Top Valencia Art & Culture: A Traveler’s Guide
Valencia, Spain is definitely more than just paella and sunshine, that you probably know. It’s a place positively bursting with art and culture just waiting to be explored. Its mix of historic charm and very modern innovation provides almost a unique experience for every kind of visitor. So, if you’re wondering where to start, I’ve got you covered. Very much thinking about places that should really be on every art and culture lover’s list, these spots will provide almost a super cool glimpse into Valencia’s soul. I tried to write it more with “we” rather than “I”.
1. City of Arts and Sciences: Modern Valencia
If you’re talking about Valencia, it’s almost impossible to not mention the City of Arts and Sciences, you know. Designed by Santiago Calatrava, it looks very much like it jumped straight out of a science fiction movie. The futuristic architecture that dominates the area that makes this place one heck of an area to see. You might be spending more time wandering around it while staring from the outside because the actual structures it holds may even be even more spectacular. So this very iconic spot features several attractions: L’Hemisfèric, a cinema where there are large format theaters, the Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe, a science museum with the intent to be fully interactive; L’Oceanogràfic, which is Europe’s biggest aquarium; and the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, a performance space and concert venue. If you are spending an entire day there is probably something here that catches your eye.
Here’s a neat story: The L’Oceanogràfic is more or less structured like all of the world’s major ecosystems are contained. It could be said that they did it pretty good. The layout helps it seem that, while still, admittedly in captivity, the feeling that these animals are just kind of vibing around feels very right and natural.
2. Valencia Cathedral: History Etched in Stone
The Valencia Cathedral, also know as the Metropolitan Cathedral–Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady of Valencia is truly more than just any normal church, but its just the heart and soul of Valencia itself! It’s truly the very place you see almost every kind of history coming to life! It goes very deep, since originally it’s what they believe was an old Roman temple. So after that the mosque! With some amazing touches the Cathedral has plenty of different arts since it’s slowly grew through multiple periods and arts. With this rich combination that we find it now. Make sure that you check out those beautiful Gothic doors and those awesome Renaissance paintings inside. So take this in. This one cool part about it is that this chapel, actually they claim it actually holds the real Holy Grail. How exciting is that! Anyway as you go to the top of Miguelete Bell Tower, for something pretty amazing of almost the entirety of Valencia for miles. Make sure that the visit is a sure bet that its one of Valencia’s past and even present!
Basically the Cathedral’s architecture tells pretty clear that it shows all kinds of culture, as you check it out, you get to see pretty closely of Valencia, and you just want to be there to check out all those tiny tiny little cool features
3. Silk Exchange (La Lonja de la Seda): A Gothic Masterpiece
Next up, you should certainly swing over to the Silk Exchange, otherwise also locally called La Lonja de la Seda. La Lonja used to be, in pretty short words, pretty much Valencia’s kinda core area for almost all types of trade, specially when it came to Silk. Its considered more less a masterpiece. The details that can be seen everywhere makes its worth almost going here and there. And even pretty cooler, since they consider it, at least UNESCO did, its something they recognize the amazing details here. Also inside is the the contract hall. It still reminds visitors all about the commercial importance from old Valencian times, is what its still suppose to symbolize. Walking through these stone walls is almost stepping pretty deeply into that moment into Valencia when it got big time during a Golden kind of Era.
La Lonja, at least in its looks, is a real solid reflection about just how important wealth meant at that period! Is this that interesting thing that everyone seems to ignore because nobody wants to check all of that stuff, right!
4. National Ceramics Museum: Art in Clay
The Museo Nacional de Cerámica y Artes Suntuarias González Martí. Better known locally and nationally as just that Ceramic museum! Almost placed within one of the coolest fancy places to visit. This very Baroque kind of place has a super huge collection of ceramics from literally all ages, some even as antique as medieval ages! As such there are examples that all kinds of traditions, be it Valencia or the classic art, they come all in many different looks that is well, ceramics! In the other words there all types of bowls, statues, cool things to see on Ceramics that shows the variety you can get! When there make sure to watch closely all that pretty and spectacular style its showing all around!
If people seem to go all excited after hearing the term ceramics in Museums its just because of all of these super cool designs made with such detail with only one material: Dirt. As its something thats cool.
5. IVAM (Valencian Institute of Modern Art)
If the term “ceramics from history and ancient times” seem very kind of “boring”, that actually just means its the kind of boring stuff museums keep on trying to show, thats not right! Maybe try to check this one: IVAM, Institut Valencià d’Art Modern! Which should mean Valencian Art museum if you want to hear. Here it just pretty much highlights whats currently modern and has some pretty fun stuff going on! Expect almost all types of super unique shows. Just anything different they like to throw here as if they think we could just watch anything cool they provide!
If people like cool modern stuff from currently ongoing things and activities from art! Should definitely get the sense of modern, something you would enjoy for just hours and just see new cool things on daily that seems to represent society, art in society in so!