Quart Towers

The centre of the city is the plaza of the Town Hall, the façade of which is of eclectic style, which was built in the 20th century ( Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 13:00). It is the starting point for some of the main thoroughfares, such as the Avenida de María Cristina, at the end of which is located the Market Square that contains the Central Market, constructed in the modernist style in the early 20th century ( Monday to Saturday from 8:00 to 15:00); the Silk Exchange -known as that of the Merchants- built in the Gothic style between 1482 and 1498 to house the Court of the Consolat del Mar ( Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 14:00 and 16:30 to 20:30, Sunday from 10:00 to 15:00; adults 2 €; students 1 €) and the church of the Santos Juanes, built in the 14th century in the Gothic style and subsequently adapted to Baroque. In this tangle of streets can be found some of the most outstanding Gothic palaces in the city, and the corners with the most character, such as the Plaza Redonda, erected in 19th century and named as the "clot" (the hole) and the churches of Santa Catalina -in the Plaza de Santa Catalina- and San Nicolás -in the Calle Caballeros- built in the Gothic style and adapted to Baroque in the 18th century. To the west of the Plaza del Mercado -if we leave it along Calle Quart- stand the Quart Towers, constructed in cylindrical shapes in the 15th century to defend the city. Immediately opposite lie the Botanical Gardens ( from 10:00 to 18:00/21:00 depending on the daylight), which houses the Natural History Museum ( weekends from 10:00 to 14:00; adults 2.40 €; reduced 1.20 €), and adjacent to it the Church of San Miguel and San Sebastian.

Tower of the Micalet

Back in the square, if we go up the Calle Salines we come to the Valldigna Gate which was part of the old Arab walls; and on our right the buildings of the Palau de la Generalitat, characterised by their Gothic turrets and a magnificent patio; and the palaces of Batlia and the Marqués de Scala, the headquarters of the Valencia local government. In the nearby Plaza de la Virgen stands the Basilica of the Desamparados which honours the city's patron saint and was built in baroque style on Roman forum ( daily from 7:00 to 14:00 and from 16:30 to 21:00) and the Cathedral built in several styles with its three doors: Hierros (baroque), Apostoles (gothic) and Palau (romanic) ( Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 17:30 and Sunday from 10:00 to 18:30; audio-guide 3.50 €), the south façade of which looks onto the adjoining Plaza de la Reina, which offers the finest view of the octagonal belfry tower of the Micalet, and where the church of San Martín stands, with its Baroque interior and Gothic exterior. Back at the Plaza de la Virgen and entering the Calle Almirante, we come to the Almudín, a Gothic building of the 14th century used as a storage warehouse (transformed into a temporally exhibition hall; adults 2 €), the church of San Esteban where Saint Vicente Ferrer was baptised, and the Palacio Marqués de Campo -in plaza del Arzobispo, 3- which currently houses the City Museum ( Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 16:30 to 20:30, Sunday from 10:00 to 15:00; adults 2 €; students 1 €), and open to the archaeological site of the Almoina. The nearby Palacio del Almirante -in the Calle Palau on the corner with Calle Avellanes- retains 11th century Arab baths which constitute the largest site of Arab colonisation in the city ( Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 18:00 to 20:00, Sunday from 10:00 to 14:00). To our left stands the Palacio Arzobispal -built last century-, and to our right -at the confluence with Calle Milagro- the churches of Santo Tomás and San Juan del Hospital, erected in the Gothic Style by the Maltese Order in the 14th century. Going up the Calle Navellos we come to the Palau dels Borja, the headquarters of the Courts of the Region of Valencia, and beyond the 14th century Serranos Towers ( Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 16:30 to 20:30, Sunday from 10:00 to 15:00; adults 2 €, under 12 & students 1 €), which lead to the Gothic bridges of the Real (Royal), the Trinidad, Serranos, and San José over the former bed of the river Turia, currently used for gardens and sporting facilities. On our left stands the Church of the Carmen, the house and museum of the painter José Benlliure in the Calle Blanquerías at number 23 ( Tuesday to Saturday from 9:15 to 14:00 and from 17:30 to 21:00, Sunday from 9:15 to 14:00), and the Valencia Institute of Modern Art in the Calle Guillem de Castro at number 118 (open Tuesday to Sunday October to May from 10:00 to 20:00 and June to September 10:00 to 22:00; adults 2 €; students 1 €), which shares its works between the headquarters of the Julio González Centre -in the Calle Museo- and the Carmen Centre -in the Calle Na Jordada-.

