Barrio del Carmen
Barrio del Carmen, also known as El Carme, is one of the oldest and most famous neighborhoods in Valencia. It is located in the northwest of the historic city center and is surrounded by two walls: the Muslim wall from the 11th century to the east and the new Christian wall to the west.
This neighborhood is known for its bohemian and alternative lifestyle. Its streets are full of colorful graffiti, impressive murals, and political and social messages. You will also find vintage clothing stores, record shops, and independent bookstores that add originality to the neighborhood.
Barrio del Carmen is also home to many medieval guilds, some of which had very interesting professions. For example, “els blanquers” (whitewashers) gave their name to the Blanqueries area, “els caputxers” were responsible for creating hoods used in mourning periods, but only “els corredors d’orella” were responsible for announcing the announcement of the Virgin. “Els velluters” (velvet weavers) were crucial, with an infinite number of weaving workshops that inhabited Valencia and gave rise to the Colegio Mayor de la Seda, an institution that can be visited today by visiting the Silk Museum.
This neighborhood is also known for its rich culinary heritage, with numerous bars and restaurants to discover in the narrow, labyrinthine medieval streets. But Barrio del Carmen is not just a place to eat and drink. We are talking about the Ciutat Vella area with a thousand-year history and magnificent examples of medieval architecture, rich artistic heritage, hundreds of historical anecdotes, and a source of many local legends.
Address: Barrio del Carmen, 46003 Valencia, Spain.
Ruzafa
home to artists and people from different nationalities. It is located east of the train station, all the way to Avenida de Peris y Valero. Ruzafa is considered the trendiest and most up-to-date neighborhood in Valencia.
This neighborhood was a town until 1877, and some of its historic buildings still stand. Among them is Ruzafa Market, designed by Julio Bellot Senet in the 1950s, which is the heart and soul of the neighborhood. It has a colorful facade and is located opposite the baroque church of San Valero and San Vicente Mártir, and the surrounding terraces are often a popular choice for lunch.
Ruzafa is known for its rich gastronomic offer, which has played a big role in its development. The city’s best chefs have chosen Ruzafa as the place for their most daring restaurant ventures. You can also find food from all over the world in places like Doña Petrona, Nozomi Sushi Bar, Bouet, Fierro, and La Taquería la Llorona. Its craft breweries, such as Olhöps o Ruzanovol, and cafes, such as Dulce de Leche, La Más Bonita, and Bluebell Coffee, with their tempting choices of cakes and cookies, are definitely worth a visit.
Various cultural amenities have been added to long-standing businesses. Meanwhile, Obsolete Letterpress print shop, Gotham comic book store, and designer offering goods at Gnomo are some of the biggest names in the area. It is also worth mentioning Ubik Café, a cafe-bookstore selling publications in various languages.
When night falls, Ruzafa’s attention shifts to bars, and independent music can be heard live in smaller music venues and mixed in DJ sessions at nightclubs such as Nylon, Electropura, and Play.
