The Bite Magazine - Autmn/Winter 2020 - Issue 28

Samantha Morgan gets familiar with the City of the Flowers that is called Valencia filled with greenery and historical buildings. bitetravel O ne of the oldest and the third-largest city in Spain, Valencia was founded as a Roman colo- ny under the name of ‘Valentia Ederanorum’ on the site of a former Iberian town, by the Turia River in the province of Edetania. This port city, less consid- ered by travellers than the cosmopolitan chic beach city of Barcelona and the vibrant historic capital of Madrid, has an authentic Spanish vibe with distinct, intricate architecture, history, culture, charming cafes, sprawling parks, and bohe- mian boutique shops. Its breathtaking beaches with miles of deep golden sand in- clude Cabanyal, Malvarrosa, and Patacona, a stone’s throw from the centre of the city and its many attractions. El Cabanyal takes its name from the old fishermen’s quarter, but the Valencians still call it Las Arenas, after the old spa of the same name which has now been converted into a lux- ury hotel resort. Close to Marina de Valencia, you will find plenty of restaurants, leisure facilities, and accommodation. La Malvarrosa is the most famous and well-known of all the beaches in Valencia which has inspired many great artists. It was once a swampy area before being transformed into a hollyhock flower plantation in the middle of the 19th centu- ry. The mythical song ‘La China de Ayer’ by Spanish singer Antonio Vega was first heard here, and the writer Manuel