Hemisfèric inside Art and Science City

Queen Sofia Palace of Arts inside Art and Science City

Back along the former river bed we come to the Church of the Temple opposite the Fine Arts Museum ( Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 20:00; free entrance) and the Royal Gardens -in General Elio Street- within which is located the Natural Science Museum ( Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 16:30 to 20:30, Sunday from 10:00 to 15:00; adults 2 €, under 12 & students 1 €). If we continue along the river, we come to the recent Palau de la Música, built by José Mª Paredes in 1987 and the Art and Science City, where the largest oceanographic park in Europe can be visited ( adults 21.20 €, children under 12 y.o. 16 €; students up to the age of 25 and Youth Card holders a 15% discount on the adult price; 902 10 00 31), the Hemisfèric enclosures where enjoying audio-visual presentations on one giant screen ( adults 7.20 €,children under 12 y.o. 5.60 €; students up to the age of 25 and Youth Card holders a 15% discount), the Principe Felipe Science Museum ( Monday to Friday and Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00 and Saturday from 10:00 to 20:00; adults 7.20 €, children under 12 y.o. 5.60 €; students up to the age of 25 and Youth Card holders a 15% discount) and the Queen Sofía Palace of Arts made by the arquitect Santiago Calatrava open in October 2005. There is also a combined ticket for visiting the whole enclosure, valid for two consecutive days, that costs 28.80 and 21.60 € respectively. For more information visit www.cac.es. If we continue along the former river bed towards the port, we come to the dockyards and the clock building that afford access to the ferry terminal.

Valencia Card allows free entrance to museums and monuments in the city and environs, unlimited use of public transportation and discounts on restaurants and shopping. Prices for 1, 2 and 3 days are 6 €, 10 € and 12 €.

LAS FALLAS

The fallas are satirical monuments made of combustible material such as papier mâché and wood. They are set up to public view on the main squares and crossroads of the city from March 15 until they are finally burned in the cremá on the night of San José on 19 March. Specialised artists are entrusted with the design and elaboration of these original monuments, which are the result of the effort of each quarter whose inhabitants constitute falla commissions. They work throughout the year in order to create the most original ninot. Only exception is done by a ninot for popular request (the Museo Fallero exposes the Ninots Indultats from 1934). Together with fire and smoke, powder and firecrackers are the essential elements of this Valencia festival.

AMERICA'S CUP 2009

On 22 August 1851 the schooner America won a race around the Isle of Wight, England, for what was known as the 100 Guinea Cup. In 1857 the America syndicate donated the cup to its home club, the New York Yacht Club. In becoming the cup’s trustee, the NYYC promised to accept challenges from any other club wishing to compete for it. Since then the America’s Cup has been held on 32 occasions with American teams claiming 27 wins, New Zealand two Australia one and Europe two. When the Cup was last held in 2003 in Auckland (New Zealand) it was won by the Swiss syndicate, Alinghi, bringing America’s cup, the 100 Guineas Cup, back to Europe for the first time in 152 years. As a result, the 32nd America’s Cup was organised by the Yacht Club of Geneva, Alinghi’s home club. As the Cup’s regulations state that the regatta must be held at sea, the Swiss-based club held a selection process involving several European candidate cities. On 2007 the regatta was hold in Valencia, where the swiss team won again, announcing a new regatta in Valencia in 2009.

More information in www.americascup.com