A quick one hour train ride brought us from low-key Cuenca to vibrant Valencia. The hotel was close enough to the rail station so that even with luggage it was easily walkable. We parked our belongings in our room at RH Hotel Centro Sorolla and went out to check the local scene. We arrived on a Saturday evening, so things were lively and the streets crowded with locals and tourists. At first glance Valencia looked to us like a grand city!
We strolled around the area to get our bearings, had a light dinner of empanadas, and were ready to turn in for an early evening…though partying went on until the early morning hours (not us).
Sunday morning was bright and sunny so we mapped a plan to become more oriented – the city center is compact and easily walkable. Our first stop was in front of the grand La Lonja de la Seda de Valencia – a UNESCO World Heritage site. The building was formerly the Silk Exchange and its always been a center for commerce. We were fascinated by the two young cellists playing a Mr. Brightside (2004) by The Killers.
Lucky for us, many museums are free on Sundays so we made our to the Museo de Bellas Artes (Museum of Fine Arts). We liked this painting by Francisco Pons Arnau (1886-1953) titled “Valenciana.”
There are many grand works in this collection!
We navigated to a neighborhood spot called Restaurante Tapia for lunch. The highlight tapas was the Russian Salad. This version was made with potato, mayonnaise, hard boiled egg, canned tuna, and carrots, though many other versions exist. It’s delicious!
That’s Valencia so far! We’re looking forward to a visit to the market, the Cathedral and more adventures tomorrow!