< Previous40visitvalencia.comCathedral of Valencia, home of the Holy GrailThe Cathedral of Valencia is renowned for many reasons. Located on the site of a Roman temple and later a mosque, its architecture shows a mixture of styles, including Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque. Its bell tower, the Miguelete, is an icon of Valencia, and the arduous climb of its 207 steps is rewarded with the best views of the city.It is also home to a treasure like no other: the cup used by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper. At least that's what the archeological, documentary and historical data of this relic's voyage to the cathedral of Valencia indicate. The venerated piece, now on display in the Chapel of the Holy Grail, arrived in Valencia in 1424 by way of King Alfonso the Magnanimous. The silence, the aroma of incense and the faint light accentuate the mysticism of the experience.Don’t forget that with the Valencia Tourist Card, you get a discount on admission to the Cathedral.OUR TIPHistory41#VisitValenciaMonumentsAlmudín Plaza San Luis Bertrán, s/nThe Almudín was built on a Muslim alcazar (fortress) in the early fourteenth century as a place to store and sell wheat. Originally smaller, it was expanded in the 15th and 16th centuries until it took on the appearance it has today. The original building had an outdoor central courtyard. It wasn't until the early 17th century that the roof was added, giving it the layout of a basilica it has today.cultural.valencia.esValencia City Hall Plaza del Ayuntamiento, 1The Plenary Hall, the Crystal Hall, the City Hall Balcony and the Historical Museum are open to the public. On days when the city council is in plenary session, the Plenary Hall cannot be visited. Free guided tours can be arranged in advance by phone with the Municipal Historical Museum.valencia.esBaños del Almirante (Admiral's Bathhouse) Medieval building from the Christian era, intended for public bathing, in the tradition of steam baths or hammam. banysdelalmirall@gva.esBasílica Virgen de los Desamparados Virgin of the Forsaken Basilica) Plaza de la Virgen, s/nHouse of worship dedicated to the city’s patron saint, and the main religious buil-ding built in Valencia in the 17th century. It houses the Marian Museum, with works of art from different disciplines spanning artistic currents from five centuries, from the Renaissance to Modernism.basilicadesamparados.org CaixaForum ValenciaEduardo Primo Yúfera, 1ªCaixaForum Valencia is the city's multidisciplinary center par excellence, located in one of the most emblematic buildings of the City of Arts and Sciences, the Agora, by Santiago Calatrava. It hosts exhibits on science, technology, art and history, and offers concerts and visits for groups and families. It's the perfect place to have fun while learning something new. Birthplace of St. Vicente FerrerDel Pouet de San Vicent, 1The house where the patron saint of Valencia was born. The walls of the hall are covered with 18th-century tiles from Manises, and it contains the water well where he performed one of his miracles so that the city's inhabitants would always have water.AccessibleFree or discounted with the Valencia Tourist Card42visitvalencia.comCathedral of Valencia Plaza de la Reina, s/nBuilt on the site of a Roman temple, and then a mosque, its origins date back to the 13th century.The mix of architectural styles, from Romanesque to Baroque, is on display at each of its three gates: Main Gate, or Iron Gate (Baroque), Apostles Gate (Gothic) and Palau Gate (Romanesque). Once you climb its 200 steps, the bell tower, the Miguelete, offers good views of the city.One of its chapels is home to the Holy Grail that Jesus used at the Last Supper, and is the reason why Valencia celebrates a Jubilee year every four years. The next one will be in 2024.It is the only cup in the world recognized by the Vatican and has been used by two Popes, John Paul II and Benedict XVI during masses they held while visiting Valencia.In addition, the Cathedral houses the heritage of the Borgias, with two paintings by Francisco de Goya in their chapel, and the Renaissance frescoes in the apse vault. catedraldevalencia.esArcheological Crypt of the Prison of St. Vicente the Martyr Plaza del Arzobispo, 1Visigoth building that houses a funerary chapel erected in the 6th century to house the mortal remains of a prelate. There is a chapel where St. Vicente the Martyr was imprisoned in the 