Beautiful architecture. Worth visiting for this alone. I happened to be visiting during a Leonardo…read moreDaVinci exhibit. Just incredible the breadth and depth they went into. Very informative. I really appreciate the cleanliness of the building, the attention to detail within each exhibit, and most notably, the interactive experiences. Each exhibit I visited had multiple interactive opportunities to help engage the audience. Great way to capture the attention of young and old alike; not just walking through looking and reading copious amounts of explanations on the art presented. One star off because some of the exhibits felt disjointed between one another, signage could be better.

Maaaaaaannnnnnn.....Chicago really lost out!!…read more The Chicago Spire, designed by Santiago Calatrava, was supposed to be erected as the tallest building in the USA. However, the efforts stalled and we were left with just a big hole in the ground. I mention that data point because the Cuidad de las Artes y las Sciences (City of Arts and Sciences) was designed by Santiago Calatrava. He also designed Milwaukee's Modern Art Museum (I've been there) and the Occulus (NYC - haven't been yet). His futuristic, modern and clean designs incorporates and draws inspiration from local plants, the skeletal features of a whale, the sails of a ship, etc., etc....His work is instantly recognizable - like Frank Gehry's, Art Deco, and on a smaller scale - Frank Lloyd Wright. And coming here to the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, which by way, this place puts Valencia on the map as a Do Not Miss city!! I understand that Rick Steves did not overly advertise this great city and on this rare occasion, I respectfully think he's mistaken to do so. My only regret is that we just did a walk-by and a few drive-bys to admire its Beautiful design and the distinct buildings which include an aquarium, planetarium, museum, etc. There are outdoor areas for enjoying artwork, foliage, architecture, paddle boarding, so on and so forth. And try to wrap your mind around this - it's part of a linear parkway that extends about 6.5 KM in one direction!! If you're training for a marathon or an avid runner, what a big plus to run through this area on a daily basis. I can only think of running from Giants park to Golden Gate Bridge, being more picturesque. Or the lake front jogging path from Addison St. to 15th street in Chicago. On a smaller scale, I do see Santiago being influenced by Gaudi, here and there, and it's because of his use of organic shapes and tiles. Overall, Plan to spend a day or two here and actually go inside the facilities, my drive-bys and walk-bys provided just a glimpse of this futuristic compound.....

When Im in town i generally stay by the Calatrava complex. After taking a stroll through the…read morearchitecture, I make my way through the Turia river bed gardens. If I had a day to spend Id try and walk the whole thing out to the outskirts of the western parts of the city. It is quite huge. It's interesting that this city planning and beautiful space came out of the tragedy of the city flooding and the new river, which is almost completely barren on the outside of the city is down trodden. Anyways, there is way more to explore than meets the eye, and a bonus is on hot days, it's usually more temperate in the gardens below

This beautiful green space and bike path once had a river ran through it, and following severe…read moreflooding in 1957 it changed the city's landscape forever, becoming what is now 9 kms of park snaking through the heart of the city! Fantastic way to discover the Valencia from the old city to the City of Arts & Science or vice versa, with gardens and funky architecture along the way. Wonderful example of how changes can bring more green space and alternate use and pedestrian and cyclist transportation to a city!

Beyond beautiful. Art historians call this the Sistine Chapel of Valencia, and I can see why. The…read moremagnificent frescos, statues, and colors will blow your mind. It's a bit hidden, but once you, you'll be glad you went. A must see!

I had never seen such a beautiful church in Valencia (on even in Spain) like this one before. It's…read moreso beautiful and well done. The paintings inside are very in detail and well maintained. It's hard to take your eyes off of the ceiling which is covered with amazing paintings. It reminded me a bit of the Sistine Chapel in Rome. The pillars were all painted which are different from many churches. The door of the church is quite hidden. I wouldn't have known that this exists if my friend didn't tell me. El Carmen where is situated always surprises me!!! It's really a gem of Valencia!

The main attraction of this particular "square" is that its shape is not a square but a circle;…read morethere are not many circular squares in Spain. Before its restoration, this "square" had an oldie worldly decadent flair about it but after its restoration most of this has been rubbed away and replaced by a colder modern aesthetic. I can appreciate that the people who actually live there are thankful for tidying up their balconies but as for the rest of the "square" I feel that the once magic feeling of the place has been erased. However, I am pleased that the original fountain is still in place and has not been messed around with too much; there used to be a lamp on top of the central column but that seems to have gone walkies... As a side note, there is a circular metallic ring around the fountain with the all the names this square has been known as throughout its history such as "El Clot" (The Hole), de la Regencia (Regency), Circular, et al. Nowadays, this square still maintains its traditional market (housed in modern stalls) and the ground floor has little shops and few bars and restaurants which helps to create a nice ambience. I think that with time I will learn to love this square as much as I did before because even though it's past glory has been modified, it is still a unique "square" with a lovely fountain slap-bang in the middle of town!

This is one gorgeous museum, inside AND out- and the people here are so friendly and helpful. We…read moregot here only 50 minutes before closing, so we had to see it fast, but we would not have missed it for the world. First, the exterior is amazing. Then the interior! Glass and crystal chandeliers. Gorgeous period rooms (carriages on the first floor!) Fabulous paintings- both framed and on the ceilings. Tiles, Vases, Mantel Clocks, Statues, kitchen ware- you name it, you will see it here. If you are familiar with the Decorative Arts Museum and the Romanticismo museum- this is like a combination of those two Madrid museums. It's 5 euros, but free if you have the National Museum Cards for Spain- which can be bought at many of the National Museums of Spain, and which we found to be a good deal, since we love museums. You can take pictures here- but NO flash. We were so happy to be able to take some pictures away to help us remember our experience.

