Valencia

El Café Madrid was a popular gathering place for Spain’s artists, intellectuals and bohemian types during the Franco era. Now part of a boutique-hotel, this bar-restaurant has gotten a 21st century reboot and is once again a nightlife hub. Master bartender Ivan Talens and chef Nacho Romero have brought fresh energy and new menus to this venerable establishment while continuing to celebrate the café’s history and traditions. You’ll travel from the yacht to the heart of Valencia.

It’s a short walk from the yacht to the center where you’ll pick up your bicycle and helmet. Following your guide, you’ll pedal through stretches of the Turia Gardens, the nine-kilommeter long greenway created from the former bed of the Turia River. Your first stop is the Serrano bridge whose towers guarded an entry into the city when it was completely walled. As you continue to ride, your guide will point out such sights and attractions as the Trinity Convent, Fine Arts Museum, and the Royal Gardens and Bridge.

Discover how a new generation is keeping Valencia’s artisanal heritage relevant in the 21st century on this tour. Begin with Vicente Gracia, one of Spain’s leading contemporary jewelers, who was fascinated by his own father’s gold and silver work. At the atelier, you’ll see how Gracia incorporates Hispano-Islamic influences into highly collectible designs that are worn by members of the Spanish Royal Family and discerning clients from around the world. The Lladró Museum celebrates the Spanish company founded in the 1950s by three brothers.

Discover the heritage, architecture and unique traditions of Valencia from both the comfort of the tour transport and on foot, walking the streets of its oldest neighborhoods. This exploration begins with a narrated drive along the Avenida del Puerto, past such landmarks as the bullring and the central station, into the heart of historic Valencia. The guided walk begins in the Plaza de la Merced, by the central market, a gorgeous 1928 structure. Nearby is La Lonja, the former silk exchange, whose grand Gothic style is a symbol of Valencia’s 15th-century Golden Age.

Dedicated foodies and casual home chefs will love this full-day experience that unlocks the tastes and techniques of Valencian cuisine, led by Chef Sole Ballester, daughter of culinary icon Pepa Romans. Chef Romans founded the first Michelin-starred restaurant in Valencia – Casa Pepa – which her daughter later operated. Like her famous mother, Chef Ballester grew up with a passion for Mediterranean cooking inspired by the Marina Alta region, and on this excursion she will pass her inherited knowledge on to you.

A short drive up the coast from modern-day Valencia brings you to one of the most important ancient cities on the Iberian Peninsula. Called Arse by the Iberians, it was colonized by the Romans who named it Saguntum, and it is now known as Sagunto. Your guided tour focuses on the layers of history found amid the ruins and monuments. A Sagunto native and experienced guide leads the fascinating and informative visit of the hillside castle complex where Hannibal, the famed general of Carthage, waged an epic battle that sparked a war with Rome.