4th century. A video tells the story of the crypt.The Patriarch, NationalMonumentUnit, 1The Patriarch, a National Monument since 1962 and Site of Cultural Interest since 2007, is one of the finest examples of Renaissance architecture. The Museo del Colegio is home to paintings by Caravaggio, El Greco, Van Der Weyden, Benlliure, Ribalta, Pinazo, and others, as well as to an original manuscript of the posthumous work of Sir Thomas More.patriarcavalencia.esAccessibleFree or discounted with the Valencia Tourist CardMonumentsHistory43#VisitValenciaNorth StationXàtiva, 24Modernist building by the architect Demetrio Ribes. It is part of the Vienna Secession movement and was inaugurated in 1917. It exhibits a unique and homogeneous treatment, both on the outside and on the interior finishes, paying homage to Valencian industry. The facades have certain Gothic elements reminiscent of the Lonja: symmetrical, with a notable vertical character and modulated. Of note is the high quality of the mosaics on ceilings, floors and walls, as well as the ironwork and the proliferation of brightly colored ceramics.San Juan del Hospital ChurchTrinquete de Caballeros, 5The San Juan del Hospital Church was the priory of the Knights of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. This 13th-century hospital was converted into a military parish in the 18th. Built around 1261, it is regarded as the oldest church in Valencia. Of note are the Gothic innovations of its architecture together with the elegant Baroque features. It also preserves the only remaining cemetery from medieval Valencia, where you can see the remains of the circus of Roman Valencia.Lonja de la Seda/Silk Market Plaza del Mercado, s/nLa Lonja de la Seda, also called Lonja de los Mercaderes (Merchants' Market), is the most outstanding civil Gothic building in Valencia. It was started by stone ma-son Pere Compte in the 15th century and became an iconic monument of Valencia's Golden Age due to the commercial and social revolution brought about by the trade in silk and other materials. The im-portant silk industry and the geographical location of Valencia made the city a port of entry and exit for numerous economic transactions. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996, La Lonja has four parts that are open to visitors: the Trading Room, or Hall of Columns, the Consulate's Pavilion or Consulate of the Sea, the Main Hall or Consulate's Chamber, and the Courtyard of Orange Trees. The Courtyard gives way to the three rooms and provides a view of the tower, which once served as a prison for merchants with outstanding debts, and the entrance to which is a must-visit. La Lonja is one of the icons of the Silk Road in Valencia. cultural.valencia.esAccessibleFree or discounted with the Valencia Tourist Card44visitvalencia.comMercado de Colón Jorge Juan, 19In addition to being admired for its original modernist architecture, the Mercado de Colón is a highlight for lovers of gastronomy. This old food market is today a veritable gourmet haven with 20 spaces, including restaurants, horchata bars, breweries, florists and cafeterias, along with the typical stands of a traditional market, such as butchers’, fish stands, fruit and vegetable shops and a deli.Don't miss it!AccessibleFree or discounted with the Valencia Tourist CardCentral Market Plaza del Mercado, s/nModernist building (1914-1928). It is one of the largest in Europe, with a surface area exceeding 8,000 m2. The building features long corridors crossed by two wide aisles where the 959 stands are located, and employs an eclectic pre-modernist style. It boasts a vane, "the parakeet of the market", which symbolizes the hustle and bustle and smells. mercadocentralvalencia.esMonumentsHistory45#VisitValenciaAccessibleFree or discounted with the Valencia Tourist CardMiguelete Plaza de la Reina s/nIt is the bell tower of the Cathedral of Valencia, built in the Gothic style. It is 50.85 meters high and it was built between 1381 and 1424 by Andrés Juliá and others. It is accessed from inside the Cathedral by a spiral staircase with 207 steps. An 18th-century bell gable crowns the Miguelete.Monastery of San Miguel de los Reyes Avenida de la Constitución, 284Former monastery, home of the Library of Valencia. Originally an Islamic farmstead, it was turned into a Cistercian monastery and then a monastery of the order of St. Jerome, and it was also a prison complex for a time. bv.gva.esBenicarló PalacePlaza