Barrio del Carmen, Valencia (must see)
The El Carmen district in Valencia's historic center is the city's most famous neighborhood. Named after the church and convent of Carmen Calzado, it is a paradise for Mediterranean cuisine and leisure. With its rich history, medieval architecture, artistic heritage, and local legends, El Carmen is a perfect blend of history and leisure.
In the 11th century, the area beyond the Arab wall became an active agricultural hub. Houses emerged alongside existing farms. El Carmen, located outside the wall, now displays visible remnants of the Islamic fortification. The neighborhood integrated these remnants into its buildings, such as the wall section near Angel and Los Navarros squares, Calle de la Cruz, and even the Montaner bakery.
This neighborhood is home to top museums and architectural treasures. One gem is the Portal de la Valldigna, an ancient entrance to the Moorish quarter. The Church of San Nicol谩s de Bari and San Pedro M谩rtir is a must-see attraction with stunning mural paintings likened to Valencia's Sistine Chapel.
The Convento del Carmen is now the Centre del Carme Cultura Contempor脿nia, a modern museum. The renowned IVAM is also a leading art institution. La Beneficencia houses impressive collections of artifacts. It's ironic that this ancient district is now Valencia's hub of modern art.
Another point of interest is the Central Market, a grand temple of local produce adorned with modernist decorations. It is widely regarded as the premier showcase for fresh food in Europe.
El Carmen is also home to the only two surviving access gates to the medieval city: Serranos and Quart. These gates used to close when the bells announced the onset of nightfall, and those who lost track of time had no choice but to sleep "under the Valencia moon."
With a millennium of history, there's much to explore. Grab souvenirs and then enjoy the neighborhood's diverse shops, like the Mercado de Tapiner铆a. Hungry? Head to Mossen Sorell Market for local delicacies and a refreshing vermouth.
In the 11th century, the area beyond the Arab wall became an active agricultural hub. Houses emerged alongside existing farms. El Carmen, located outside the wall, now displays visible remnants of the Islamic fortification. The neighborhood integrated these remnants into its buildings, such as the wall section near Angel and Los Navarros squares, Calle de la Cruz, and even the Montaner bakery.
This neighborhood is home to top museums and architectural treasures. One gem is the Portal de la Valldigna, an ancient entrance to the Moorish quarter. The Church of San Nicol谩s de Bari and San Pedro M谩rtir is a must-see attraction with stunning mural paintings likened to Valencia's Sistine Chapel.
The Convento del Carmen is now the Centre del Carme Cultura Contempor脿nia, a modern museum. The renowned IVAM is also a leading art institution. La Beneficencia houses impressive collections of artifacts. It's ironic that this ancient district is now Valencia's hub of modern art.
Another point of interest is the Central Market, a grand temple of local produce adorned with modernist decorations. It is widely regarded as the premier showcase for fresh food in Europe.
El Carmen is also home to the only two surviving access gates to the medieval city: Serranos and Quart. These gates used to close when the bells announced the onset of nightfall, and those who lost track of time had no choice but to sleep "under the Valencia moon."
With a millennium of history, there's much to explore. Grab souvenirs and then enjoy the neighborhood's diverse shops, like the Mercado de Tapiner铆a. Hungry? Head to Mossen Sorell Market for local delicacies and a refreshing vermouth.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Valencia. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Barrio del Carmen on Map
Sight Name: Barrio del Carmen
Sight Location: Valencia, Spain (See walking tours in Valencia)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Sight Location: Valencia, Spain (See walking tours in Valencia)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Walking Tours in Valencia, Spain
Create Your Own Walk in Valencia
Creating your own self-guided walk in Valencia is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Valencia's Classical Architecture Tour
In Valencia, the architecture tells you right away鈥攖his city has layers. It's not just a coastal getaway with sunshine and beaches. Beneath the bright skies, 鈥淪pain鈥檚 Third Capital鈥� reveals a blend of styles both rich and unexpected鈥攁t once bold in contrast and delicate in detail. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Old Town, where nearly every corner seems to offer a visual... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
Old Town Walking Tour
Valencia鈥檚 Old Town stands apart from many in Europe for how effortlessly its many layers of history coexist. Beneath modern squares, ancient Roman streets and forum remains lie quietly preserved. The maze-like layout鈥攕haped during the city鈥檚 Islamic period鈥攚as never swept away after the Christian Reconquest. Instead, it survived and evolved, now lined with Gothic churches and Baroque... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Contemporary Architecture Walk
With one foot in the past and the other one in the future, it is hard to find a European city more architecturally intriguing than Valencia. Among the multitude of styles, Valencia particularly excels at the cutting-edge contemporary architecture. She owes it to her own born and bred architect, Santiago Calatrava, renowned for his hyper-modern-surreal designs.
In the course of nearly two... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
In the course of nearly two... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Valencia Introduction Walking Tour
Valencia, Spain鈥檚 third-largest city, carries a rich history that stretches back to 138 BC, when it was founded as a Roman colony for battle-tested veterans. Known then as 鈥淰alentia鈥�, meaning 鈥渧alor,鈥� it honored the courage of its first inhabitants. The city was destroyed in 75 BC by Pompey the Great but was rebuilt within a century, eventually becoming home to Visigoths and later the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles