Mysteries And Symbols Walk, Spanish

Overview

This Spanish-language walk spends two hours on the darker corners of Valencia's old city, from witchcraft trials and the Inquisition to converted Jews and persecutions driven by gender or free thought. The guide, who waits by the fountain at Plaza de la Virgen with a yellow umbrella, follows a route through Ciutat Vella with eight stops in total. The first three are the Romanesque Puerta del Palau of the Cathedral, Plaza de la Reina and Plaza Redonda, and the rest stay unlisted.

The stories range wide. There is the figure of the madman, dark legends around the Borja family and the unfair reputation that fell on Lucrecia, the lights and shadows in the life of Juan Luis Vives, and the mythical tale of the Holy Grail. Dragons, bats and the occasional goblin also put in an appearance, according to the tour's own description.

The walk is listed on GuruWalk. It is free to reserve, pay what you want at the end, and reviewers describe the guide's storytelling with real enthusiasm, saying she makes you want to keep learning about the city's history.

Itinerary

1. Meet at Plaza de la VirgenThe guide waits in front of the fountain at Plaza de la Virgen with a yellow umbrella.
2. Puerta del PalauThe route starts at the Romanesque gate of the Cathedral, one of the three stops named on the GuruWalk page.
3. Plaza de la ReinaThe walk continues to Plaza de la Reina, the second named stop on the route.
4. Plaza RedondaThe third named stop is Plaza Redonda. The route has 8 stops in total, and the GuruWalk page shows only the first 3.
5. Further stops unlistedThe remaining stops are not published on the GuruWalk listing. The tour description says the route also visits alleys where the macabre and sinister come to light in ancient chronicles.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points before reserving a spot on this GuruWalk walk.

• Spanish only. The tour runs in Spanish, with no other language offered. Travellers without comfortable Spanish will struggle to follow the storytelling, which is the whole point of the route.
• Pace and duration. The walk lasts 2 hours with 8 stops. It is described as designed for everyone.
• Finding the guide. The guide waits in front of the fountain at Plaza de la Virgen with a yellow umbrella. That umbrella is the marker to look for.
• No pickup service. Pickup is not included. Everyone makes their own way to Plaza de la Virgen for the start.
• An engaged guide. Reviewers describe the guide telling the stories with great enthusiasm and love for the city, saying she makes you want to know more and more of the history.
• Tipping at the end. Booking is free and guests pay the guide what they think the walk was worth at the end.

Common issues. The GuruWalk listing does not state a group size limit, an accessibility policy or a minimum number for the walk to run. The walk is Spanish only, which rules it out for anyone without the language. Nothing is listed as included beyond the guided route itself.

Questions People Ask About This Walk