Welcome back to Valencia!
Come on a tour with me through the historical part of Valencia!
Put on your walking shoes because trust me…. your feet will hurt.
We have a lot to see so this post will be a little longer than normal.
I’ll try not to bore you with a ton of details so enjoy these pictures from the third largest city in Spain!
Vamanos!
We begin this tour with crossing through one of the “ports” which is a “door” leading through the walls of the historic / original part of the city ( not pictured ). Beautiful flowers will escort you through your walk from the newer part of Valencia and through the walls to the original part of the city.
Here are some pictures of the historical city inside the walls:
The architecture here is so beautiful!
There is SO much history!!
You can also find this giant bullfighting ring in this part of the city.
There are also some famous markets here.
Pictured below is one of the most famous markets and it’s ENORMOUS.
You can find anything and everything you need here:
Next on this tour, look at these ancient columns mixed in with the palm trees.
Isn’t it so beautiful?
Now that we have been walking all day, its starting to get dark but that doesn’t take the magic out of this place. We still have a lot to see!
Do you remember at the beginning of this post where I mentioned the “ports”, “doors” and “walls” of this city?
Well, when this city was built hundreds of years ago, they built a giant wall around the city for protection. They have 2 “ports” or “doors” that are still standing today.
Many cities here in Spain are actually built the same way. Walls surrounding for protection and “doors” for entry.
Here are some pictures of one of the “ports” or “doors” of the historical part of Valencia.
So, this port is where guards used to stand watch and decide if you could enter into the city or not.
There is an arch opening at the bottom where you could enter if you were allowed ( pictured below ).
And now here ( pictured below ) are the walls of the port/door from outside the city. When I saw this in person I literally got goosebumps. I feel like I was taken back in time looking at this.
Do you see those circular dents in the walls of the door? Can you guess what that is from?
Those marks are from canons. Intruders tried to break into the city by shooting canons at the outside walls.
And do you see the horizontal slits and cross like slits on the sides of the doors? Can you guess what that is for?
Those slits allowed the guards to shoot the intruders with bows and arrows from safely inside the walls.
Goosebumps.
Isn’t it amazing how something like bow and arrow slits and canon dents can still be preserved in the doors and walls of the original city hundreds of years later?
It is so incredible and so humbling to see.
We have now reached the end of our tour! Thank you for coming on this journey with me.
This trip was filled with great people, great experiences, spontaneous dancing in the street and a whole bunch of amazing history.
Hopefully your feet don’t hurt as bad as mine after today but until next time!
Hasta Luego!