Lliria Vacation Rentals

Lliria is known throughout Spain as the "City of Music", due to its two Music Colleges. These Colleges each have their own Orchestras, and hold regular concerts, often inviting other Bands and Orchestras from Spain and abroad. At fiesta time, the College bands march through the streets, entertaining visitors and locals alike.
The older part of the town is very pretty, with a mixture of whitewashed houses, ancient architecture, and winding cobbled streets leading upwards, from the 17th Century Iglesia de la Asunción (Church of the Ascension) in the Main Square, past the 14th Century Arab Bakery, to the 13th Century Iglesia de la Sangre (Church of the Blood) - the first Church in the Valencian Community to be classed as a National Monument. Sitting opposite the church is a much more contemporary building - the Archaeological Museum, where you can find information about Lliria's ancient history, which dates back to pre-roman times. In the summer, the tourist office has information about "Històries Nocturnes" - guided tours in the summer evenings that combine sightseeing with theatre performances, local cuisine and music.
There are some great restaurants in Lliria, including the award-winning "La Taula"; and "Casa Segunda", as well as much cheaper bars and cafes, where "Menu Del Dia" at lunchtime, consisting of three courses, wine, and coffee, can be had for less than 9 Euros. In the evenings, there are numerous bars with outside seating, selling cold beer and tapas.
The area makes an excellent base for exploring the surrounding countryside. There is a pleasant riverside walk from Lliria to the San Vicente Hermitage - very popular with locals on summer weekends, while a few kilometres further on, you'll find the Sierra Calderona Natural Park. There are Stables near Lliria which hire horses for trips into the Park, and the Tourist Office in Lliria has details of local hiking and Mountain biking trails. Around 20 minutes further up the Turia valley, you'll find the small town of Chelva. There is a well-marked River walk here, which takes in swimming holes, scenic views, and an ancient tunnel that at one time diverted water from the river to a small electricity generating station. On the outskirts of the town you can also find the remains of a Roman aqueduct that carried water from the nearby lake to the town. Just 10 minutes further on is the stunningly pretty village of Chulilla, clinging to the edge of a deep gorge, by apparently little more than willpower. A large Moorish castle towers above the town. Away from the Turia Valley, the historic town of Sagunto, with its huge hilltop castle, is a 40 minute drive to the North, while the Motor-racing circuit at Cheste is roughly the same distance south.
If you tire of driving around the Countryside, then why not let the train take the strain? Lliria lies at the end of the Valencia City Metro line. Trains run into the city roughly every 30 minutes from 6am until 10.30pm, and cost 4.50 Euros return. Journey time is around 45 minutes.
Valencia City has a wealth of attractions - Adults will marvel at the modern architecture of Santiago Calatrava, at the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències (City of Arts and Science), while adults and kids alike will love its contents - an IMAX cinema, a Science Museum, and Europe's largest Oceanographic Centre, not to mention a state-of-the-art Opera House, and pleasant gardens and streams. Kids will also love the Bioparc - this is regarded as one of the best Animal Parks in Europe, and houses Animals and Birds from Africa and Madagascar. The Park is well laid out, with hidden fences and ditches to separate the animals - in some places you can almost reach out and touch giraffes, meerkats, buffaloes, and more.
If traditional architecture is more your style, then head for the old City, and explore the Cathedral, with its high Migulete bell-tower, or the Basilica, housing the Virgen de los Desemparados (Virgin of the Forsaken Ones). Head northwards to find the Torres del Serrano (The Serrano Towers) - built on the City Walls, or through the Barrio del Carmen, with its trendy bars and restaurants, to the Torres del Quart.
Valencia is, of course, the home of that most traditional Spanish dish, the Paella (pronounced Pa-EH-ya, not Pie-ella!), and one of the nicest places to enjoy it is at one of the beachside restaurants along the Paseo Maritimo which runs Northwards from Valencia Port for several miles.

Fiestas are a way of life in every Spanish town, and Lliria is no exception. The two main fiestas of the year are the Fiesta de San Miguel, in the last two weeks of September, and the Fiesta de San Vicente Ferrer, on April 29th. And of course, don't forget one of Spain's biggest Fiestas, the Fiesta of St Joseph - otherwise known as Las Fallas. This fiesta takes place in March, when hundreds of huge sculptures are erected throughout Valencia City, and in many of the larger Valencian towns, including Lliria. What follows is a week of parties, fireworks, music, and tradition, culminating in the burning of all the sculptures on March 19th, the Feast of St Joseph. Although trying to park in the City during Fiesta time is a nightmare, the Metro hours are extended during Las Fallas, with trains running to and from Lliria throughout the night for the last few days of the festival.
Lliria also makes a good base from which to visit Spain's messiest fiesta, La Tomatina, held in nearby Buñol on the last Wednesday in August. More than 100 tonnes of over-ripe tomatoes are brought into the town in trucks. At around midday, Water cannons signal the start of the biggest food fight you've ever seen. After exactly one hour the water cannons are fired again to signal the end of the fight, and everyone gets hosed down by fire trucks. If you're taking a camera, make sure it's splashproof!
Several budget airlines serve Valencia airport (VLC), around 25-30 minutes drive from Lliria, as well as the Spanish National carrier, Iberia. Other options are Alicante airport (ALC), around 2 hours drive South, or Barcelona (BCN), around 3 hours North. Valencia is also served by rail lines from Madrid and Barcelona. Travelling by car, head along the A-7 autovia until you reach the CV-35, and then turn onto it, in the direction of Lliria and Ademuz. Travelling time from the A-7 to Lliria is around 15-20 minutes.