Valencia

Understand

thumbnail|Saló Columnari (Hall of Columns) in the Llotja de la Seda thumbnail|Jardí del Túria, the old Túria riverbed, with the Museum of Fine Arts in the background thumb|Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe, in the City of Arts and Sciences, designed by Santiago Calatrava The Spanish name Valencia is pronounced [baˈlenθja] (bahl-EHN-thyah), while the Valencian pronunciation of València is [vaˈlensia] (vahl-EHN-see-ah).

Valentia Edetanorum was established as a Roman colony in the second century BCE. In the early 8th century CE the Moors invaded, and Balansiyya became the capital of the Muslim Taifa of Valencia, thriving as a trading centre for paper, silk, ceramics, glass, and silver. With a brief interlude of Christian control in the 11th century under El Cid, the city remained in Muslim hands until the Christian Reconquista led by King Jaime I of Aragon in 1238, and was incorporated as a kingdom under the Crown of Aragon.

Valencia experienced its golden age in the 15th century, with a growing population and flowering of Valencian culture and the arts. Significant monuments from this period include the cathedral’s Micalet, the UNESCO-listed Llotja de la Seda, and the Torres de Serrano (Serrano Tower). During this period it became one of the most influential cities of the Mediterranean, and helped to fund Christopher Columbus's first voyages to the Americas.

In 1609 the Spanish government ordered the expulsion of all Jews and Moriscos from the kingdom to north Africa. Mu…

Get around

Streets in Valencia have two names, Valencian and Spanish, but most street signs are in Valencian only. Maps may list street names in Valencian or Spanish and rarely both, while addresses may be given in either language, which could create some confusion. Addresses in this guide are generally listed in Valencian.

The city has begun changing some Franco-era street names to those commemorating other figures, especially women. By late 2017, about 50 streets had been renamed, with more planned; online mapping services are largely up-to-date but printed maps will likely not be.

See

A total solar eclipse on Wednesday 12 Aug 2026, starting at 20.32 and lasting 1 minute. The chances of a clear sky are 70%, but you need to find a spot with a clear view to the northwest horizon, where the sun will be setting. Hilltops may be socked in by cloud, and after the show you’d have to descend an unfamiliar hill trail in darkness.

Buy

thumb|Plaça Redona (Plaza Redonda) The area around (Plaza del Patriarca) is a good place to look for the major national brands like Loewe, LLadró, Louis Vuitton, Dolores, and Farrutx.

Eat

thumb|Arròs negre thumb|Tapas at Central Bar, in the Mercat Central thumb|Mercat de Colom (Mercado de Colón) thumb|Grilled mushrooms and sardines at Tasca Ángel

Sleep

Staying in or near Old Town means you will hardly need transport, unless you go to the beach.

Connect

thumb | 300px | Biblioteca Pública As of June 2022, Valencia has 4G from MasMovil/Yoigo, and 5G from Movistar, Orange and Vodafone. Wifi is widely available in public places.

Stay safe

Valencia is quite possibly among the safest cities in Spain and Europe. As with Madrid and Barcelona, streets are filled with people at all times, even deep into the night. Valencia also has a decent police presence.

The only neighborhoods that may warrant extra precaution are Ciutat Jardí, El Cabanyal, and Aiora, in the east of the city. They are mostly deserted at night, but muggings are not unheard of.

The city's railway stations and certain metro stations might attract beggars and drunkards, but simply saying no will be enough.

The Falles celebrations attract thousands of people every year. Watch out for pickpockets.