Valencia

We spent the weekend by the Mediterranean in Spain’s third largest city, Valencia.

Upon arrival, we discovered the center on a walking tour, went for a tapas dinner and finished off with a gelato in the Plaza de la Reina.

Saturday was a busy day. We started with a walk around the City of Arts and Sciences, an impressive series of buildings designed by Santiago Calatrava.

Then we went to the Museo Fallero, where the winning sculptures are on display from each year of the famous Valencian festival, Las Fallas.

From there we walked through the Turia Gardens and then to the Lonja, a Gothic style building and UNESCO World Heritage Site that was an important part of the Silk Route.  

Next we learned to make a traditional Valencian dish at the Escuela de Arroces y Paella Valenciana. We visited the central market to buy ingredients and then went back to the school to get to get cooking. After a lot of hard work, we had two beautiful dishes of Paella for lunch.

The rest of the trip was spent relaxing at Platja del Cabanyal.