Don't miss this absolutely amazing palace/ceramics museum. What's great about the Museum is that…read morethe price of admission includes a free fifty-minute guided tour in one of many languages - Francesco was our tour guide, and he was fantastic at contextualizing the building, and walking us through the important pieces in the collection. And make time to wonder at the beauty of the building's exterior.

What a beautiful plaza and a great place for photos. If you're in the city you'll inevitably find…read moreyourself wandering and end up here. If you're in town during the time of Fallas then you must stop by as you'll hear local groups playing their instruments as they walk through the squares.

I honestly didn't know what to expect when I happened upon this tiny museum, but I was glad that I…read morevisited. Highlights: + Standard entry price is 2€. There is also a reduced rate of 1€ for retired persons, groups, etc. + An audio guide is available, for a fee, in Spanish, Valencian, English, French, or Italian. + On the main level, there an area with seats that shows a video that gives a brief overview of the Falles Festival and shows the process and detail of how the monuments were created + Ninots, monuments that were saved (chosen by vote of the people) from the fires of the festival are displayed in chronological order, with the older ones on the first floor, and the newer ones on the second floor. + The second floor is accessible via stairs or a small elevator. Definitely worth a visit. You could easily go through the museum in 30 minutes, or more if you take time to take photos of all of the ninots, which are extremely detailed.

Awesome museum. I was with a big group and we all thoroughly enjoyed looking at the various falles…read more If you are into Spain history and celebrations, this is a must see museum. Each year during the big festival they vote on the best falle and save part of it and keep it in this museum. It does not take much more than about an hour to walk through this museum.

For the València leg of our trip, we opted to stay at the Westin Valencia…read more The first thing you'll notice is how beautiful this hotel is. The service from start to finish was top tier and they did everything to make us feel welcome during our stay. We arrived around 1pm and we were able to get our room right away. The rooms here are massive. We had a king bed room, and it was more than enough space for two of us. With separate living room and bedroom area it was such an amazing place to rest after each day of exploring. The room feels a little bit on the older side, with the fan making a loud noise that we just got used to. There's not an electronic thermostat so we had to run the fan on max to keep the room cool. We didn't really use any of the amenities or the restaurant on-site because we wanted to explore the city with the 3 days we had here. They are renovating the gym, but they have a partnership with the gym across the street, which is available to use if you need it. Aside from the hotel, I think the location was perfect for us. We were a 20-minute walk in any direction from all the main sights and restaurants we wanted to explore. The hotel itself is quiet and far enough away from high traffic areas, so it was peaceful and serene throughout. Overall, loved our stay and honestly sad to leave because we loved Valencia and wish we had planned to stay more days here. Would definitely recommend this hotel when visiting the area.

Stayed for 2 nights last week while in Valencia. Although the staff was friendly and helpful, It's…read morenot really a 5 star experience. Rooms are clean but very dated. The mattress was not great. We were upgraded to a room with a terrace which ended up having a high wall blocking any view... kind of like a prison yard. The breakfast and restaurant were fine, but not exceptional. I should have paid more attention to the previous comments about the considerable distance to the tourist areas/things you'd want to see and experience on a two day visit. Let's just say we got a lot of steps in over the course of two days. All in all, nothing terrible happened, but we had higher expectations for a five star Westin.

As far as markets go, it's more of a food stall market; different restaurants and cafes and some…read morebeautiful outdoor seating (not a market selling produce and dry goods, etc). Unfortunately, most of the restaurants were closed when I went but I was still able to find a place serving snacks, wine and coffees. Also, most of the restaurants are low rated so I was hesitant to try them out (mostly poor service related), but I did take a chance on the Japanese restaurant downstairs; one of the higher rated spots that turned out to be pretty good. I would go for the architecture alone, just incredible. Beautiful space to just sit and read or chat with friends with a glass of wine. I would love to go back during peak hours to enjoy people watching and the hustle and bustle.

In times past it was a market, today it is home to flower stalls and the finest restaurants. But it…read morehas always been one of the most beautiful buildings in Valencia. I enjoyed strolling around the entire market and watching people gather for a drink, a meal or just a snack. Spanish people like to take their time while they get together, it's just a nice social thing to do. The Colón Market was designed by the architect Francisco Mora Berenguer in the early 20th century, making it one of the most iconic examples of Valencian art nouveau, which has certain features that recall Gaudí's buildings in Barcelona. The structure has been listed as a National Monument. The large building is divided into three sections, enclosed at either end by two brick and stone entrances in the style of triumphal arches. The colorful façade is highly decorative, with the ceramic details typical of the region. An artistic wrought iron fence surrounds the premises. All these features have been painstaking restored. Today, the height of its ceiling and numerous entrances make the market a bright, open space. Built to cater to the upper class of the period, it is in fact still located in one of the areas with the highest purchasing power in the city, the Ensanche. Every day it receives numerous visitors, who come to pass the time at its outdoor cafés. The market hours are from 8.00 a.m. to 1.30 in the morning, but each establishment can set its own opening times