Marvel at the futuristic complex of the City of Arts and Sciences, designed by renowned architect Santiago Calatrava
Explore the history of Valencia’s merchant society at La Lonja de la Seda, the Silk Museum and National Museum of Ceramics
Travel to Albufera, an enchanting wetland reserve, for a traditional boat ride and paella dinner
"Tom Abbott is the GOLD standard that all tour leaders should aspire to. He is the perfect guide, exuding genuine passion and unbelievable knowledge of his chosen subject, plus warmth and genuine kindness towards his group"
– Recent ACE traveller on a tour led by Tom Abbott
Cultural Breaks
This tour is part of our new series of cultural breaks, specially designed for the more independent traveller. These tours benefit from the same high level of cultural content as our standard tours with time also given to independent exploration. As they tend to be based in city centres, these tours typically make more use of public transport as an easier and quicker way of accessing sites. The Tour Director and Tour Manager will also be on hand throughout to introduce travellers to some of the lesser known sites and recommend local places to wine and dine. Read more information about our cultural breaks here.
Located on the east coast of the Iberian Peninsula, Valencia is a captivating city of architectural and historical contrasts. Seamlessly blending the rich remnants of its past with an innovative, futuristic style, the city’s landscape offers a compelling journey from the ancient world to the modern day.
Wandering the historical centre, Ciutat Vella, reveals a stunning amalgamation of architectural styles, from the 13th century Gothic cathedral to the 20th century Modernista Mercado Central, an example of Catalan Art Nouveau. Built between the 13th and 15th centuries, the cathedral blends Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque influences and is renowned for housing a 1st century agate cup believed to be the Holy Grail. The oldest church in Valencia, San Juan Hospital Church offers further insights into the city's multi-layered past from the Roman-era to the medieval period. Founded in 1238 by the Knights Hospitaller, this historical complex is home to a spina of a Roman circus, medieval hospital and Valencia's only remaining medieval cemetery.
A major trading port from its Roman foundation until the 18th century, famed for its silk and ceramics manufacturing, visits to the Silk Museum and the UNESCO World Heritage Site, La Lonja de la Seda, or Silk Exchange, will showcase the city’s artisanal past. Located in restored 15th century Gothic buildings, the Silk Exchange served as the headquarters for the Valencian silk weavers’ guilds, which dominated the city’s economy from the 15th to 18th centuries.
Nearby, one of Valencia's most iconic cultural landmarks, the National Museum of Ceramics, is housed in the opulent Palacio de Marqués de Dos Aguas. Featuring an alabaster façade, a masterpiece of Baroque Valencian architecture, and lavish 19th century Noble Rooms, its ceramic collection includes Roman, Islamic, Mudejar and contemporary pieces, alongside a typical Valencian kitchen made entirely of decorative ceramics.
At the Museum of Fine Arts, we will become immersed in Valencia’s artistic heritage. Considered one of Spain’s most significant art galleries, second only to the Prado in Madrid, the gallery is housed within the historical St Pius V Palace – a former 17th century seminary college. Here, we will discover masterworks such as Velázquez’s Self-Portrait and El Greco’s St John the Baptist, alongside a dedicated room featuring works by Joaquín Sorolla, the renowned ‘Master of Light’. Adjacent to the museum is the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Carlos, an institution historically dedicated to the promotion, teaching and preservation of the ‘Three Noble Arts’: painting, sculpture and architecture, which provided formal artistic training in Valencia.
Harmoniously bridging legacy and innovation is the verdant strip of the Park Turia, a former riverbed brilliantly transformed into a central green space connecting each side of the city both physically and aesthetically. On the southeast end of the former Turia riverbed lies the massive, futuristic complex, the City of Arts and Sciences. Designed by Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela, this complex consists of six white concrete structures with large glass panels and expansive shallow pools. Each building is designed to reflect its interior use, such as the world-class Queen Sofia Palace of Arts, where the fluid design is intended to suggest constant motion for optimal acoustics and versatility.
Albufera – The Home of Paella
Beyond its cultural heart, Valencia is famed for its natural beauty and unique ecosystem. This is exemplified by the tranquil freshwater lagoon of Albufera, where a boat trip offers a peaceful retreat amongst rice paddies and wetlands. Here, we shall bask in stunning surroundings and traditional barraca houses and enjoy an authentic paella meal in the region that this dish originated from.
We will stay throughout at the boutique four-star MYR Puerta Serranos hotel, situated beside the Torres de Serranos, Valencia’s medieval city gate. Its prime location in the heart of the city, alongside its modern interiors and panoramic rooftop bar, make it the perfect base for our tour.
Tom Abbott
Tom is a proficient lecturer and tour leader, with extensive experience directing cultural and art tours in Europe, to destinations including Germany, France, Italy, and Poland.
Our Tour Director, Tom Abbott, BA, MA, is an independent art and architectural historian associated with the Foundation of Prussian Palaces and Gardens. Tom is an accomplished lecturer and tour leader, with extensive experience directing cultural and art tours across Europe. His expertise ranges from the medieval to the modern, and he is particularly fascinated by the Baroque and Rococo.
5
£1895
ATVA-26
The tour is now full.
Please contact the office to be added to the waiting list on 01223 841055.
Included: return airfare, accommodation based on sharing a standard twin or double bedded room, four breakfasts, two dinners with wine, water & coffee, excursions & admissions, gratuities & all taxes.
Not Included: travel insurance, standard double room for single use supplement £260. Exterior double room for single use supplement £300.
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