What can we do this Christmas in Valencia?

Christmas 2018 has arrived 🙂 Are you going to be in Valencia?

If so, we recommend some very Christmas activities or traditions that you can enjoy on these dates 🙂

Christmas tree

The largest Christmas tree is located in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, in the heart of Valencia. Although the size is a little smaller, the Mercado de Colón is also very beautiful since the building is modernist and gives a special touch to the Christmas atmosphere :)

Christmas nativity scene

What Christmas decoration in Spain is considered the most traditional? Very good: the “Nativity Scene”.

The Nativity scene represents the birth of the baby Jesus with Mary, Joseph (Saint Joseph), an ox, a mule and the Three Wise Men who arrived from the East, and of course, the shepherds.
There are some that are really big, you will see beautiful handicrafts.

We recommend points where there are emblematic Nativity scenes in the center of Valencia. You will be able to enjoy these wonderful nativity scenes more or less until Three Kings Day (January 6).

• Town Hall Square: It is inside the Crystal Hall. They have used around 500 pieces to assemble the Nativity scene.
• Queen's Square: It is located next to the Valencia Cathedral, you will find an outdoor Christmas Nativity scene. After enjoying seeing the Nativity scene, you can see the Christmas market in the same square.
• Central Market: They usually place it in the heart of the market and there is also a Christmas tree.
• Columbus Market: In this market, you will see the tree and the Nativity scene at the same time 🙂
• Jorge Juan Shopping Gallery: Next to the Colón Market, the “Galería Comercial Jorge Juan” shopping center also prepares a very beautiful Nativity scene every year.

If you want to see a large Nativity scene, we recommend:

• Xátiva (Játiva): It is a city in the interior of Valencia and its Nativity scene is made to life size. There are also live animals such as ducks, geese, chickens, rabbits, pigs, goats...etc. It is 1,400 square meters long and a circuit is made to visit the entire Bethlehem. It is located in Alameda Jaime I, between the Post Office and the Xátiva Town Hall building.
• Meliana (Rock Nativity Scene): It is one of the largest in Valencia, a few years ago they started placing figures from all over Spain (in 2016, there will be about 7000 figures). The Belén is installed on Calle San Isidro, 44, under

Ice skating rink

The ice skating rink is already a classic in Valencia during Christmas 🙂 Perhaps the most famous is the one in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

There are more skating rinks at the Nuevo Centro Shopping Center, City of Arts and Sciences and Fun On Ice (next to the Bonaire Shopping Center)

Christmas market

Once again the city of Valencia will be filled with Christmas markets where you can find very traditional gifts and decorations such as the Nativity scenes 🙂

• Plaza de la Reina (Christmas Craft Fair): There will be 27 stalls selling artisan products from the Valencian Community. It is located in the square next to the Belén, the Cathedral and the Miguelete.
• Tapinería Market: This gourmet, fashion and art space becomes a Christmas market. It is located about 5 minutes from Plaza de la Reina, in the Barrio del Carmen.
• Cabanyal (Mediterrani Avenue): As you can see from the name, the “Mercado de Reyes en el Cabañal” is for the festival of the Three Wise Men. It will begin on January 3 and will remain until dawn on January 6. There you can find more than 200 stalls selling clothes, toys, jewelry...etc. at a very affordable price. (On Mediterrani Avenue)

New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve is one of the most special moments of the year 🙂

Do you know what you have to do on December 31 in Spain? You have to eat the lucky grapes with the 12 bells. I'm sure you are very lucky in 2019!

There will be a Fire Castle in the Town Hall Square too 🙂

Three Wise Men Parade

Like every year, the city of Valencia welcomes the Three Wise Men and the traditional Parade will be held on January 5th starting at 6:00 p.m.

The tour:

Departure: Paseo de la Alameda – Puente de Calatrava – Calle Justicia – General Palanca – General Tovar – Calle La Paz – Plaza de la Reina – Calle San Vicente – Calle San Vicent – Arrival: Plaza del Ayuntamiento

As you can see, Christmas in Spain lasts until January 6 (Three Wise Men's Day). We hope you have a wonderful Christmas and that your stay in Valencia these days is very very special 🙂

Team Hispania, Spanish school