Valencia & The Spanish “Levante”

Today the adventure begins. Join your local host for an included welcome dinner at a family-run restaurant. Today we might go to Juan's place, where his whole family (grandma to grandson) make sure the family tradition does not get lost. Apart from its unique decor, they make some of the best rice and seafood in the neighbourhood. This place is as local as it gets! Before that though, you will settle into your flat: comfy and well-connected are the keywords. After you have freshened up, we will go for a cheeky drink so you can start tasting some local wines, craft beers or maybe some "agua de Valencia" (this is all but water). Benvinguts a Valencia!

Buenos dias! Enjoy an easy morning, as today you will explore a bit more of the city and realise Valencia is a place of contrast. There will always be coffee and tea for you to enjoy the sunrise (by the way, sunrise is something you want to witness here), but do not forget to go for freshly squeezed orange juice, as you are in the land of the oranges.

From its “Golden-century” to Modernism and its contemporary street art scene, Valencia is a place that mixes the classic and the modern seamlessly. Today you will get to understand what makes your new home the place it is, we will cover a bit of everything, from history & culture to gastronomy, politics and taboos. This walk will not be the classic tour, we want to give you something more than dates and names. What are we going to see today? Expect a visit to Valencia's Central Market, one of Europe's largest and most beautiful ones. Stroll through the quarter that saw Valencia's rise to be one of the wealthiest towns in the Mediterranean during the 1500s; the Silk Market or stunning the Cathedral are witnesses of this former glory. Valencian's modernism (the local version of art-nouveau) and some of the best street art in Spain will add colour to our walkthrough of different quarters of the city. We will leave some of the busiest spots for a night walk, so we can appreciate them "privately", but in the meantime, we might go for some tapas to the trendy Ruzafa neighbourhood.

A good night sleep will be in order (or not), as tomorrow we will head further into the region and try some wines in Requena. Buenas noches.

Forget Rioja and Ribera del Duero, there are other wines in Spain! Get ready for a full day in the Requena region, a place where wine has been made since the 7th century B.C. Today we will start early (for Spanish standards at least) as we will head into the heart of the Comunitat Valenciana (the state where Valencia is). This is the only activity where we will use private transport due to logistics and time constraints. Today you can expect 2 winery visits and tastings. (spoiler: one is in a cave), an olive oil mill visit and tasting and a traditional lunch. Furthermore, you will get to meet our local guide, David. He was born and raised in Valencia and his family's passion has always been gastronomy and wines, making him the right person to show us around. This day-trip will keep us busy and happy for over 8 hours. No more spoilers, we want to surprise you here. Salud!

Hop on a bus to get to the beautiful town of Denia. This historic coastal town was declared a Creative City of Gastronomy by UNESCO in 2015. In this municipality located 100 km south of Valencia, gastronomy and food industries are the main economic drivers and a way of life.

Incrementing fresh, in-season, indigenous and healthy food production, encouraging gastronomic entrepreneurs, exchanging knowledge with other Creative Cities and disseminating and sharing their actions with other towns to join the network are some of the ingredients that make Denia special.

Additionally, it is just a stunning place. Its castle, colours, and Mediterranean waters make Denia an ideal place to experience why life expectancy is so high in this part of the world. Are you ready for some of the best food in the region?

Well, a visit to Valencia without paella would not be complete. To honour Spain’s most famous dish we will go to Borboto (only 30 min away from Valencia), where we will learn how to make a traditional paella on a wood fire. Furthermore, we will collect some ingredients from the organic allotment and learn how important the “huerta valenciana” is; then the paella making ritual will begin, and you will see how deep traditions run when making this dish. Laughs, good conversations and the best & freshest food will make this a unique experience.

Buen provecho!

Use the afternoon to further explore the city, walk by the beach or visit one of its many monuments.

A 40-minute train ride will take us today to ancient Rome. The town of Sagunto was a witness of Hannibal's strength during the 8-month siege by the mythical general. Its fortress and theatre will take us to a different era and will tell us how its inhabitants trusted its unique defensive structure to hold the Carthaginian leader. Moors, a vibrant Jewish community and Napoleonic invasions are part of the mix too. There is no better way to fill the gaps and get more info about the long history of this town than by visiting its history museum. Before heading back to Valencia try some local specialities in a town that has not been spoilt by the crowds!

Our last full day should be an enjoyable one. What about a visit to the city of Arts & Sciences by bike. This futuristic and controversial complex of buildings designed by the famous Valencian architect, Santiago Calatrava, will not leave you indifferent. Its opera, science museum, 360 Imax cinema and the "umbracle" are all inspired by nature. To get there, we will be cycling through “Parque del Turia”, a park built in the river-bed of the diverted Turia River. This 6 km ride is a very pleasant one; after our visit, we could go a bit further and enjoy the sun and the sea breeze by the Mediterranean.

After our active morning, we would suggest going for some tapas and then chill and freshen up, as tonight we will go for our farewell dinner at one of our favourite places in town. Good food, lots of stories and great company are all we can promise!

Sadly, it is time to say goodbye, and we can only hope our paths cross again. We will let you know your check-out time and meet you to say "adios" and help you with any arrangements to continue your adventure or go back home.

Hasta Siempre y gracias!