VALENCIA WALKING TOUR

In a nutshell

A tour along the symbolic monuments of the glorious past of Valencia, a city that aims to become the center of contemporary art but at the same time preserves the testimonies left by a legacy of two thousand years of history.

Main stops

• Cathedral
• "Las Aguas" water court
• Lonja: the silk exchange
• Lonja central market

The programme

• We will begin our tour of Valencia at the Cathedral, better known to Valencians as "La Seu", or "The seat", which is now the hub of religious, cultural and daily life in the city. We will admire this stunning church from outside. Construction began in 1262 in a Gothic-Cistercian style and took until the 18th century to complete, producing a wonderful blend of complementary styles.
• Every Thursday, at one of its gates, the famous "Las Aguas" water court is held, the oldest judicial institution in Europe which, because of its tribunals and irrevocable sentences, mostly settles disputes over the use and exploitation of irrigation water from the fertile plain of Valencia. The court, which originated in the Middle Ages, gathers every Thursday at midday at the chiming of the bells of the Miguelete, the cathedral's bell tower, announcing a lively and unique tradition.
• We will then head to the Lonja, the old silk exchange and one of the most fascinating pure Gothic-style civic buildings in history. Declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1996, the Lonja is a symbol of Valencia's wealth during the Golden Age, in around the 15th century, and the commercial and social revolution that took place in the Late Middle Ages.
• Then we will cross the road to explore the famous Central Market of Valencia, which is one of the largest indoor markets in Europe with around one thousand sales points and covering over 8,000 m2.
• Glass domes, liberty-style finishing and brightly coloured tiles today provide the backdrop for the scents and colours of the stores offering products from the earth and sea in a picturesque setting.

Good to know

• The Central Market is closed on Sundays and can only be viewed from the outside.