Experience Valencia’s Historical Heart: A Walk Among Its Legendary Landmarks

“Valencia is the only place where the old and the new come together in perfect harmony,” wrote Ernest Hemingway. Indeed, the city is like a mirror on the past, with amazingly preserved architecture – from Moorish walls to luxurious Gothic and Baroque facades – that allow you to peer through the centuries.

On this walking tour, you’ll stroll through the Old Town, hearing captivating stories that’ll help you understand Valencia’s soul and secrets on a deeper level.

The tour begins at the fountain outside the Palace of the Marqués de Dos Aguas, a stunning example of Valencian Palau architecture. From there, you’ll head to Saint Martin’s Church and the city’s oldest shop, Tienda de las Ollas, where you’ll learn about the traditions of the spectacular Fallas festival. As you pass Plaça Redona, you’ll have a moment to appreciate the unique design of this circular plaza. You’ll then visit La Lonja de la Seda de Valencia (the Silk Exchange) – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a true Gothic masterpiece – and explore parts of the Moorish Wall that reveal the city’s well-preserved Islamic past.

As you weave through the Old Town, you’ll hear about Pope Alexander VI’s surprising connection to the city. You’ll also pass Palau de la Generalitat Valenciana, a Gothic palace that has witnessed centuries of Valencian history. The tour ends in Plaça de l’Almoina, where ancient Roman ruins lie beneath the square’s surface.

On this 90-minute tour, you’ll have a chance to:

● See the Church of San Nicolás de Bari y San Pedro Mártir, once served by the famous Rodrigo Borgia
● Wander through Plaça de la Virgen, a large square where you’ll find the light pink Basílica de la Mare de Déu dels Desemparats and the Túria Fountain
● Discover the secret held by the Virgin of the Rosary over the entrance to the Palace of the Marqués de Dos Aguas, arguably the most beautiful door in Europe
● Learn how silk and velvet literally shaped the landscape and the city’s most significant architectural masterpieces
● Find out why Valencia is a symbol of bravery and courage and what noble stories lie behind its name

This Valencia Old Town walking tour is not just a series of historical facts, but rather a journey that feels like a conversation with the city itself, gradually revealing its chapters, one by one.

Image and Music Credits
Cartouche over the door of the Louvre
Louvre Museum, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Grotto in the Boboli Gardens
I, Sailko, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Fountain of the 4 rivers
Authorship: User:bang bang man, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Maison del Marques de Dos Aigues, by chisloup, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Partenon de Atenas originally posted to Flickr as The Parthenon Athens, CC BY 2.0
Notre-Dame de Paris, Thomas Bresson, CC BY 4.0
Sistine Chapel, Snowdog, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Lonja de la Seda, Nan Palmero from San Antonio, TX, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
UNIVERSFIELD from Pixabay