The cathedral without cars
With traffic removed you can see the front and tower in a clean frame.
Josu PV — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Kiban — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Falk2 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Falk2 — CC BY-SA 4.0
The main square in front of Valencia cathedral in the heart of the old city, and the natural starting point for any walk through the centre. The square was entirely redesigned and reopened in 2021: cars and parking were removed and it became wholly pedestrian, with orange trees planted and ground-level fountains added. That change matters practically: before it, the square was cut through by traffic; now you can stand in the middle and look at the cathedral and the Miguelete tower with no cars in the frame. Streets branch from the square towards most of what you want to see: the cathedral and its tower, the church of Santa Catalina with its baroque belfry, the pedestrian street towards the town hall square, and the lanes of the Carmen quarter to the north. It is also where the city's events and seasonal markets are held. Free and always open. Shade is scarce in the middle because the trees are newly planted, so avoid standing long in the summer midday.
With traffic removed you can see the front and tower in a clean frame.
Climbed by a spiral stair, with a view over the whole of old Valencia.
The old city's routes start here and run in every direction.
In front of Valencia cathedral
The cathedral first, holding a chalice attributed to the Last Supper in a side chapel, then the climb up the Miguelete for the view. Afterwards walk north to the market square, the central market and the UNESCO-listed silk exchange, then the lanes of the Carmen quarter.
Spring and autumn are best: mild weather and fewer crowds. March brings the Fallas festival, an exceptional spectacle, but the city fills completely, prices rise and booking must be months ahead. Summer is hot and humid, though the beaches are close.
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