Ruzafa is one of Valencia’s most distinctive of its 87 neighborhoods and is just a short walk from the city centre, with metro and bus stops, but without all the crowds. The edge of the neighbourhood is right along the elegant Avenue del Regne de Valéncia, which eventually leads to the Turia Gardens. This author took a two-day walk all around Ruzafa to get a feel for the area and its people. Many things about Ruzafa are special; its colourful market offers fresh produce daily, the beautiful street art is abundant, and the shops are especially lovely if you are on the lookout for some thrifted items. Once traditional, it is now of Valencia’s most bohemian districts too.

There are over 20 vintage and second-hand stores in the neighborhood, including Reborn Vintage Atelier, Sakura Vintage, Nirvana Vintage, and Humana Vintage. While walking the streets of Ruzafa, you will pass a seemingly endless collection of small vintage shops and thrift stores, each with a variety of selections and enticing themes. Sakura Vinage, had a lot of classic Japanese pieces. The surrounding street art around the shops all painted Ruzafa as a very hip and artsy part of Valencia just waiting to be discovered by those who are new to the city.

The Plaza de Manuel Granero has a beautiful park that offers plenty of shade from the Valencian sun, and the walls surrounding it are covered with murals of nature and community. It’s a great place to stop for calm relaxation. The park includes public workout equipment and a playground for children. As well as some restaurants and cafes around it for a quick bite!

Beyond the Plaza de Manuel Granero is the Parque Central of Valencia, which has a playground, dog park, fountain, and lovely gardens- a nice place to picnic or escape from the city streets.

There are a bunch of tranquil cafes around the neighborhood. I sampled the refreshing mint lemonade at Jenin Brunch & Coffee, and it was delicious and perfect for a hot sunny day.

Calle de Centelles (Centelles Street) has rows of especially colorful apartment buildings and lots of tapas restaurants loved by locals! So many of the apartment buildings were painted in illustrious pastels all over Ruzafa, many with balconies with pretty awnings of green, red, and blue.

A lot of the streets in Ruzafa are lined with acacia trees that provided me with some much-needed shade as I was walking around during the siesta, the break in the day because of the summer heat.

Walking around in Ruzafa, I immediately noticed the colorful exterior of the Mercado de Russafa had a diverse selection of wines, cheeses, local crafts, produce, seafood, and meat, all from local vendors, and it was more popular than the supermarkets! The building itself was lovely and right next to the historical Parroquia de San Valero, a baroque-style Catholic Church built between 1676 and 1700. Originally, it was the site of a mosque before the “Reconquista” of Spain.

If you’re on the hunt for an area in Valencia that doesn’t have crowds of Calle Colón, Ruzafa is a great place to go, relax in the park, shop in the neighbourhood’s central market at local vendor stalls, and try the tapas restaurants and cafes. Get a taste of a local’s Valencia and go to Ruzafa. I recommend walking around with an iced coffee or a mint lemonade when you do. 😉

Report by Bridget Callahan

Article copyright ‘24/7 Valencia’

‘Ruzafa’ photos copyright Bridget Callahan /  ’24/7 Valencia’

Ruzafa Highlights:

• Humana Vintage
  Carrer de Sueca, 48, L’Eixample, 46006 València
• Jenin Brunch & Coffee
  Carrer de Matias Perelló, 13, L’Eixample, 46005 València
• Mercado de Ruzafa
  Plaça del Baró de Cortés, s/n, L’Eixample, 46006 València
• Nirvana Vintage
  C/ d’Albacete, 60, Extramurs, 46007 València
• Parque Central Valencia
  C. de les Filipines, s/n, L’Eixample, 46006 València
• Parroquia de San Valero
  Carrer del Pare Perera, 6, L’Eixample, 46006 València
• Plaza de Manuel Granero
  L’Eixample, 46006 València
• Reborn Vintage Atelier
  Carrer de Mossèn Femenia, 20, L’Eixample, 46006 València
• Sakura Vintage
  C/ de Cadis, 39, L’Eixample, 46006 València