4 Best Valencia Weekend Getaway
Valencia, the third largest city in Spain, has a mix of old and new buildings. Valencia has it all from medieval castles to modernist architecture, from little shops to big shopping centres. Not to mention that it also offers a great combination of city, sun and beach, and of course there are plenty of great places to eat and drink too! Valencia manage to offer different and interesting places for weekend getaways. Here are the 4 best Valencia weekend getaway.
Valencia Cathedral and The Holy Grail
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The cathedral is a lovely old place and well worth visiting. Go inside to see 15th-century renaissance paintings by artists such as the Valencian, Jacomart as well as several from Rome commissioned by Pope Alexander VI. But the most fascinating and controversial part, is the Chapel of the Holy Chalice.
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Did you know that the Holy Grail, the cup that Jesus drank from at the last supper, is said to be kept here? Legend has it that the cup travelled from Rome centuries ago. However, when the Muslim rulers took over Spain, it was placed into hiding for centuries and only returned to the city in 1427 by the gloriously named King ‘Alfonso the Magnanimous’.
Valencia's Central Market
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The historic Central Market of Valencia is quite unique and well worth a visit. If you love wandering around food market, this will be the best Valencia weekend getaway for you. It is the perfect place where you can get a closer insight into the daily life of the Valencianos. The market itself is divided into sections, depending on the type of food available such as fish, a meat section, a fruit section and so on. Even if you get bored, there are loads of traditional shops, bars and cafes around the perimetre of the building. It is a really nice area to stroll around.
The old Turia river bed
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The city is bisected by the river Turia. In 1957, the rivers burst their banks and caused a national disaster but you won’t find much water there now. When the rivers burst its banks, it flooded the city in some places up to a depth of 3 metres. There are still houses in some of the old central districts. You still can see the stain on the walls that the dirty flood waters made. Nowadays, it is a park, the largest, and one of most beautiful urban parks in Europe, making it one of the best Valencia weekend getaway even for the local people. There are also sports facilities and children's play-parks, and several imposing buildings along its route such as the imposing Palau de musica.
The city of arts and sciences
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The interesting part of this place is that those large pools of blue water that surround the buildings, can be drained very quickly. The area is then turned into more exhibition space, for events such as horse show jumping, and music concerts. Furthermore, the centre is not just a tourist attraction but is home to much scientific research, both biological and marine. It also has its own youtube channel!