Art Nouveau, Valencian style<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\nAt the end of the 19th<\/sup> century and the beginning of the 20th<\/sup> century, Valencia was enjoying a period of creative euphoria; the local bourgeoisie made every effort to fill the city with buildings that were modern, beautiful and functional. In Valencia, modernism was renowned for its use of iron, glass and ceramics, for its plant and sea-related motifs, for oranges, orchard produce and local festivals featured in mosaics and ironwork. It\u2019s a style with its own identity, dotted around squares, avenues and markets, and which today you can admire on a day\u2019s walking tour\u2026 or take in slowly over a few days.<\/p>\nRead also: Tour of modernist Barcelona<\/a><\/p>\nEstaci\u00f3n del Norte: the glorious welcome<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\nStart with one of the main points of arrival to the city. The Estaci\u00f3n del Norte<\/strong>, opened in 1917 and designed by Demetrio Ribes, is Valencia\u2019s introduction to modernism: an ornate fa\u00e7ade full of ceramics, orange trees and ears of wheat, and an interior that seems to say \u201cBon voyage\u201d in all languages (literally), through the wood, mosaics and ironwork. More than a railway station, it\u2019s an artistic showcase and a source of local pride: listed as an Historical Artistic Monument since 1961 and a Cultural Heritage Site since 1983. Take your time to study the detail before crossing the square towards the centre.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Estaci\u00f3n](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/volare.volotea.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/shutterstock_1287451420-1.jpg?resize=640%2C360&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\nMercado de Col\u00f3n: art, iron and delicious snacks<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\nJust off Ensanche, Col\u00f3n Market (1914\u20131916, Francisco Mora) is a cathedral of brickwork and light. The grand arched entrance, the towers and the metal framework beckon you in; once inside, caf\u00e9s and bustling bars do the rest. It\u2019s one of the finest examples of early 20th<\/sup> century Valencian modernism and is now a place for people to meet up at any time of day: for a breakfast of fartons<\/em> (a local speciality bun) and horchata, then back for a vermouth aperitif, or for dinner beneath its windows.<\/p>\n![\"Mercado](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/volare.volotea.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/shutterstock_2555203127.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\nMercado Central: domes, tiles and the taste of the city<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\nCarry on towards the Old Town to find the Central Market (1914\u20131928), a temple of iron and glass, where you can buy cured sausages, cheeses, fruit, and decide what you\u2019re going to eat. Take a good look at the domes, with a nod to orchard produce, in the light streaming through the skylights, and at the ceramics featuring the colours of the Valencian flag. Architecture and everyday life come together here; order a sandwich at the bar and watch the world go by. This is modernism in its purest form, and the ultimate setting for a taste of Valencian cuisine.<\/a><\/p>\nPalacio de las Comunicaciones (Post Office): giants and letters in the air<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\nAnother must-see awaits you in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento: the former Post Office building (1915\u20131922), by the Aragonese architect Miguel \u00c1ngel Navarro. Look up to admire the five allegorical figures representing the continents, as well as the winged messengers, locomotives and boats featured in the ornate fa\u00e7ade. No longer a post office, the building now hosts exhibitions and events, but the magnificent entrance used during its years of service is still in place. Step inside if it\u2019s open and walk across the foyer under the dome.<\/a><\/p>\nPalacio de la Exposici\u00f3n: modernism at its most \u201cgothic\u201d<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\nVisit the district of l\u2019Exposici\u00f3 for the Exhibition Hall (1909), built in a hurry for the Regional Exhibition. Its creator, Francisco Mora, combined modernism with a nod to medieval Valencia (La Lonja and the Serranos Towers come to mind), resulting in an elegant, photogenic building, now used for events and exhibitions. It\u2019s well worth a visit and stepping into its main hall (sal\u00f3n noble<\/em>) on the first floor, if open to the public.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Palacio](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/volare.volotea.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/shutterstock_8991940-1.jpg?resize=640%2C458&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\nCasa del Punt de Ganxo: sgraffito and enchanting balconies<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\nIn the Plaza de la Almoina, very close to the cathedral, you\u2019ll find this 1906 gem by Manuel Peris Ferrando. Its reddish fa\u00e7ade, the floral sgraffito and wrought-iron balconies are the ultimate example of Valencian modernism. Stop for a moment to admire the bay windows, the reliefs and the pointed profile that make it unique. A perfect demonstration of how this style could bring art to ordinary residential buildings.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\nCalle de la Paz and the surrounding area: a fa\u00e7ade-filled walk<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\nIf you want to continue this theme, walk down Calle de la Paz; it\u2019s one of the most stylish streets of the 19th<\/sup> century, full of buildings displaying stunning modernist features. Between the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, Cirilo Amor\u00f3s and the Gran V\u00eda, you\u2019ll also find the Casa Ferrer, period canopies such as the one above the entrance to the Teatro Olympia and photogenic fa\u00e7ades. A friendly tip: walk slowly, look up and pick out the floral and geometric motifs in the stone, the ironwork and the ceramics.<\/p>\n![\"fachadas](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/volare.volotea.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/shutterstock_398858983-2.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\nAnd by the sea\u2026<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\nIf you have any time left, cross the Turia Gardens towards Ayora and the port: the Palacete de Ayora, the Tinglados and the Edificio del Reloj are examples of how modernism was incorporated into the expansion towards the sea. Ideal for finishing off your tour in the sea breeze, before trying the local cocktail, agua de Val\u00e8ncia<\/em>, as the sun goes down.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\nYou may also be interested in: <\/strong>10 experiences to fall in love with Valencia<\/a><\/p>\nUseful tips for enjoying your tour<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n
