See architecture and outdoor spaces that reflect how Valencia transitioned into one of Europe’s most sophisticated modern cities with this fascinating walking tour. As you will discover while meandering among the futuristic buildings in the City of Arts and Sciences, this cultural hub epitomizes Valencia’s vision for the future. Still, it is impossible to escape history as the city was founded more than 2,000 years. The oldest building that you will likely see is the 13th-century cathedral, which was built on a site that El Cid dedicated to the blessed Virgin. The ornate city hall and the Plaza de Toros bullring best represent Valencia’s neoclassical period. You can’t help but notice that the iconic Colosseum in Rome inspired the design of the bullring. Plaza Redonda shares a similar circular shape, a rarity in 19th-century Spain. Turia Park is unusual as it is a sunken oasis built along the former bed of the Turia River.