Below is my review of the 5-star Caro Hotel that I wrote for Trip Advisor. We would definitely stay here again as there are 26 rooms, all unique, and located within Seu-Xerea neighborhood. 💯 The hotel was once a 14th-century Gothic palace. They build around the history, preserving it from an archeological stand point, and blending it together with a modern design. The mansion was once owned by the Marquis de Caro and is the city’s only designated historical monument hotel. Inside you will find a section of the 12th-century Arab wall of Valencia, mosaics from the 1st century BC, and parts of the Roman Circus (a Roman Circus was an open-air venue used for chariot races and other games).
Trip Advisor Review:
This hotel! One of the top 5 hotels from my travels over the years.
1st— The hotel is riddled with history. And it’s easy to “learn more” by scanning the QR code. There were old perfume vials and remains from a gothic fireplace in our room. You don’t have to leave the hotel to get a history lesson about the incredible city of Valencia.
The ruins from the gothic fireplace in our room
2nd—Location, location, location. You’re right by Plaza de la Virgen and Plaza de la Reina with La Catedral. It’s quiet yet a few steps and you’re in the heart of the Ciutat Vella.
3rd —The amenities are abundant! We didn’t want for anything. Complimentary snacks and beverages, toiletries for the bathroom, robes/slippers. Sweets to welcome us and then on the bed in the evening. We had our choice of pillows and the bed was quite comfortable.
4th—The people! The staff were exceptional. Shout out to Alejandro who helped us get check in and made reservations for us at the best restaurant for paella—Raco del Turia, a place where the locals eat.
We will definitely be back and I highly recommend for anyone coming to Valencia. Thanks for an amazing stay!!
My advice: When you love a place with your whole heart, don’t wait 37 years to return! Oh, how I have missed you, Valencia.❤️💛❤️
On one hand, it’s so different—bigger, even more vibrant, more modern (duh…that’s what I get for waiting so long). On the other hand, it’s still the same—seeped in rich history, unforgettable architecture, and amazing paella.
I barely had two days here but what a memorable two days they were. We walked everywhere and saw everything we could (in Español): Plaza de la Reina, Plaza de la Virgin, La Catedral de Valencia, Plaza del Mercado, La Lonja de la Seda, La Plaza de Ayuntamiento, Mercado Colon, El Barrio del Carmen, Basílica de la Virgen de los Desamparados…
Plus we went to El Mueso Fallero de Valencia to see the best “ninots” that have been spared by the fire of Las Fallas over the years.
Pictured is the spared ninot from 1988. Ninots are the individual sculptures or groups of sculptures that make up the larger Falla. Las Fallas are large sculptural monuments, often satirical and deal with the socio-cultural or political events of the year. Las Fallas are made by the individual neighborhoods and seen in streets and plaza durng the festival in March. They are then burned on the evening of March 19th (La Crema), which symbolizes renewal.I am standing by the 1988 poster that advertised Valencia’s world renowned festival, Las Fallas. Why 1988? That is the year I experienced it. Some day I will write a post to share more — for now, know Las Fallas are incredible!! A definite add to the bucket list.
We strolled the Jardín Del Turia, which is a 5.6 mile-long lush green park that used to be the Turia River before it was diverted due to flooding in 1957. (To name a few things) The river bed is the largest urban park in Spain and holds the Palau de la Música, bike paths, refreshment stands, and the otherworldly looking Cuidad de Las Artes y Las Ciencias.
La Cuidad de las Artes y Las Ciencias wasn’t around 37 years ago. The last major part was finished in 2005 and it is one of the 12 treasures of Spain. I could spend days here under the blue Valencian skies. The oceanarium, I hear, is world class.Oceanogràfic València La Catedral de Valencia – the formal name is La Catedral del Santo Cáliz. It’s the home of two Francisco de Goya paintingsInside the Cathedral The Renaissance frescoes on the ceiling of 10 angels were hidden behind marble plates for decades before they were discoveredin 2004.Home of the Holy Grail! Here’s the story of how that came to be!
We walked by the former finca (apartment) where I lived with my Spanish family at 17 Reina Don Hermana. I so wish I could find my Spanish family. I believe my madre Española is/was in France.
La puerta de 17 Reina da Hermana The street! My former stomping ground.
We drank and ate our share of Valencian favorites—Horchata de chufas, which are tiger nuts grown in nearby Alboraya, con Fartons; Paella Valenciana con pollo y conejo* (Valencia is the birth place of paella); chocolate con churros, patatas bravas, ensalada Valenciana, local wine. I had Fanta Naranja (very different from the Orange Fanta we have in the USA) and forgot to have an orange—which means I need to come back soon because the oranges are to die for. We also had drinks with a friend from my time here. Neither one of us has aged a bit!
*Paella Vaenciana also has snails, which were left out by my request due to an allergy. Here are other ingredients in Paella Valenciana: chicken, rabbit, green beans, rice, saffron, and butter beans. I know there are a few other spices and olive oil.
One of the best Horchaterías in Valencia – Santa Catalina. I remember drinking horchata on my first day in Valencia in September 1987 and falling in love. 🥰(Hot) chocolate y churros + Horchata. Missing are Fartons, which you dunk in the horchata. I couldn’t find buñuelos this time, which are more popular during Las Fallas.Eating tapas and drinking Fanta at a gluten free restaurant, Miracle. They even had 3 different kinds of gluten free croquetas!Paella Valenciana at Raco del Turia. One word—unbelievable. This is the real stuff. Paella was born in Valencia. We also had a traditional Valencia Salad con olives!
Hasta luego, Valencia. Ya echo de menos a ti.
This is the bridge I crossed daily as I walked to La Universidad de Valencia (Universitat de València) for classes
Update—got my orange and a mandarin this morning before leaving for Barcelona. Do NOT miss Mercat Central de Valencia (Central Market of Valencia). The most amazing indoor market…hams, fruit, vegetables, spices, paellas, seafood…you name it! I was blown away. I saw a red pepper that dwarfs all other red peppers! The Valencian tomatoes, the white strawberries, the regular strawberries 🍓, the cheeses, oh my…I would be a very happy person starting off my day here each morning.
Pictures below…
The Mercat Central (Central Market) was an open air market from 1839 and then the current building was inaugurated in 1928
Nothing quite like a Valencian orange. I used to eat them right off the tree when I lived here
It’s been 37 years since I have set foot in extraordinary España 🇪🇸. I have had plenty of opportunities but nothing “felt right”. Deep down I know why—it’s because any trip there will never be the same as it was my sophomore year when I attended the Universitat de Valencia for two semesters. That school year shaped the person I am today. It made me crave cultures—that there were fascinating things to learn about, interesting people to know, and adventures to experience. That year served as the cornerstone of everything I love about travel.
I was stupid…I should have gone by now, more than once. I was “saving” the next time to walk the Camino De Santiago. But now I have the opportunity to return and I couldn’t be more excited!
We land in Barcelona in 8 hours, 45 minutes. Then we drive 3 1/2 hours to Valencia where we will spend 2 days exploring my old stomping grounds. Then back to Barcelona for the next 5 days.
Buckle up…Voy a volver!
ATL-BCN
I kept a journal when I was in España —this is the inside cover of that diario when I was 19 and 20 years old!
This was a vision board before we knew what vision boards were! Obviously my younger self liked the Spanish fiesta/nightlife.😉
Christina’s Journey Journal 