The Barrio del Carmen is located in the heart of the City of Valencia, in the center of the old town. It is one of the largest medieval quarters in Europe. A very charming place that has become one of the main centers of leisure and culture of the city.
It is a neighborhood that grew enclosed between two walls, one Muslim and another Christian, in order to better defend the city. At first, Monasterio de Nuestra Señora del Carmen was built outside the Muslim walls in 1281. It was not until 1356 that the new Christian wall was built, leaving the monastery within the city limits and creating what we now know as Barrio del Carmen.
What to see in the Barrio del Carmen
This is a place to get lost, to go slowly discovering its nooks and secrets, its narrow alleys, beautiful squares, beautiful historic buildings and bohemian and multicultural environment. The Barrio del Carmen is full of terraces, bars, restaurants, markets and shops. During the day, it is a lively area where you breathe the true essence of Valencia. By the evening, it is an ideal place to go for dinner, tapas and go out for a drink at any of the many local music bars and discos. Some of them are really stylish that they are usually open until 3.00 am.
The highlights of this legendary district monuments are: the Towers Serranos, the Quart Towers, both are emblems of the city, the Catedral de Valencia, Lonja de la Seda and Mercado Central. As for the museums, we can find the museum of the nineteenth century, el Museo Valenciano de Arte Moderno, el Museo de la Prehistoria and el Museo de Etnología.
Our route through the Barrio del Carmen
One of the most famous and lively streets is Calle Roteros. We recommend starting the journey to this charming neighborhood here, following the Calle Na Jordana, where we can see Puente de las Artes. Then turning on to calle Guillem de Castro to finish in Calle de Quart, next to Jardín Botánico.
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