valenciablogger | 
05 6th, 2009| 
Valencia is an amazing city, though not as big as its “cousins” Barcelona or Madrid. It has many things to offer: the America’s Cup, the City of Arts and Sciences, incredible beaches and one of the most important festivals in Spain, Las Fallas. The most attractive area to have a walk is, without a doubt, the labyrinthine barrio del Carmen neighbourhood with its artistic and bohemian atmosphere. It extends from the north of the Central Market to the River Turia and it is full of historic buildings and modern cafés located next to run down houses.
This is a thousand-year-old neighbourhood that forms part of the historical centre of Valencia. It has grown wrapped between two walls, a Muslim one (Eleventh century), and a Christian one (Fourteenth century). This way, it is limited by the east and by the west, respectively. Later a third wall was built to cover the suburbs. Therefore, a system of portals was created to solve the problems of communication that having so many walls presented.
You can not say that you know the essence of Valencia until you have visit this neighbourhood, the purest and most original of the city. The Central Square is the heart of the area and it is full of bars, restaurants and shops.
The neighbourhood takes its name from the Carmen de Calzado Church/Convent, as the population settled around it started to expand. The pedestrianized Plaza del Carmen was the first place with the same name as the church, and after some years, the whole neighbourhood took its name.
The Round Square (an interior circular square), the Valldigna Portal, the Beneficencia Cultural Centre, the Serrano’s Towers, the Quart’s Towers and the famous Carmen’s Church are mandatory stops on your visit here.
El barrio del Carmen neighbourhood is one of the best choices to go out at night. You can start the night having dinner at one of the fine restaurants in the district. Then you can have a drink at one of its bohemian bars. Calle Alta Street and the Virgin Square are both much appreciated areas in the quarter.
But Valencia is much more than the el barrio del Carmen neighbourhood. Discover it! Rent the best apartments in Valencia and enjoy your stay in the city.
