Let's begin with Horchata!
In the morning and throughout the day, you can see local Valencians heading for the classic local treat - horchata and fartons. Horchata is a drink made from tiger nuts, and it is classically enjoyed with a sugared finger bun called a farton. Some of the best horchaterías can be found in the old town. This one has been continuously open for over 2 centuries!
10:30 We'll take a walking tour of this beautiful downtown area. (Cost: €10 to tip tour guide).
1:00 Lunch Mercado Central This is the largest fresh produce market in Europe as well as in a city right on the Mediterranean and near one of the most fertile and diverse farming regions of Europe does not hurt. The sheer size is something to behold with over 1200 stalls of some of the most diverse and fresh fruit, vegetable and seafood selections you could imagine along with breads, pastries, nuts, local favorites and soooo much more. Set in a wonderful purpose-built building for this market right in the heart of the old town is just a bonus all around. On this trip to Valencia, come to the market several times for food for meals, snacks for the apartment and to grab some food on the fly. Even if you don’t plan to buy any produce, Mercado Central is definitely worth a visit just to experience local life, and marvel at its architecture. The market is built with ceramics, colored glass and detailed metalwork, with a 30 meters high glass dome.
2:00 We will marvel at the Valencia Cathedral
10:30 We'll take a walking tour of this beautiful downtown area. (Cost: €10 to tip tour guide).
1:00 Lunch Mercado Central This is the largest fresh produce market in Europe as well as in a city right on the Mediterranean and near one of the most fertile and diverse farming regions of Europe does not hurt. The sheer size is something to behold with over 1200 stalls of some of the most diverse and fresh fruit, vegetable and seafood selections you could imagine along with breads, pastries, nuts, local favorites and soooo much more. Set in a wonderful purpose-built building for this market right in the heart of the old town is just a bonus all around. On this trip to Valencia, come to the market several times for food for meals, snacks for the apartment and to grab some food on the fly. Even if you don’t plan to buy any produce, Mercado Central is definitely worth a visit just to experience local life, and marvel at its architecture. The market is built with ceramics, colored glass and detailed metalwork, with a 30 meters high glass dome.
2:00 We will marvel at the Valencia Cathedral
The Valencia Cathedral is located in between Plaza del Virgen and Plaza de la Reina, the Old Town’s main square. The cathedral was built in the 13th century, on the site of a Roman temple that was later converted into a mosque. It’s an impressive building, combining many different architectural styles.
There’s a lot to see at the cathedral – it has a museum which is home to famous art pieces from artists Maella and Goya, and there’s also a Miguelete tower where you can climb 206 steps to get a great view of the city.
We will visit the Chapel of the Holy Grail. Is it the chalice that Jesus drank from during the Last Supper? It's the most credible of the chalices around that world that make the claim! To explain how the Grail made its way from Jerusalem to Valencia, Christian researcher Verdeguer refers to the Christian belief that the Last Supper took place in the house of St Mark, a disciple of St Peter. He posits that when St Mark had to flee Jerusalem in 70 CE due to the Roman invasion, he took the valuable cup with him. From there, St Mark settled in Rome where the cup was passed on to various Popes and eventually to St Lawrence, who sent it to Spain for safekeeping from further wars. Eventually, it ended up in Valencia, the capital of the Kingdom of Aragon in the 1400s.
Since then, the revered relic has had a place of honor in the Cathedral. And although it's only been used to celebrate mass by Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, it can be viewed by all visitors, along with the Cathedral's other relics, which include a supposed thorn from Jesus's crown and piece of the cross on which he was crucified.
"If there is any chalice that, according to tradition, was in the hands of Jesus, without a doubt, the only cup that fulfils all the requirements when subjected to a scientific analysis that can be replicated anywhere in the world with the same results is the Holy Chalice of the Valencia Cathedral," said Dr Mafé.
BBC Video - Does Spain Have the Holy Grail?