Valencian Community, Spain: Towns to Explore on Foot

The Valencian Community stretches along Spain’s eastern Mediterranean shore, where ancient Iberian settlements, Roman foundations, Moorish rule and a medieval kingdom have layered a rich cultural landscape. Its mix of sunny beaches, rugged inland mountains and fertile river valleys offers historic towns, lively festivals and a world‑renowned rice cuisine. Neywo offers a free audio guide for the Valencian Community, covering 9 cities, 256 narrated places and 14 walking tours.

Exploring the Valencian Community

Alicante

Alicante’s skyline is dominated by Santa Bárbara Castle, perched on Mount Benacantil and offering panoramic views of the city and harbour. The Archaeological Museum of Alicante displays artefacts from the Iberian, Roman and Moorish periods, while the Co‑Cathedral of St. Nicholas of Bari and the Basilica of Saint Mary showcase the city’s religious heritage.

Benidorm

In Benidorm, the Museu Boca del Calvari presents local art and history in a restored chapel setting. Nearby, Tossal de la Cala provides a rugged viewpoint over the coastline, and the Mirador de la Creu offers a popular spot to watch the sunset across the Mediterranean.

Calpe

Calpe is known for the Banys de la Reina, a series of ancient rock‑cut pools that once served as Roman baths. The striking Muralla Roja apartment complex, with its vivid red geometry, contrasts with the traditional Church of Our Lady of the Snow, which sits in the old town centre.

Dénia

Dénia’s cultural highlights include the Archaeological Museum, which traces the town’s past from Iberian times to the present, and the Ethnographic Museum, which displays traditional crafts and customs. The imposing Castell de Dénia crowns the hill above the harbour, while the Monastery of Loreto adds a tranquil spiritual note to the landscape.

Peñíscola

Peñíscola’s most iconic sight is its Templar castle, a formidable fortress that juts out into the sea and offers sweeping vistas. The nearby Badum Tower once watched for pirate ships, and the church of Our Lady of the Ermitana and the Porta de Sant Pere gate complete the historic centre’s charm.

Sagunto

Sagunto’s Museu Històric de Sagunt gathers artefacts from the Iberian settlement that once stood here, while the Cárcel Castle and the larger Sagunto Castle remind visitors of the town’s strategic importance through the ages. The Creu de la Victòria, a triumphal cross, marks the site of a historic victory celebrated each year.

Valencia

Valencia boasts the Lonja de la Seda, a UNESCO‑listed Gothic silk exchange that reflects the city’s mercantile golden age. The futuristic City of Arts and Sciences complex houses museums, an opera house and an oceanographic park. The Valencia Cathedral, with its mix of architectural styles, holds the reputed Holy Grail, and the Monastery of Sant Miquel dels Reis offers a quiet riverside retreat.

Villajoyosa

Villajoyosa is famous for the Valor Chocolate Museum, where visitors can learn about the town’s long chocolate‑making tradition. The Casa Museo la Barbera dels Aragonés presents a restored historic home, while Vilamuseu displays archaeological finds from the local area. The colourful Villa Giacomina, a modernist mansion, adds an artistic touch to the seafront.

Xàbia

In Xàbia, the Museu Soler Blasco showcases works by the local painter Joaquín Sorolla and other regional artists. La Casa del Cable, a renovated cable house, now hosts exhibitions and cultural events. The Chapel of El Pòpul and the chapel of the Calvary provide peaceful spots for reflection amid the town’s scenic coves.

Culture, festivals and cuisine

Language is a living part of daily life here; Spanish is official throughout the region, while Valencian—the local name for Catalan—is also official and understood by most residents. Public celebrations punctuate the calendar: the Falles festival fills Valencia with towering sculptures, music and fireworks each March, Alicante honours Saint John with the Fogueres de Sant Joan, and Buñol’s world‑famous Tomatina turns the streets red with ripe rice‑based dishes. On 9 October the community marks James the Conqueror’s entry into Valencia in 1238. Rice remains the cornerstone of the local gastronomy; while Valencian paella is known worldwide, the region’s fertile coastal plain supports a variety of rice‑based recipes that reflect centuries of agricultural ingenuity.

Explore with Neywo

Download the Neywo app to experience the Valencian Community at your own pace. The free audio guide includes 14 walking tours that lead you through the historic streets, monuments and landscapes described above. As you reach each place, the app tells its story instantly, with no group to follow and no set schedule. Narration is available in 11 languages, letting you hear the region’s history, legends and traditions in the language you prefer. Whether you’re strolling through Valencia’s Old Town, climbing the cliffs of Peñíscola or savouring a plate of arroz in Alicante, Neywo turns every step into a discovery.