Valencia has the feel of a city that's looking towards the future whilst still retaining it's past.
Centerpiece of the future is the Cuidad de las Artes y de la Ciencias which is a large complex of mainly science museums along with a very large centre for the arts. The complex is divided into the L'Oceanogràfic (Europe's largest aquarium), L'Hemisfèric (IMAX and planetarium), Museo de Ciencias Príncipe Felipe (a hands-on museum) and L'Umbracle (the carpark and various temporary exhibitions). In total, the only tourist attraction with more visitors is the El Prado museum in Spain. Other museums around the city include the Fine Arts Museum (Museo de Bellas Artes) the National Ceramic Museum (Museo Nacional de Cerámica) and the Baroque Palacio del Marqués de Dos Aguas, the Museum of the Enlightenment (Museo Valenciano de la Ilustración y la Modernidad).
For the ancient city, go to the La Virgen square, the site of the Roman Forum. There you'll be surrounded by the likes of the baroque, renaissance and gothic cathedral which is said to have held the Holy Grail for 500 years (a reproduction is on display today in a side chapel). The city hall dating from the 18th century is no less impressive and houses two museums.
Numerous other attractions are dotted around the city including La Albufera (nature reserve), the Botanical Gardens and Torres de Serranos and Quart (15th century stone gates).
Don't forget too that Valencia is on the coast offering numerous beaches including Malvarrosa (to the north), Pineda (central), Saler (south, the best beach).
If all that wasn't enough, the city is full of modern shopping centres where you can get good prices and equally good service, a combination that's often missing elsewhere.
Valencia airport (VLC) offers a wide choice of discount and regular airlines; Alicante (ALC) is a couple of hours to the south.
Valencia is well served by the Spanish train network.
