Ciutat Vella translates to “Old City” in Valencian, and the district houses some of the city’s most important sites as well as the city’s most important neighborhood: El Carmen. Among the numerous sites you’ll find in Ciutat Vella are the Ajuntament (City Hall), Palau de la Generalitat Valenciana, Cortes Valencianas, Diputación (Palacio Batlia), and the Bolsa de Valencia (Palacio de los Boil de Arenós).

The Mercat Central (the jewel of the city’s traditional markets with its Modernist architecture), a variety of famous art and cultural centers, and a number of churches including the Catedral de Valencia (la Seu), San Juan del Hospital, Santa Catalina, San Juan del Mercado, and the Basílica de los Desamparados are also located in this neighborhood. Last but not least, this is the best district to sample the orxata (horchata), a typical drink from Valencia that is made from the chufi nut, sugar, and a hint of cinnamon, ideally from the city’s 2 best horchaterías found in Plaza de Santa Catalina: El Siglo and Horchatería Santa Catalina.