4 Reasons To Fall In Love With Valencia

By Alexandra Dinca | March 9, 2014

Every now and then there is a bank holiday in Spain. The last one, a Friday, was a perfect excuse to plan a three-day weekend away from Madrid. With so many available options, I ended up booking 2 nights in Valencia. I thought that the temperatures promised by AccuWeather would restore my good mood which got seriously affected by the past few weeks of intense classes. But the city did so much more than that! Valencia made me fall in love with it. And this is why:

1. Valencia is the mother-cityof paella. There is no other place in Spain where you can find a better one.It’s delicious and it’s everywhere. Buen provecho!
   

   Paella Valenciana – the best in the world

2. Valencia has the ‘city of art and science’ area, that makes you feel like you’ve landed into another world.
   

   Hemispheric and Reina Sofia Arts Palace

   Among the attractions of this modern area is the Oceanographic, where I’ve watched a show with dolphins and rediscoverd the child in me 😛 .

   

   The dolphins are so cute

3. Valencia has “Las Fallas”. Every year there is a tradition of creating dolls (ninot) out of wax, plastic and paper, which represent famous people or characters from movies/cartoons . They are paraded around the city for one week (12/14-19 March). And then, on San Jose’s Day (19^th March) only one gets to be saved by popular voting from the big fire that burns all the others. I got to see the museum in which all the saved ones are exposed and it’s absolutely amazing.
   

   Two happy couples

   

   Yoda is my favorite

4. Valencia has the SEA, the beach and a great climate which allowed me to enjoy 20 degrees in February. A walk on the beach, the sound of waves in my ears and that does it for me. I am in love forever.
   

   Love of my life – the sea

And as a bonus I got to admire its gothic architecture, to walk under orange trees, to chat with the locals about the city, traditions and football and to have blisters on my feet.

But it was worth it. So pack comfortable shoes (not like me 🙁 ) and prepare yourself to be WOWed.