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Home , Murcia, Valencia

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Valencia &

Why Go? ...... 726 Principal settlement in the region and an utterly addictive ...... 747 city, Valencia exudes confidence. Its sophisticated cultural scene, kicking nightlife, quality museums, great restaurants, Benicàssim...... 748 understated beach and stunning Modernista and contempo- Peñíscola...... 749 rary architecture make it one of the peninsula’s jewels. El Maestrazgo. . . . . 750 Throughout this sun-bathed coastal pleasure-ground, a ...... 752 wealth of festivals awaits you, whether you fancy top-notch rock music at Benicàssim, hooded processions and friendly Denia ...... 753 rivalry at Lorca’s Semana Santa, reenactments of Reconquis- Xàbia ...... 754 ta battles in the numerous Moros y Cristianos festivals or ...... 757 one of the world’s biggest food fights at La Tomatina. ...... 764 While some of the coastal resorts – hello Benidorm! – Murcia ...... 765 are notoriously overdeveloped, there are plenty of places to explore that aren’t. The ancient port of Cartagena has a Cartagena...... 769 magnificent array of Roman and Carthaginian ruins, while Lorca...... 773 Murcia is a buzzy regional capital where there’s not a fried breakfast in sight.

Best Places to Eat ¨¨Carosel (p738) When to Go ¨¨Delicat (p739) Valencia City °C/°F ¨¨Daluan (p752) Te mp Rainfall Inches/mm 40/104 8/200 ¨¨Cervecería Sento (p759) 30/86 6/150 ¨¨El Granaino (p765)

20/68 4/100

Best Places to 10/50 2/50 0/32 0 Stay J FDNOSAJJMAM ¨¨Caro Hotel (p738) Mar Las Fallas, Aug Paint the Oct The sea’s still ¨¨Cases Noves (p763) Valencia’s wild town red at just about swim- ¨¨Hotel Chamarel (p754) festival, Buñol’s tomato mable; there’s brings some two fight, then hit decent weather ¨¨Villa Venecia (p756) million visitors to the coast’s lively but far fewer ¨¨Mont Sant (p762) town . nightlife scene . people . - - - The Valencia region has a long winemaking tradition has a long winemaking tradition region Valencia The and and Romans, Greeks Phoenicians, to dating back quaff. and taste to varieties grape local unusual several a cover denominations both Valencia and Alicante The to mountain plains coastal from areas, of wide variety in- is broad, produced wines of the range so valleys, wines. as sweet as well and whites, rosés cluding reds, dis- very produces and region inland an is -Requena In Mur grape. the indigenous from reds tinctive WINE REGIONS WINE quality; average with the highest is the zone cia, full-bodied reds, powerful, produces climate the hot as in known grape, the monastrell from mostly whites has reasonable which also The zone, mourvèdre. other The Castilla-La Mancha. into crosses Airén, from and (DOs), de Origens Denominación Murcian though a primarily on monastrell, focus also , used. are varietals and red white other number of Murcia’s kicking deli- scene – (p768) the city has Denia’s gourmet dining options – this lively port (p754) has The region’s enormous variety of dishes – you could be Valencia’s embarrassing wealth of restaurants – the city The most interesting town for wine-tasting is Requena ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ loads of delis where you can stock up on charcuterie or fish preserves, and also sample them with a glass of wine in hand. one of ’s most renowned restaurants as well as several intriguing tapas and seafood options. here for months just trying them all (p739). (p738) is surrounded by a rich horticultural zone, locals love eating out, and there’s a quality option on nearly every street. in the(p747), Valencian hills – the local bobal wines are distinctive and delicious. ¨ Top Five Food Experiences Five Food Top ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ Street Names a trav as such, for to see it Though like locals don’t many eller’s purposes, the regional language Valenciano is a form Valenciano language the regional purposes, eller’s councilsconstantas a here to-and-fro There’s Catalan. of (Castilian)replace Spanish street with the Valen names successors change then their equivalents, ciano/Catalan chaotic: some streetsThethem back. have result is a little between difference each end. While the at name a different is often versions minimal, this can sometimes bethe two Valenciano use the Occasionally we for visitors. confusing But since Spanishone. dominant clearly the where it’s form elected to stick uses, we’ve with the majority is the version it in most cases. ),

), mid-July short- 745 748 Santa (p774), .com – regional

The cercanía by run trains distance to ways good are Renfe region. the around get radiates network One out Valencia, from Alicante another from Trains and Murcia. and leave cheap are regularly. CERCANÍA TRAINS www.murciaturistica. www.magrama.gob. www.comunitat La Tomatina (p748), Moros y Cristianos y Moros Festival Internacional de Semana Semana Las Fallas (p ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ es – the equivalent for the Murcia region es/es/costas/servicios/ guia-playas – guide to beaches; in Spanish, but self-explanatory valenciana website government Buñol, late August (p762), Alcoy,(p762), late April Benicàssim (p Lorca, Easter Valencia, mid- Valencia, ¨ ¨ Resources ¨ Online

Track summer the coast isIn Thoughpacked. quieter corners exist, want to if you from crowds,explore away head inland, where valleys a moreand hill towns offer experience.relaxed Off the Beaten ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ ¨ Top Festivals



Valencia & Murcia 726