Rapunzel Walk, English Only

Overview

This walk starts at the Torres de Serranos and spends two hours working down through the old centre toward the Mercat Central, all in English. From the towers the route follows the line of the old Via Augusta into the heart of Roman Valentia, then pushes on through the medieval core.

Along the way the walk passes the Cathedral, L'Almoina, the Basilica of the Virgin of the Forsaken, Plaza de la Virgen, Plaza Redonda, the Silk Exchange and the Central Market, among other stops. Everything is seen from the street: the GuruWalk page for this walk is clear that only the exteriors are visited. The guide covers the patroness of Valencia and the treasure inside the Cathedral, and she ends by answering questions and recommending further places to visit.

It suits travellers who want a single English-language sweep of the historic centre with a guide who goes deep on history and local tradition.

Itinerary

1. Meet at Torres de SerranosThe meeting point is the inside part of the towers facing the plaza. The guide carries a pink folder and accreditation and wears a long braid or a bun.
2. Walk the Via AugustaThe route moves from the towers toward the heart of Roman Valentia along the Via Augusta, with the guide covering the most important temples of the old city.
3. Cathedral and Almoina quarterThe walk passes the Cathedral, L'Almoina, the Archbishop's Palace, the Palace of the Borja and the Basilica of the Virgin of the Forsaken, with the story of the patroness and the Cathedral's treasure told along the way. Exteriors only.
4. Plazas of the old centrePlaza de la Virgen, Plaza de la Reina, Saint Catherine's Church and Plaza Redonda follow, threading through the squares at the centre of Ciutat Vella.
5. Silk Exchange and Central MarketThe full route has nine stops; the GuruWalk page names the first three and the main monuments.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points from the GuruWalk listing and from what travellers report will help you get the most from the two hours.

• Getting there. There is no pickup. You make your own way to the inside face of the Torres de Serranos facing the plaza, and the guide finds the group there. Arrive with time to spare, since the towers are a large landmark and the meeting spot is specific.
• Pace and distance. The walk covers the historic centre from the towers down to the Central Market over two hours, so expect steady city walking with frequent stops at monuments.
• Take it early. One reviewer specifically advised taking it as soon as you arrive.
• Exteriors only. No monuments are entered. The GuruWalk page states plainly that only the exteriors are visited, so plan separate visits to the Cathedral, the Silk Exchange or the towers if you want to go inside any of them.
• Questions welcome. The guide answers questions at the end, and reviewers found her knowledgeable well beyond the script, including on topics that came up spontaneously. Bring your questions about the city with you.
• Weather and comfort. The whole route is outdoors on city streets, so dress for the weather and wear shoes you can walk in for two hours.

Common issues. The GuruWalk page states up front that the walk covers exteriors only, so anyone expecting to go inside the Cathedral, the Silk Exchange or the towers will not get that here. There is no pickup and no transport of any kind, so the walk depends entirely on you reaching the Torres de Serrans on time. As with any outdoor city walk, bad weather will shape the experience, since no indoor alternative is described.

Questions People Ask About This Walk