Tapas

If you visit Spain, you will probably get a taste of huge variety great Spanish tapas you can find in different regions in Spain. These days it is in various countries even possible to enjoy tapas in Spanish restaurants or buy Spanish tapas in the supermarket. On the internet you can find thousands of recipes so that you can make your own Spanish tapas at home.

The regions in Spain are well known for different specialties due to their location. Regions that are located near the coast use more seafood in their tapas than regions that are located more inland, but a large variety of tapas you can find in many places Spain.

There exist many different stories about the origin of the Spanish tapas. Some people say that tapas used to be given to soldiers during the civil war so that they didn’t got drunk and annoying.

Others say that tapas used to serve to put on top of your glass to make sure no insects could fly into your drink.

According to another story, King Alfonso the Wise recovered after an illness from drinking wine with small dishes between different meals. He gave the order to bar owners that they all should serve some small snacks with a wine.

Many stories, but a fact is that tapas are very popular in Spain and nowadays also in some other countries. A tapas tour is an ideal way to get to know Valencia!

For more information and to book a tour click on tapas tour Valencia.

Paella

In many regions of Spain you are can enjoy Paella, but originally the paella comes from Valencia, therefore this typical paella is called “Paella Valenciana”.

Since the Moorish introduced typical Paella rice in the eighth century in Valencia, the Paella and other typical rice dishes were born.

One of the stories about the origin of the name paella is that they say that “paella” is coming from the Latin word “Patella” what means pan.

Besides rice, there is a variety of ingredients that can be used to make paella. It depends of the region which types of ingredients are used for paella. In the inland people use more meat like, rabbit, chicken and snails, but near the sea, people use more fish and shellfishes.

If you want to learn how to make an authentic “Paella Valenciana” than you might be interested in a “Paella Valenciana workshop” in Valencia.

Click on Paella workshop in Valencia for more information.

Cycling

Would you like to see the city Valencia or its surroundings? A great way to discover this diverse city is by bike.

Bike paths
The network of bike paths is not (yet) as good as in some other countries in Europe, but there are some really nice tracks, passing through the outstanding nature of this Mediterranean region. This network will be improved and amplified in the next years.

Bike rental
Are you planning to rent a bike in Valencia? Then you might want to compare the possibilities and prices. On bike rental Valencia you can find an overview of several bike rental possibilities.

Hiking

Most visitors in Valencia spend their days sightseeing in the city or laying on the beautiful beaches. Certainly it is a good possibility to enjoy your holiday and to relax.

But, what most of the tourists don’t know is, that the region around Valencia offers a large diverse landscape. First, there is the amazing coastline with a lot of beautiful beaches and palm gloves, second the bracing farmlands of oranges and in the inland you can find wine and last, but not least, the exceptionally hills and mountains with rocky peaks, lovely pine-tree forests and arresting canyons. This big diversity of the countryside is the reason why hiking in the surroundings of Valencia becomes such an extraordinary experience.

The valancian government has inaugurated a lot of hiking trails in the last years, so that the whole valencian province now counts more than 200 hiking trails in nearly all parts of the region with a length between 5 and 40 kilometres.

Most of the major hiking zones are located in protected natural parks or national parks. Also nearby the city of Valencia, only a 30 minute trip by train, you can find these treasures of the Mediterranean nature.

There is the “Albufera Nature Reserve”, only 10 km away from the city of Valencia and the “Turia Nature Reserve” a national park along the river Turia, which is located about 25 km away from the capital and where we also go to during our bicycle tour.

Flamenco

If you think of Spain, one of “the” first things that pop into your head are paella, bull fights, tapas and of course Flamenco.

Flamenco is originally from the southern region of Spain, Andalucia. Flamenco is a mixture of different cultures, among others of the “Gitanos”, the gypsies. There exist many types of Flamenco.

The Flamenco from the gypsies seems with a lot of dancing and singing and easier to listen to than the Flamenco from the Spanish. Flamenco from the Spanish seems more difficult to listen to and to understand.

Flamenco is about expressing emotions, from deep sadness to happiness, it all depends on the rhythm and the structure of the Flamenco. At the moment when a Flamenco singer, dancer or gitarist is getting really into the rhythms and the expression of the emotions, is known as “duende”, an almost magical moment.

Flameco workshop
If you are planning a trip with friends, family or colleagues in Valencia, a flamenco workshop could be a fun activity. Click on flamenco workshop in Valencia for more information or to make a reservation.

The fundamental part of Flamenco is the singing, but this can be leaded by music and/or dancing. Flamenco can exist of dancing, but it also can exist of someone who claps, plays guitar or sings. Sometimes singing, dancing, playing guitar and clapping are combined or accompanied by other music instruments like violin, piano and flute.

If you would like to get an impression of Flamenco dancers, than have a look at this short video:

If you would like to get an impression of a Flamenco guitarist, than have a look at this short video: