Valencia and Sagunto Highlights

After your arrival to Valencia, discover this very scenic port city of which resides on Spain's southeastern coast, where the Turia River and Mediterranean Sea meet. Valencia, the third largest city in Spain, brilliantly combines the sun along with several beaches and a bustling city life to offer something for everyone. While close to the Costa del Azahar on the Mediterranean Sea, you will also visit Sagunto. This town in Eastern Spain, in the modern fertile comarca of Camp de Morvedre in the province of Valencia, holds a medieval and fiery past with incredible Roman remains and Moorish construction that still line the streets today.

Start your day with a comfortable and panoramic drive to Sagunto, approximately 30 km to the north. Your small group is always kept to under 20 guests to ensure a very intimate and personal experience with your English-speaking tour guide. Upon arriving to Sagunto, you will view the Roman influences which can be seen in the beautiful Teatro Romano whose original structure would have housed up to 6,000 spectators. Built in the second century, this beautiful amphitheater has undergone careful restoration so that it can still be used today. Admire the view which surrounds it; dramatic cliff sides and the nearby castle.

View attractive architecture around the Plaza Mayor, including the beautiful gothic Santa Maria Parish church which dates to 1334 and is complete with gargoyles. The oldest Christian church is the 13th century Iglesia del Salvador. The remains of a complex series of Arabic walls can also be found around the city and a stroll through La Juderia, or Jewish Quarter, makes for a very memorable part of your day. Some of the best-preserved architecture can be found in this area, from the wobbly little houses to the winding streets which twist and turn into each other, making this undoubtedly Sagunto's most charming area.

You will then return to Valencia, a city known as the City of Arts and Sciences, view futuristic structures that include a planetarium, oceanarium and an interactive museum. Be provided a complete and comprehensive panoramic driving tour as well as a walking tour of the old quarter. Did you know Valencia has the largest inner-city urban park in the whole of Europe? The famous Turia park, which used to be a river, is only one of five public parks in Valencia.

Make a visit to the Cathedral, standing on the site of a former mosque which dates from 1262. The Cathedral has been added to and modified many times over the centuries. The city has a vibrant old center with small streets and medieval buildings, and you will continue your viewing to the magnificent Gothic building of La Lonja de la Seda (the silk exchange), declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Next, make your way to the Baroque building of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Forsaken. Our Lady of the Forsaken is a Catholic apparition attributed to the Virgin Mary. She is the patroness of Valencia and one of seven patrons of the Autonomous communities of Spain. She appears with a lily in one hand and in the other, she carries the baby Jesus who bears the cross in his arms.

Be given some free time for self-exploration and to shop for souvenirs before you are returned to the port area and your ship.