Excursion Valencia past & present tour at Valencia

Spain's third-largest city is a magnificent place, content for Madrid and Barcelona to grab the headlines while it gets on with being a wonderfully live-able city with a thriving cultural. Never afraid to innovate, Valencia diverted its flood-prone river to the outskirts of town and converted the former riverbed into a wonderful green ribbon of park winding right through the city.

Depart the pier and enjoy a panoramic drive along the Avenida del Puerto to the Gran Via and Calle Jativa, past the Bullring and Central Station. See the Central Market, an enormous metal, ceramic tile and glass Art Nouveau building built in 1928, with its 1300 stalls of fresh fish, meat and fruits and other products from all over Spain.

La Lonja

Your walking tour begins at La Lonja, or The Silk Exchange, the main monument of the city and considered to be one of Europe's most beautiful examples of Gothic civil architecture. Built between 1482 and 1533, during Valencia's golden age, the building illustrates the power and wealth of one of the great Mediterranean mercantile cities. The building was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

City of Arts & Sciences

Designed by Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela, this unique complex is devoted to science, technology, nature and house in five buildings: El Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía - opera house and performing arts centre; L'Hemisfèric - Imax Cinema, Planetarium and Laserium; L'Umbracle - a walkway and garden; El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe - a science museum; L'Oceanogràfic - an open-air oceanographic park; Ágora - a versatile space that can stage conventions, concerts and performances.

Enjoy a guided interior visit of the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia, considered the highlight of the City of Arts & Sciences.

Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia

With its impressive architecture, this spectacular building is dedicated to promoting the performing arts. It is an impressive theatre and opera house, with four venues for opera, music, ballet & theatre.

Your walking tour concludes at the coach that will return you to the pier.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion may include: Avenida del Puerto, Gran Via, Bullring, Central Station and Market, La Lonja, City of Arts & Sciences, Museo Principe Felipe, Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia

Note

Please note: This tour involves an extensive amount of walking for approximately 4 km in the city centre and at the Oceanographic Park where, in case elevators are not in service approximately 150 steps are to be negotiated. It is not suitable for guests utilising a wheelchair or those with limited mobility. We recommend wearing comfortable clothing, walking shoes and sun protection. When performances or reharsals are going on at Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia, some rooms or halls may not be accessible.