Valencia

Opposite La Lonja, you will find the oldest food market in Europe, located in a fantastic building in a true Valencian style. The market is just as lively now as it was a hundred years ago, as if time stood still. This is a great place to buy some local delicacies and experience Valencia's daily life.

With no visible barriers, visitors to this animal park can immerse themselves in the amazing wild habitats where lions, elephants, hippos, gorillas and many more species live. The emphasis is on the preservation of endangered species and protecting the environment.

If you only manage to see one sight, it has to be La Lonja, the old silk exchange. It is heralded as one of the foremost Gothic buildings in Europe, and in 1996 it became a UNESCO world heritage site. The actual market is the size of a cathedral, covering 21,420 square feet.

This small church in the district of El Carmen is known as Valencia’s Sistine Chapel. The spectacular frescoes that cover its ceiling, dating from the 17th century, have recently been restored to their full glory.

One of the most beautiful examples of Modernist architecture in the city, the Colon Market is home to several cafes and restaurants, and a good place to pick up interesting crafts and gifts, particularly at the Christmas market.

This small museum’s exhibits focus on Valencia’s huge Las Fallas festival. Las Fallas is a traditional celebration held every year in March, and people use this festive event to ridicule those in power. The term Fallas refers to both the celebration and the monuments created during the celebration. A number of towns in the Valencian Community have similar celebrations inspired by the original one in Valencia.

This botanical garden was founded in 1567 and restored in 2000. It contains an impressive collection of more than three thousand species of trees, palm trees and plants.

Built in 1261, this gothic church is one of the oldest in the city, actually the first church built in Valencia after the Cathedral. The church has a single nave covered with a pointed barrel vault.