Valencia & Beyond

Valencia is a vibrant, cosmopolitan city on the Mediterranean coast surrounded by orange and lemon groves, date-palm plantations and rice fields still irrigated by systems devised by the Moors. There’s plenty to sate all appetites in Valencia – it’s brimming with culture, has great tapas bars and gourmet restaurants, a fascinating past with impressive historic sites as well as innovative and avant-garde buildings plus a pleasant stretch of beach to walk off all your excesses. Its impressive and inviting Modernist style Plaza del Mercado is the biggest fresh-produce market in Europe… a good place to get the ingredients for its famous local dish, the internationally acclaimed Valencian paella.

A decade of bold development has given Spain’s third-largest city some of the most striking architecture in the country, adding to the wealth of elegant art nouveau buildings that line the streets, as well as Gothic and Renaissance monuments.

Apart from oranges and paella, Valencia is known for the extraordinary festival of Las Fallas in March, a wild five-day fiesta in honor of San José, when hundreds of giant puppets are paraded and set on fire.

For those seeking the Mediterranean vibe and atmosphere of Barcelona, together with a rich cultural offering, but like to avoid hordes of tourists, Valencia might just be for you. With our insider’s contacts, providing fabulous local tours and foodie experiences, we think it’s a great place for all those who enjoy life and want to embrace the Spanish lifestyle.