Read also: Tour of modernist Barcelona<\/a><\/p>\n Start with one of the main points of arrival to the city. The Estaci\u00f3n del Norte<\/strong>, opened in 1917 and designed by Demetrio Ribes, is Valencia\u2019s introduction to modernism: an ornate fa\u00e7ade full of ceramics, orange trees and ears of wheat, and an interior that seems to say \u201cBon voyage\u201d in all languages (literally), through the wood, mosaics and ironwork. More than a railway station, it\u2019s an artistic showcase and a source of local pride: listed as an Historical Artistic Monument since 1961 and a Cultural Heritage Site since 1983. Take your time to study the detail before crossing the square towards the centre.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Just off Ensanche, Col\u00f3n Market (1914\u20131916, Francisco Mora) is a cathedral of brickwork and light. The grand arched entrance, the towers and the metal framework beckon you in; once inside, caf\u00e9s and bustling bars do the rest. It\u2019s one of the finest examples of early 20th<\/sup> century Valencian modernism and is now a place for people to meet up at any time of day: for a breakfast of fartons<\/em> (a local speciality bun) and horchata, then back for a vermouth aperitif, or for dinner beneath its windows.<\/p>\n Carry on towards the Old Town to find the Central Market (1914\u20131928), a temple of iron and glass, where you can buy cured sausages, cheeses, fruit, and decide what you\u2019re going to eat. Take a good look at the domes, with a nod to orchard produce, in the light streaming through the skylights, and at the ceramics featuring the colours of the Valencian flag. Architecture and everyday life come together here; order a sandwich at the bar and watch the world go by. This is modernism in its purest form, and the ultimate setting for a taste of Valencian cuisine.<\/a><\/p>\n Another must-see awaits you in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento: the former Post Office building (1915\u20131922), by the Aragonese architect Miguel \u00c1ngel Navarro. Look up to admire the five allegorical figures representing the continents, as well as the winged messengers, locomotives and boats featured in the ornate fa\u00e7ade. No longer a post office, the building now hosts exhibitions and events, but the magnificent entrance used during its years of service is still in place. Step inside if it\u2019s open and walk across the foyer under the dome.<\/a><\/p>\n Visit the district of l\u2019Exposici\u00f3 for the Exhibition Hall (1909), built in a hurry for the Regional Exhibition. Its creator, Francisco Mora, combined modernism with a nod to medieval Valencia (La Lonja and the Serranos Towers come to mind), resulting in an elegant, photogenic building, now used for events and exhibitions. It\u2019s well worth a visit and stepping into its main hall (sal\u00f3n noble<\/em>) on the first floor, if open to the public.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n In the Plaza de la Almoina, very close to the cathedral, you\u2019ll find this 1906 gem by Manuel Peris Ferrando. Its reddish fa\u00e7ade, the floral sgraffito and wrought-iron balconies are the ultimate example of Valencian modernism. Stop for a moment to admire the bay windows, the reliefs and the pointed profile that make it unique. A perfect demonstration of how this style could bring art to ordinary residential buildings.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n If you want to continue this theme, walk down Calle de la Paz; it\u2019s one of the most stylish streets of the 19th<\/sup> century, full of buildings displaying stunning modernist features. Between the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, Cirilo Amor\u00f3s and the Gran V\u00eda, you\u2019ll also find the Casa Ferrer, period canopies such as the one above the entrance to the Teatro Olympia and photogenic fa\u00e7ades. A friendly tip: walk slowly, look up and pick out the floral and geometric motifs in the stone, the ironwork and the ceramics.<\/p>\n If you have any time left, cross the Turia Gardens towards Ayora and the port: the Palacete de Ayora, the Tinglados and the Edificio del Reloj are examples of how modernism was incorporated into the expansion towards the sea. Ideal for finishing off your tour in the sea breeze, before trying the local cocktail, agua de Val\u00e8ncia<\/em>, as the sun goes down.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n You may also be interested in: <\/strong>10 experiences to fall in love with Valencia<\/a><\/p>\nEstaci\u00f3n del Norte: the glorious welcome<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/figure>\nMercado de Col\u00f3n: art, iron and delicious snacks<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/figure>\nMercado Central: domes, tiles and the taste of the city<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Palacio de las Comunicaciones (Post Office): giants and letters in the air<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Palacio de la Exposici\u00f3n: modernism at its most \u201cgothic\u201d<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/figure>\nCasa del Punt de Ganxo: sgraffito and enchanting balconies<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Calle de la Paz and the surrounding area: a fa\u00e7ade-filled walk<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/figure>\nAnd by the sea\u2026<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Useful tips for enjoying your tour<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n