mangrove swamps, marshes, kelp forests and other wetlands with their native plant species. You can also dine in an underwater restaurant surrounded by a huge aquarium.
This magnificent Gothic building was built in the 15th century to house the city's Silk Exchange, the market where Valencia's famous silk was traded with merchants (who sold it all over Europe). One of the finest examples of Gothic civil architecture in Europe, the building resembles a medieval castle with its outer tower and formidable tower. The facade features richly decorated doors, decorative windows and gargoyles (carved grotesque creatures that function as water pits). The main hall has rich star vaults carried on twisted columns. Visitors can climb the 144 stone steps of the tower's spiral staircase. From the top of the tower, the views of the city are amazing. This attraction is open to the public daily. On Sundays, La Lonja is used as a venue for coin and stamp exhibitions.
Opposite the Lonja, the Mercado Central is a spacious market, built in 1928. The Art Nouveau building is decorated with azulejos, the decorative ceramics typical of the region. The hall contains 1300 market stalls where vendors sell fresh fruit, vegetables and food products from the Valencia region as well as other areas of Spain. The Iglesia de los Santos Juanes, a wonderful 14th century church is right next to the square. This church has a baroque architectural facade and a gorgeous beach, created by Palomino in 1700.
Valencia Cathedral is a glorious Gothic church with the iconic Miguelete tower towering over the city. Built on the site of an old Moorish mosque, the cathedral was built in the 13th century and renovated in the 17th century. The exterior combines original Romanian, Gothic and Baroque architectural elements. Vibrant azure tiles adorn the domes, which are a distinct feature of Valencia's skyline.
Before entering, spend time admiring the facade. The splendid Puerta del Palaudoor dates from the Roman era, while the Puerta de los Apóstoles (Door of the Apostles) dates from the 15th century. The interior has an inspired ambience with a majestic ceiling and a rose window that illuminates the space. The various chapels are adorned with masterpieces of art, including paintings by Goya and a crucifix by Alonso Cano. A highlight of the sanctuary is the Holy Grail Chapel with delicate vault fragments and star motifs. This chapel depicts a scene of the 12 apostles in Heaven and the coronation of the Virgin Mary. The most sacred object is a relic of the Holy Grail, an artifact from the first century AD, which is said to be the cup that Jesus used to make the Holy Eucharist. Among the oldest (dating back to Roman times) and the most beautiful of Valencia's many squares, Plaza de la Virgen is lined with several landmark buildings. On one side is the facade of the Santa Maria Cathedral, next to it, the Basilica de la Virgen de los Desamparados, and across the square is the Generalitat Palace. The graceful Neptune Fountain at its center is the work of Valencian sculptor Silvestre Edeta. Lit up at night, it's a favorite spot for an evening stroll and watching local life.
With its ornate blue dome, this beautiful church exemplifies the characteristic Mediterranean style of Valencia. Built in 1725, the Church of St. Thomas and St. Philip was listed as a National Historic Monument in 1982. The church has a fancifully decorated baroque facade, and the architectural appearance was modeled after the much-imitated Il Gesú Church in Rome. The stunning interior has a spacious central nave made up of numerous side chapels. Catholic mass is held daily at the church. The monument is not open to the public to visit, but tourists can partake in a meal to see the wonderful sanctuary.
The Valencia Zoo covers 25 acres north of the park created by the diversion of the Turia River. The landscape was created to house animals as close as possible to their native habitats, and the zoo is particularly known for its large collection of African animals. The environment is designed so that visitors immediately feel as if they have been transported to Africa , because they see the animals almost without barrier in landscapes typical of the savannah, Madagascar and Equatorial Africa. Instead of separating different species, they coexist as they would in their native environments. On the savanna, for example, lions, giraffes, antelopes and rhinos live together, as they do in the wild. Gorillas live in a dense equatorial forest, while hippos and crocodiles cool off in the water. Bioparc is actively committed to resource sustainability and wildlife conservation, using solar panels to heat water and recycling over 95% of it.
Near the San Martín Church is the Palacio del Marqués de Dos Aguas, a spectacular 18th-century mansion. The Marquise Palace is famous for its opulently decorated facade, with an ornately carved alabaster door. This aristocratic palace now houses the National Museum of Ceramics, which opened in 1947. The museum displays more than 5,000 examples of traditional ceramics from Valencia and the surrounding area, azulejos (blue ceramics) from Teruel, and faience from Toledo and Seville. Other interesting items on display include ancient Greek, Roman and Arabic pottery; fine porcelain from China and Japan; and modern pieces by Mariano Benlliure and Picasso. A highlight of the collection is the fully fitted 19th century Valencian kitchen with traditional tiling.
Housed in a surprising building in outer space, the Institute of Modern Art of Valencia is dedicated to the avant-garde art of the 20th century. The permanent collection covers all modern art movements, including abstract and pop art, informalism and the new figurative. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions, lectures and workshops. In striking contrast to the modern building, an underground museum room reveals the ruins of Valencia's medieval wall. Archaeological remains were discovered during the construction of the museum.
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