Experience momentary pause in Spain’s sunshine city this summer, from East Midlands Airport
At a time when we’ve been sweltering in record-breaking heat, the idea of blocking out the sun might be appealing – offering an extra reason to visit Valencia from East Midlands Airport.
Spain’s third-largest city sits directly in the path of totality for a rare solar eclipse. On August 12 August, the sky will plunge into darkness for about a minute at sunset, with city rooftops, the Hemisfèric planetarium, or catamaran boats out on the open sea being recommended vantage points.
It’s actually a rare and brief break for a city that is famed for having around 300 days of sunshine every year and is emerging from the shadows cast by its larger and louder neighbours, Barcelona and Madrid.
With miles of palm tree-lined beaches, fragrant orange groves, rich artistic heritage and a thriving food scene as the birthplace of paella, Valencia has all the elements for an unforgettable holiday. It blends futuristic architecture, historic charm and Mediterranean lifestyle.
There are countless galleries for art lovers to explore including the ultra-modern City of Arts and Sciences which includes Europe’s largest aquarium, as well as regular street art tours around El Carmen - the cobbled Old Town with its medieval structures and Valencia Cathedral - or take a trip to UNESCO World Heritage Site La Lonja de la Seda (the Silk Exchange), a lavish gothic-style building, and one of the city’s top tourist attractions. Also, don’t miss the Mercado Central, one of Europe's largest fresh produce markets, housed in a breathtaking Art Nouveau building.
Valencia is incredibly flat and features over 200 kilometres of dedicated cycle lanes, making it an ideal city to explore by bike. Meanwhile Turia Garden offers a lush five-mile green ribbon of parkland running through the city, featuring walking tracks, sports facilities and playgrounds.
If all that wasn’t enough, there’s a packed programme of events this summer besides the solar eclipse. Among the highlights, the waterfront FAR festival from July 8-31 will be kicked off by Jean-Michel Jarre, the Valencia International Jazz Festivals runs from July 15-25 in historic venues around the Old Town, and the Medusa Sunbeach Festival from August 13-16 brings top global DJs to the area with mind-blowing electronic music shows.
Valencia is reached from East Midlands Airport through twice-weekly flights with Ryanair – flights can be booked here: Flights from East Midlands Airport | Search and buy flights | East Midlands Airport
Photo credit: Visit Valencia