While most travelers going to Spain head to Madrid and Barcelona, I decided to head to Valencia, Alicante and Torrevieja to experience Spain slightly off the beaten path. Valencia combines urban life with sea and countryside. Below are five great things to take in should you want to add it to your Spanish itinerary.
1. The Old City (Ciutat Vella)
After Barcelona and Madrid, Valencia is probably the third most important Spanish city and its history is clear to see, it dates back to the year 138BC. Visit the Old City while you’re there, known locally as the Ciutat Vella. The Barri del Carme is great for a leisurely stroll and along the way take in the ancient towers: Serrano and Quart Towers. You’ll also find the Cathedral (La Seu) is worth a visit and provides a decent view of the city.
2. The Mestalla (Football Stadium)
I must be honest that my real reason was visiting Valencia was to see the football stadium! The Mestalla is a magnificent stadium and Valencia have been European Cup Finalists twice in the last 15 years (although they lost both times), but it was a bit of nostalgia from 1982 that led me there…This stadium, once called the Luis Casanova Stadium was the famous place where Northern Ireland beat Spain 1-0 in the 1982 World Cup, a shock that is embedded into my country’s football history. The winning goal was scored by Gerry Armstrong and as a result, Northern Ireland won the group and progressed to the Quarter Finals!
3. The Markets – Mercat Central
Mercat Central was the best market to hunt for food and where you can find many of the local specialities: paella, cheese, olives as well as Fideua a local fish dish. Don’t forget to try some Sangria, and Spanish beer.
4. La Tomatina Tomato Festival!
What? Yes a festival where people fling tomatoes at each other! This is held every August and if you’re interested, google La Tomatina for more information.
30,000 people attend the festival every year…complete madness!
5. Valencia’s Beaches
The two most popular beaches in Valencia are Playa de Malvarrosa and Playa e Levante which are located north of the main port.
Beachside bars and restaurants serve ice cold beers and cocktails in the shade. Don’t forget that everything shuts mid-afternoon for a siesta (sleep) which was the perfect time to lie on the beach.
Oh and here’s that Valencia football moment from 1982 that I mentioned for football fans.
Jonny Blair is a self confessed traveling nomad who founded and blogs at Don’t Stop Living. He sees every day as an adventure. Since leaving behind his home town of Bangor in Northern Ireland ten years ago he has traveled to all seven continents, working his way through various jobs and funding it all with hard work and an appetite for travel. Don’t Stop Living, a lifestyle of travel’ contains over 1,000 stories and tips from his journeys round the globe. He wants to show others how easy it is to travel the world, give them some ideas and encourage them to do the same but most of all he aims to constantly live a lifestyle of travel. He is currently based in Hong Kong and on Twitter @jonnyblair.
