Paella, Wine, Silk, and the REAL Holy Grail

You would easily assume the best place to experience Spanish culture is the capital Madrid, or even Barcelona with its fanciful art nouveau architecture. I thought the same, until I visited Valencia, Spain’s third largest city.

Valencia is the birthplace of the iconic Spanish rice dish, paella; it was once Spain’s wealthiest city thanks to its position at the end of the Silk Road; and its historic cathedral houses the infamous Holy Grail.

Yep, Valencia is the city to visit if you’re after a massive cultural download.

Or want to live forever.

With the help of a few knowledgeable tour guides, I sampled Valencia’s best wine and paella; shopped for authentic, locally made souvenirs; and delved into the city’s motley history, uncovering the real stories behind the Holy Grail and the role of silk in Valencia’s glorious golden century.

After a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and grail-sipping, I found the 6 best tours in Valencia that will give you a grasp on authentic Spanish…