Plaza de la Virgen (Virgin Plaza), Valencia (must see)
Visitors tend to find their way back to this charming square, drawn in by the constant buzz of activity. Many come to admire the Cathedral or to honour Our Lady of the Forsaken at the pink basilica that bears her name. Once the Roman forum of ancient Valencia, the plaza now centres around an elegant fountain鈥攑erfect for sitting nearby and taking in the rhythm of daily life.
At the heart of the fountain sits Neptune, reclining and watchful, symbolising the Turia River. Surrounding him, eight maidens pour water from their jars, representing the region鈥檚 ancient irrigation canals. Come Thursday at noon, a centuries-old tradition unfolds as the Water Court gathers at the Apostles鈥� Gate to settle agricultural water disputes鈥攁 ritual so deeply rooted in local life, it鈥檚 been recognised by UNESCO as part of humanity鈥檚 intangible heritage.
Each March, during the Fallas festival, the plaza bursts into colour for the so-called 鈥淥ffering of Flowers鈥�. Locals arrive in traditional dress, laying floral offerings at the Virgin鈥檚 feet, transforming the space into a sea of colour and devotion.. And for those lingering a bit longer, nearby terraces serve up local treats鈥攑erhaps a chilled horchata paired with sweet fartons.
At the heart of the fountain sits Neptune, reclining and watchful, symbolising the Turia River. Surrounding him, eight maidens pour water from their jars, representing the region鈥檚 ancient irrigation canals. Come Thursday at noon, a centuries-old tradition unfolds as the Water Court gathers at the Apostles鈥� Gate to settle agricultural water disputes鈥攁 ritual so deeply rooted in local life, it鈥檚 been recognised by UNESCO as part of humanity鈥檚 intangible heritage.
Each March, during the Fallas festival, the plaza bursts into colour for the so-called 鈥淥ffering of Flowers鈥�. Locals arrive in traditional dress, laying floral offerings at the Virgin鈥檚 feet, transforming the space into a sea of colour and devotion.. And for those lingering a bit longer, nearby terraces serve up local treats鈥攑erhaps a chilled horchata paired with sweet fartons.
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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Plaza de la Virgen (Virgin Plaza) on Map
Sight Name: Plaza de la Virgen (Virgin Plaza)
Sight Location: Valencia, Spain (See walking tours in Valencia)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Valencia, Spain (See walking tours in Valencia)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
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
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
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