Favorite Images of Valencia

Valencia’s Plaça l’Ayuntament

As our month in Valencia winds down, we thought we’d simply share a handful of our favorite pictures from this Spanish city on the Mediterranean. Having taken several hundred pictures while we were here, it’s hard to whittle it down to a handful, but these seem to be the ones that we like the most and that we got the best response from our family, friends, and followers online. We hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoyed taking them. In this blog we’ll give you our favorite overall images; in the next 2 day’s blogs we’ll focus on the people of Valencia.

(Above) Valencia’s Plaça l’Ayuntament is the main plaza in Valencia. We walked through it almost daily. The classical mediterranean architecture, marble sidewalks, palm trees, and fountain make it a splendid place for a picnic on a bench or for an al fresco dinner at a café.

Valencia’s City of Arts and Sciences

Valencia’s City of Arts and Sciences is a masterpiece of modern architecture. We visited only the one day and never actually went into the museum. It was still memorable.

The Ballroom of Valencia’s El Palacio del Marqués de Dos Aquas

This palace is the better site to see than the ceramics museum it now houses. Lori and I danced–waltzed–in the opulent ballroom, if only for a few moments.

Twisty Columns in La Lonja de la Seda

A battery of these twisted columns supports the arched roof of this grand room in Valencia’s La Lonja de la Seda. Once upon a time, more than a handful of centuries ago, this room was used for commodities trading.

Distant Cousins at Valencia’s Mercado Central

Speaking of trading, Valencia’s central market (Mercado Central) is one of the top sites to see in Valencia. If you’re a foodie, it’s one of the top sites to see in all of Europe. We have lots of great images from the market, but none quite so endearing to Chuck as this encounter with long lost relatives.

Flamenco!

Ah, nothing felt quite as Spanish to us as our night at a flamenco show, as captured in the photo and its accompanying water color rendition above. Images can’t do flamenco justice, so be sure to watch our YouTube video: http://youtu.be/xL1UUI6wLzM

Bull Fight in Valencia

Another quintessentially Spanish was a bull fight. Read Chuck’s blog for a full account of his night at the bull fight: http://www.chuckandlori.com/2014/07/a-bullfight-in-valencia-spain.html

Valencia’s Plaza de Torros Bull Fighting Arena

We (Chuck, actually) only attended a bull fight one night. But this was our view of the bull fighting ring every night.

Our Amigo in Valencia

There was a café near the cathedral we frequented several times, and each time we saw this friendly Valencian. He spoke little English, and we spoke even less Spanish, yet somehow we were friends. The first time we saw him, Chuck complimented him on his hat. The next time we saw him he noticed Chuck’s hat, which looked surprisingly like his. His smile was infectious.