Valencia

Valencia is the perfect year round destination. With beaches for sun worshippers, spectacular festivals, some stunning new architecture, fantastic nightlife and superb restaurants, it offers something for every one.

Follow Footprint's Ten of the best and you will soon get a feel for this vibrant city.

1. Don't miss the fiery festival of Las Fallas. Each neighbourhood vies to create the finest falla (a towering wax or papier-mâché creation), although all of them end up in flames.

2. Have an early breakfast at the Modernista market, pick up some picnic supplies and head to the beaches at El Palmar where you can lunch in the dunes under the pine forest.

3. Climb the Micalet, Valencia's famous tower, for a fantastic bird's eye view of the city. The tower is part of the cathedral, where you can see the Holy Grail in a theatrically gloomy Gothic chapel.

4. Shop ‘til you drop in the cool Barri del Carme, where you'll find all kinds of unusual fashions, plus a fabulous array of bars to sip a cocktail.

5. The brilliant Ciutat de les Arts I les Ciències is not to be missed. Scare yourself silly in the shark tank or marvel at the beluga whales as they flirt with visitors.

6. Visit the sublime Llotja, one of the most beautiful civic Gothic buildings in Spain. Pick out your favourite X-rated sin on the main doorway, where the 14th Century sculptors let their sordid imaginations run riot.

7. Take a boat ride at dusk across the Llac Albufera, where you are bound to see a wonderful variety of bird life. Follow it with a traditional paella in the village of El Palmar.

8. Escape the summer heat and cool off in the medieval walled city of Morella, spectacularly set in the hills of the Maestrat/Maestrazago region. It's a fantastic area for hiking too.

9. Take in Benicàssim's famous festival of alternative music, which takes place very August.

10. Go diving in the rocky coves around Xàbia, a pretty Costa Brava town or hike up the Parc Natural Montgó where you'll get breathtaking views across the bay.

Reproduced by kind permission of Footprint Books. To order a copy of Footprint Valencia (£7.99), click here.

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