Enjoy the charms of the streets, squares and hidden corners of Valencia. Sample its signature dish and the symbol of Spanish cuisine around the world - Paella. You'll also learn how and where Paella originated during this visit to Albufera. Explore the city of Valencia, with sights of the City of Arts and Sciences, a panoramic drive and a stroll through the old quarter to visit some of the most important historic buildings. Few cities like Valencia are able to blend so many architectural styles including Medieval, Art Nouveau, Baroque and Gothic along with ancient ruins and the most modern avant-garde buildings this well. See the New Valencia, where The City of Arts & Sciences is a leisure center designed for the diffusion of science and culture. Its unique buildings will impress you. Walk to la Plaza de la Reina in the historical center and discover its more relevant monuments and buildings. Admire the Cathedral with the Miguelete Tower and its many different architectural styles and works of art - La Lonja declared Heritage of Mankind by UNESCO and the Central Market’s modernist building. Visit the Fallero Museum, where you will learn everything about the tradition of the Fallas festival. Enjoy a traditional paella lunch with a glass of wine while taking in views of Albufera Lake, just as the locals do. Learn about another surprising area of Valencia, the Albufera Nature Park. It features the largest lake in Spain and one of the most important wetland areas in the Iberian Peninsula. The lake is home to rare species of wading birds and a variety of wildlife. Its waters have been worked by fishermen and rice growers supplying ingredients and inspiration for the region’s delicious cuisine. Enjoy a traditional boat ride on the Albufera Lagoon.

Explore the city of Valencia, with sights of the City of Arts and Sciences, a panoramic drive and a stroll through the old quarter to visit some of the most important historic buildings. Discover how attractive the combination of ancient remains and modern buildings are. It’s a city with international services and avant-garde design. Stop to see The City of Arts & Science, the New Valencia. This major leisure center was designed to promote science and culture. Marvel at the unique and spectacular design of the Hemisféric and the Museu de les Ciencies.

A walk in the historical center takes you to Plaza de la Reina to visit the more significant monuments and buildings like the Cathedral, La Lonja “the Silk Exchange” declared Heritage of Mankind by UNESCO and the Central Market, Valencia’s modernist market. Enjoy the charm of “round square”, discover hidden corners, and walk around the main streets of the city center and Santa Catalina Square where you’ll have some free time to explore.

Admire the highlights of Valencia at your own pace by riding a double-decker bus around the city, hopping on and off whenever you please at the attractions you find most intriguing. You will first be dropped off at Plaza de la Reina, a lovely plaza in the heart of Old Town. Whenever you are ready, use the complimentary bus pass to explore the destinations that are most appealing to you. Simply hop on one of the buses and then hop off when it reaches an attraction of interest from the nearly 15 designated stops. Stay for as long as you like, and then hop on another bus whenever you’re ready. The buses operate throughout the day and make continuous loops around Valencia’s must-see landmarks. Once onboard, you will receive a route map that describes the destinations, making it easy to choose your favorite ones. You can remain in the city for up to five hours.

OVERVIEW

Explore the lesser-known side of Valencia and engage with the local culture for an immersive experience of great authenticity with our fascinating walking tour. Briefs stops at icons such as the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences and the medieval cathedral will make the contrast of the hidden attractions all the more dramatic. As you walk through downtown, the guide will provide an insider’s view of these somewhat undiscovered destinations. Upon reaching Plaza Redonda, you will notice its circular shape, a rarity in Spain when it was built in the 19th century. The gloriously ornate city hall is also of architectural interest as it is comprised of two buildings constructed centuries apart.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore Valencia with a local guide that will provide an insider’s point of view.
• Hear lesser-known facts about the attractions that make them all the more captivating.
• Interact with the city’s authentic culture.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Dine on a selection of tapas and thoughtfully paired wines at two restaurants following an enlightening drive through downtown. The Romans founded Valencia more than 2,000 years ago, and today the city boasts a wonderful mix of historical and modern attractions. They range from the medieval Valencia cathedral to the City of Arts and Sciences, Valencia’s cultural hub. You will dine at two traditional restaurants that source their ingredients in La Horta, a flourishing agricultural region with thousands of farmland plots and Spain’s largest lake, Albufera, which supplies abundant seafood. Although the tapas ingredients will be determined the day of the excursion based on the season, they often include rock mussels, Valencia-style calamari and anchovies. Dessert may be sponge cake topped with caramelized pastry cream. Red and white wines will also be served to complement the tapas.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Savor a variety of tapas with locally sourced ingredients at two restaurants in Valencia.
• Enjoy a selection of red and white wine that perfectly pairs with the tapas.
• Drive through Valencia and see landmarks that reflect the city’s culture and history.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Capture the moment by taking the perfect selfie photo in Valencia ! Instantly share your experience with family & friends on your favorite social media site as some of the stops might include wi-fi in real time. Your accompanying guide will help you how choosing the spot to take the best selfie photo including composition, posing, lighting etc. Capture the spirit of this incredible destination.

Your tour begins with a short drive from the ship to your first photo stop, City of Arts & Sciences. You will have designated selfie stops at: • City of Arts & Sciences
• Streets of the Old Quarter
• Calle Bolseria
• Plaza Lope de Vega
• Las Arenas Beach

End your picture-perfect day with a relaxing transfer back to the ship.

