Did you know? · Valencia
Valencia fun facts
Things you might not know about Valencia. Every fact comes from an official or primary source, named alongside it.
Updated October 2026
A Gothic exchange on the UNESCO list
La Lonja de la Seda was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1996. Built from 1483 under the architects Pere Compte and Joan Ivarra, it was first dedicated to the silk trade (whc.unesco.org).
Not all Calatrava
Santiago Calatrava designed most of the City of Arts and Sciences, but the striking roofs of the Oceanogràfic’s main buildings are by Félix Candela (cac.es).
A river turned into a garden
The Jardín del Turia runs about nine kilometres through the city in the old riverbed, crossed by 18 bridges (Visit Valencia).
A court that meets on Thursdays
Every Thursday at 12:00, the Tribunal de las Aguas meets at the Apostles’ Door of the cathedral to settle disputes over irrigation water, a tradition going back to Arab times (Visit Valencia).
Paella houses with a past
La Pepica says it has cooked rice on the seafront since 1898, and Casa Carmela that it was founded in 1922 and is run by the fourth generation (their own websites).
Questions and answers
Who designed the Oceanogràfic?
Its striking roofs are by Félix Candela (cac.es); Calatrava designed the other buildings of the City of Arts and Sciences.
Is the Lonja a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Yes, since 1996 (whc.unesco.org).