The hub of central Valencia is the Plaça del Ajuntament (Town Hall Square) around which lie stunning neoclassical buildings with modernist exteriors and baroque-inspired interiors.

Open to the public, the Town Hall affords a view of the store-lined streets of the downtown core and the lanes leading to Valencia's Old Town.

      

A fascinating exhibit at the Town Hall includes photos of its own destruction during the Spanish Civil War.

     

The Old Town Barrio del Carmen surrounds Queen Square with its view of the 13th century Basilica and Cathedral and its tower the Micalet.

Built between 1392 and 1398, the Towers of Serranos is one of the twelve gates that guarded the Christian city walls of Valencia.

The Art Nouveau style Mercat de Colon market displays a wonderful selection of meats, cheeses, wines, nuts and other delicacies.

In the 1990's Valencia underwent major renovations to turn gritty neighbourhoods into tourist destinations.

Designed by Santiago Calatrava, the City of Arts and Sciences has futuristic structures housing a planetarium, an oceanarium and an interactive museum.

The exterior facades and interior rooms of Valencia's ecclesiastical, commercial and government buildings are rich with exquisite architectural details.

Valencia diverted its flood-prone Turia river to the outskirts and converted the former riverbed into a green ribbon of park winding through the city.

17 bridges, old and new, cross the greenway including pretty Puente de Las Flores (Bridge of Flowers).