A visit to the renowned Lladro Factory is the highlight of this tour, with an overview drive through the city. Learn about the delicate process of making the famous porcelain works of art and see the views of Valencia.

Enjoy a panoramic drive through the city. You'll see the Quart & Serrano Towers, as well as some of the historical center from the comfort of your coach. Visit the Lladro Factory and take an interesting and educational tour through the production chain. You’ll receive an overview of the porcelain’s history and family business, including a documentary on the start of the company and the founding brothers. After touring the factory, stop to view the large display in the exhibition room. You’ll also have some time to shop for your ideal Lladro figurine as a beautiful memory of your cruise and holiday.

Enjoy Valencia the easy way and discover what this fascinating city offers! It’s the perfect way to see the city for those who cannot walk or stand for long periods of time. Details are given along the way by your guide and there are opportunities to take pictures. The architecture of this beautiful city ranges from ancient Roman works to Santiago Calatrava's cutting-edge City of Arts and Sciences. Take a panoramic drive around the city, making a photo stop at the impressive City of Arts and Sciences located in the old river bed and built as a large scale urban recreation center for culture and science.

It showcases some of the most futuristic and beautiful architecture in the world. See the heart of the city as you pass by the historical center. Here you’ll find the more significant monuments and buildings; an important collection of the city’s rich heritage. You’ll have some free time in the city center to explore further, shop or taste some of the local specialties. A drive along the sea front promenade offers views of the America’s Cup marina.

Learn to make traditional paella at a farm in nearby L’Horta, an agricultural region on the outskirts of Valencia where most of the ingredients grow or can be found. Valencians often spend weekends in L’Horta to relax and enjoy a dinner of paella. The gathering is a ritual of sorts, in which families come together to socialize and dine on a dish that was first prepared in this area in the 15th or 16th century. The owner of the farm will show you around the grounds and point out some of the many garden items that will end up in your paella. You will then join a hands-on workshop and learn the basics of preparing this once-humble dish from scratch. While the dish is simmering in a large circular pan, you will toast the upcoming meal with a glass of sangria. When the paella is finished, you might taste it straight from the pan, another Valencian tradition.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Visit the farming region of L’Horta, where Valencians often spend weekends relaxing.
• Tour a farm where many of the ingredients for paella are grown.
• Learn to make traditional paella in a hands-on workshop on the farm.
• Dine on the freshly made paella, perhaps straight from the pan, which is a tradition.

See the city highlights and spend time at Europe’s largest aquarium. The aquarium recreates the world’s most important marine ecosystems to enable environmental research, teaching and to contribute to the protection of marine life.

A panoramic drive marks the start of your journey through the 3rd largest city in Spain. Cross the Turia River and drive along the Gran Via and Calle Jativa passing the bullring , central train station and Serrano Tower. The Oceanografic is part of the City of Arts and Sciences. Set in a landscaped park of lush greenery covering an area of about 27 acres/110,000 m2, it’s the largest aquarium in Europe. It is home to approximately 45,000 creatures representing 500 different marine species. You’ll have a guided tour and free time to explore the areas that interest you most, on your own.

You can visit the Dolphinarium one of the largest in the world, see penguins in the Antarctic section and walruses and beluga whales in the Artic. Take a stroll under the amazing shark tunnel, which depicts a journey through the Atlantic Ocean from the Canary Islands to Bermuda.

Discover the medieval charm of Bocairent, a hilltop village built almost entirely of stone, including a bullring that was carved from solid rock in the 19th century. It took the villagers years to complete the excavation, but the bullring is still used today. Because almost every building is constructed from rock or carved into rock, Bocairent has an engaging medieval ambiance. The historic quarter is particularly atmospheric, as it was laid out in an Arabic style that reflects a Moorish influence. The streets twist and turn, rise and fall and often end in charming squares and cul-de-sacs. While sometimes challenging to negotiate, Bocairent’s old quarter is visually breathtaking, especially from areas that offer panoramic views of the countryside. To enhance your appreciation of the local culture, you will visit an local artisan shop that makes regional liquors such as anise-flavored herbero from mountain flora. While tasting his concoctions.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Explore Bocairent, a village built almost entirely of stone, giving it a medieval ambiance.
• Marvel at the bullring that was pickaxed and chiseled out of the solid-rock hillside.
• Meander the winding, hilly streets of Bocairent’s atmospheric Old Town.
• Sample a glass of local anise-flavored herbero made with mountain flora.

A visit to the village of Sagunto settled in the 5th century BC and a relaxing boat ride though a subterranean river will put you in touch with nature and Sagunto’s rich past. Arriving in La Vall D’ Uixo you’ll visit the caves of Saint Joseph. Board your boat and as you navigate through the cavern, admire some of the unique forms sculpted by the flowing water. See the “cascade of the flower” and the “Medusa”, even a grotto called “the cathedral.” Silence is only broken by the murmur of the waters and the echoing drops, falling to form stalactites. Half way through the boat ride, you’ll disembark and explore some of the caves on foot (approximately 800 feet).

A walking tour through the ancient streets of Sagunto brings the legends of the city to life. The remaining monuments of its Roman past such as the Castle, dominating the city and surrounding ramparts have tales to tell of their own. At Museo de la Vía del Pórtico you’ll see a very large area of the Via Augusta, remains of funerary structures, buildings, a necropolis and much more. Just below the castle is the Roman Theater, now restored and used for concerts.