de San Lorenzo, 4Home of the Valencia courthouse, it is an old aristocratic mansion of the late 15th century built in the Renaissance style. It was the residence of the Borja family.cortsvalencianes.esCervelló Palace Plaza Tetuán, 3Residence of kings and illustrious personalities in the 19th century. The palatial atmosphere of its rooms and the part of the municipal archive and pictorial collection that are on display make for an interesting visit. cultural.valencia.esPalacio de las ComunicacionesPlaza del Ayuntamiento, 23This four-story building with over 9,400 square meters is one of the most important examples of the city's historical heritage. It is an outstanding example of eclectic style of French origin, combined with elements of Valencian modernism, and it was home to the local post and telegraph office for many years.The work of prestigious Zaragoza architect Miguel Ángel Navarro Perez, it was built between 1915 and 1922, although it was not opened until 1923. The allegorical figures that adorn its façade were intended to symbolize the progress that postal and telegraphic communications brought in its time. Palau de la GeneralitatCaballeros, 2Home of the regional government, it is a 15th-century Gothic palace. Inside, it has a courtyard - with a Gothic Valencian staircase on one side - the late Gothic doors with mixtilinear arches, and the Sala Nova in the turret, with a magnificent roof and a wooden and frescoed upper gallery.gva.es Portal de ValldignaPortal de Valldigna, s/nArchway opened in 1400 in the Islamic wall to link the city with the Moorish quarter, a suburb that was established around the square of Mosen Sorell after the Christian conquest of the city.46visitvalencia.comAccessibleFree or discounted with the Valencia Tourist CardPlaza Redonda Plaza Redonda s/nPopularly known as "el clot" (the hole), this recently remodeled structure is one of the most curious from the 19th century. A wide range of traditional craft and souvenir stores make it a must for tourists visiting Valencia.Bullring Xàtiva, 28The work of Valencian architect Sebastián Monleón Estellés, this arena hosts the two main bullfighting events during the Fallas and the Gran Fira de Valencia. It is open to visitors of the Bullfighting Museum. Real Colegio de las Escuelas PíasCarniceros, 6Known for supporting the largest dome in Valencia, the church of the Real Colegio de las Escuelas Pías, declared a National Artistic Monument, is a benchmark in Valencian neoclassicism. Built in 1771, it consists of two main elements: a façade and a circular church, which rises to a height of 48 meters and supports one of the largest domes in Europe. Reales Atarazanas Plaza Juan Antonio Benlliure s/n(next to the church of Santa María del Mar)Main building in the city of Valencia intended for the construction and repair of boats, for storing maritime equipment, or the armaments carried by the ships, and also, at one point, to store the goods that arrived in the city by sea, such as wheat and other cargo.San Nicolás: Valencia's own Sistine Chapel The entrance through an alleyway to this humble church of medieval origin leaves visitors unprepared for the great surprise it houses inside. Almost 2,000 m2 of magnificent frescoes from the Baroque era, restored to their full splendor, cover its vaults and apse. An audio guide explaining the paintings is available.Don't miss it!MonumentsHistory47#VisitValenciaAccessibleFree or discounted with the Valencia Tourist CardSerranos Towers Plaza de los Fueros, s/nBegun in 1392 by Pere Balaguer, the Towers were intended to defend one of the most used entrances to ancient Valencia. The walls were demolished in 1865, leaving only the towers. From 1586 to 1887, they were used as a prison for the nobility. The back of the Towers was subsequently discovered. From the Plaza de los Fueros you can see five rooms, with pointed arches and ribbed vaults. The Towers are a magnificent example of Gothic architecture.The Serranos Towers were used both defensively and as a triumphal arch. These days, the most notable event that takes place at its base is the Crida, an announcement made by the Grand Marshal of the Fallas of Valencia on the last Sunday of February to invite Valencians and visitors, ushering in the Fallas.This iconic location was chosen to symbolize the arrival of foreigners in Valencia centuries ago, along the road of the Serranos.Quart Towers Guillem de Castro, 89Built by Pere Bonfill and