Antonio's Walk, Spanish And Italian

Overview

Antonio's walk covers the historic centre of Valencia in Spanish and Italian, running for 2 hours 30 minutes and taking in a long list of monuments across Ciutat Vella. The route sets out from the main entrance of the Post and Telegraph Building on Plaça de l'Ajuntament and works through squares, churches and palaces from the Roman, Gothic, Muslim and Christian layers of the city. The GuruWalk listing describes it as an intense cultural and heritage itinerary spread over several kilometres of the old town.

The full sequence named by the guide runs from the Town Hall area through San Martín and San Vicente Mártir Street, past the Palace of the Marquis of Dos Aguas and the Round Square, on to the Cathedral, the Miguelete Tower and the Roman archaeology around Almoina Square, then across to the Serranos Towers, El Carmen and the Central Market, finishing at the Silk Exchange. Sixteen stops are listed in total. Along the way the guide covers the Christian conquest of the city by Jaime the First, the Water Tribunal and the patroness Basilica of Our Lady of the Forsaken.

This is a GuruWalk walk run by an independent guide, not a company, and the guide states plainly on the GuruWalk page that he does not carry an umbrella of any colour to the meeting point. Reviews in both Spanish and Italian describe a guide who is entertaining, knowledgeable and good at holding a group's attention. It suits travellers comfortable in Spanish or Italian who want a long, dense route rather than a short introduction.

Itinerary

1. Meet at the Post and Telegraph BuildingThe meeting point is the main entrance of the Post and Telegraph Building on Plaça de l'Ajuntament. The guide carries no umbrella, so look for him directly rather than for a coloured sign.
2. Town Hall SquareThe walk opens at the square itself, with the City Hall and the Post and Telegraph Office among the stops named here.
3. Royal Parish of San MartínThe church of San Martín and San Vicente Mártir Street follow, moving into the older street fabric of the centre.
4. Palace of the Marquis of Dos AguasThe palace facade is the third stop shown in the itinerary; the route names 16 stops in total, with the remainder continuing toward the Cathedral, El Carmen and the Silk Exchange.
5. Serranos Towers and El CarmenLater stops named in the description include the Serranos Towers, Caballeros Street, the church of San Nicolás, Negrito Square and the murals of El Carmen.
6. Finish at the Silk ExchangeThe route ends at the Central Market and the Silk Exchange, a UNESCO World Heritage building.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points drawn from the GuruWalk listing and from what reviewers say about this walk.

• Language choice. The walk runs in Spanish and Italian, so book it only if you can follow one of those two languages comfortably. Reviews appear in both languages.
• Pace and distance. The route covers several kilometres of historic centre packed into 2 hours 30 minutes, so expect to be on your feet most of that time. Wear shoes you can walk in for the full duration.
• Finding the guide. The guide states on the GuruWalk page that he does not carry an umbrella, red, yellow or green, and that he does not belong to a guide company. Meet him at the main entrance of the Post and Telegraph Building and identify him there.
• Guide style. Reviewers describe the guide as entertaining, well informed and good at holding attention, with one Italian reviewer saying the group felt like a family holiday. Expect an energetic delivery rather than a dry recitation.
• Monument entries. The walk passes the main monuments but the GuruWalk listing does not state that any interior entries are included. Budget separately for anything you want to go inside, such as the Cathedral or the towers.
• Weather. The route runs through squares and streets of the historic centre. The GuruWalk listing does not mention any indoor alternative, so plan for the conditions on the day.

Common issues. The guide himself flags two things: he carries no umbrella or coloured marker, and he is independent rather than part of a guide company, so first-time free-tour users may need to adjust how they find him. The route is long, 2 hours 30 minutes across several kilometres, which may not suit anyone who struggles with extended walking. No pickup is offered, and the GuruWalk page does not state any policy on cancellations, group size or accessibility, so check the GuruWalk page before booking if any of those matter to you.

Questions People Ask About This Walk