Size: Valencia is the fourth largest city in Spain boasting a population of 790,000 people. It is the capital and largest city of the Valencian Community which is one of the 17 autonomous regions of Spain. Valencia is also quite popular with Madrileños (the people of Madrid) due to Madrid being a landlocked city while Valencia is a city on a beach. As well as the ease of getting from Madrid to Valencia due to their proximity to one another.
My time in Valencia during this tour of Spain was very short. There is probably a lot more to do here than I was able to accomplish.
Places Of Interest: I, first and foremost, would recommend a walking tour of the city, if you can find one. We were lucky to have a, personal, local tour guide who gave us a tour of the city as part of our grander tour of Spain. I can almost guarantee daily walking tours of Valencia exist. It is on this type of tour where you will be able to get a feel for the streets of Valencia, it's history, and this charming architecture.
On the walking tour, you are guaranteed to be shown the Torres de Serranos which is the gate to what was once the busiest entrance to the city. Construction on the two towers (used to defend the city from attacks) began in 1392. The city walls that these towers were once a part of, no longer exist as they were knocked down in 1865.
The next must visit in Valencia is Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (City of Arts and Sciences). This is the most visited area of Valencia and one of the 12 Treasures of Spain. This awe inspiring work of architecture is the work of Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava.
You will need tickets to enter the Hemisfèric, the Science Museum and the Oceanogràfic, and you can buy them separately or combined for the buildings that you would most like to visit.
Unfortunately when I visited, the tour didn't give us enough time to explore the museums so I cannot offer what is worth seeing on the inside. We were only allowed to experience the outside. Even just doing that is remarkable.