modeled on the towers of the Castell Nuovo in Naples, they are an example of late Gothic military construction. Intended to defend the city, until 1874 they were called Torres de la Cal (Lime Towers) because in the 18th century, all the lime entering the city was required to go through the towers. The rear façade was uncovered in order to reveal the interior, which, for a time, was used as a women's prison.The Quart Towers were crucial to stopping the Napoleonic troops during the War of Independence against the French in 1808. Marks from the cannonballs are visible to this day in their turrets.Explore all the monuments in the city of Valencia here48visitvalencia.comAccessibleFree or discounted with the Valencia Tourist CardCultural venuesLes Arts Avenida del Professor López Piñero, 1This is the last and most spectacular building in the City of Arts and Sciences. It was designed as a global cultural center capable of hosting opera, dance, outdoor concerts and other shows.It hosts top-quality artists in an effort to provide a global vision that, rooted in and around music, spans other artistic and cultural disciplines. The stage has an area of over 1,500 m2 and features the most advanced technology for hosting any opera, concert or play, including mobile platforms, interchangeable stages and simultaneous interpretation through screens in the seats themselves.Hemisfèric Avenida Del Professor López PiñeroOpened in 1998, the Hemisfèric was the first building in the City of Arts and Sciences to open its doors to the public. It is a spectacular construction designed by Santiago Calatrava, with an ovoid roof over 100 meters long that contains in its interior the large sphere on which images are projected.Palau de la MúsicaPaseo de la Alameda 30Designed by José María de Paredes, National Architecture Award winner, the Palau de la Música was opened onApril 25, 1987. Since then, the Palau has become one of the city's most emblematic buildings. It is currently regarded as one of the most important musical centers in Europe. Transparency is the means adopted in this unusual experience. A large glazed vault that runs parallel to the Turia riverbed serves as the main entrance. The outdoor feel permeates its interior, with green spaces inside the lobby, while the glass cascade seems to pour directly onto the pond that Ricardo Bofill designed for this section of the old riverbed of the Turia River.History49#VisitValenciaAna Serratosa Art Gallery Pascual y Genís 19 (ático)The Ana Serratosa gallery is summarized in the figure of Ana, its director. Her love for the art world led her to study Art History and later become the co-owner of the Bretón gallery.It was in the year 2000 that she decided to go out on a limb and create her own space. A gallery located in an atticin the city center that transcends the purely commercial aspect and regards art as a passion that deserves to be enjoyed and shared.AccessibleFree or discounted with the Valencia Tourist CardLa RambletaBulevar Sur, intersection with Pío IX (San Marcelino)La Rambleta is the great repository of contemporary culture and leisure in Valencia. A unique multi-purpose space where art, entertainment and gastronomy meet.Espai Rambleta has become a benchmark in the world of culture and cutting-edge leisure in Valencia, supported by a loyal audience that is drawn by the variety and quality of the activities scheduled.Las Naves Joan Verdeguer 16-24Las Naves is the center of social and urban innovation in the city of Valencia. A public entity that is managed by the Office of Innovation and Knowledge Management of the City of Valencia, which promotes urban and social innovation by putting people at the center of its activities. Las Naves supports development and innovation to provide solutions to the real needs of citizens.La Nau Universidad, 2The La Nau building has been home to the Universitat de València since its founding in the late 15th century. Today, in addition to being the institutional headquarters of the Rectorate, La Nau, as a cultural center, hosts an important part of the cultural activities of the Uni-versity of Valencia (exhibits, theatre and music) and is a meeting and debate space (conferences and congresses).The Nau is also the headquarters of the Historical Library and houses the offices of various university services, including those related to the areas of culture and heritage.Explore all the cultural venues of the city of Valencia hereNext >