Check In My City
MY CITY
Valencia, Spain
Adriana Iglesias The fashion designer and founder of her eponymous label is passionate about the City of Valour After living in Valencia I understand why the Romans chose this city to retire to once they were done conquering the world. The third-largest city in Spain is a magnificent place, content for Madrid and Barcelona to grab headlines while it gets on with being a wonderfully livable city with thriving cultural, culinary and nightlife scenes. Surrounded by fertile farmland, Valencia is a truly healthy place to be – you begin the day with freshly squeezed orange juice or horchata, a milky drink made from tiger nuts (which are only found here). Take a table outside Horchateria el Siglo, in the centre of town, and people-watch. The City of Arts and Sciences is Spain’s most visited museum, and one of 18
Valencia’s most recognisable symbols – a futuristic white building designed by avantgarde local architect Santiago Calatrava. It boasts L’Oceanogràfic, Europe’s largest aquarium, and kids’ favourite Bioparc Valencia, a safari park in the heart of the city that’s dedicated to conservation. On a walk, admire the contemporary buildings of Modernista architecture, or stroll the old city from Plaza de la Virgen to Calle de los Caballeros – where the famous El Carmen quarter starts. Head south from Plaza del Negrito and you will reach La Lonja de la Seda, the old silk market and one of the greatest examples of medieval European architecture. In front of La Lonja, the huge art-nouveau Mercado Central building houses one of Spain’s largest indoor markets. The ancient, beautifully designed Mercat Central de Valencia is typical of great Valencian architecture: elegant and elaborate, yet utilitarian at the same time. Grab a few bags of fresh, locally farmed fruit and nuts
to snack on for the rest of the day – you’ll find the prices are just as tasty. I always spoil myself with a special candle or perfume in Linda Vuela a Río. Should you want a jewel that captures the essence and the art of the Mediterranean, visit the magical Vicente Gracia. The building, constructed in 1898, is one of the few examples of Neomozarab architecture in the area, and was inspired by the Alhambra. As I love Japanese food, my favoured places to eat are Komori at the Westin Hotel and Nozomi Sushi Bar, but I also recommend La Duna, where you can tuck into the best paella right on the beach. Make the trip to Albufera Natural Park and take a boat ride around lakes and rivers to see the local birds, in a place that feels more deep-south America than Spain. Or I like to run or cycle through Turia Gardens, a superb green ribbon of park. You can use it year-round because the weather here is fantastic! Like the latter-day Romans, I have made Valencia my home.