Paterna ensconces curious underground houses and boasts a long-standing tradition in ceramic. What’s more, it’s surrounded by an outstanding natural setting.
Paterna, located in the vicinity of the city of Valencia, is an old ceramic production centre. Its star product is fired clay tiles covered in white enamel and decorated in red colours known as socarrat. A large collection of this art is on display at the city’s Ceramic Museum, a highly recommended visit.
To take best advantage of your holidays in Paterna, stop by the tourist information office when you arrive. Here you’ll find five guides that reveal all the city’s secrets: from a general guide, routes of the caves and places associated with ceramics, to a long and a short route around the city.
A few feet from the office, you’ll find Palacio de los Condes Villapaterna, a former palace that is now the town hall. This Neoclassic and baroque-style 18th-century building has served the city in a number of ways over the years: from a school and hostel for the poor to a wartime hospital.
Opposite the palace, there is a panoramic terrace-gallery looking out over the River Turia, the fields and orchards and the nearby villages. Known as El Calvario, you’ll also find the city’s clock tower here, currently used as an exhibition space.
Our cheap trips to Paterna are perfect to discover places of interest, such as the Tower. This Arabic watchtower, considered an emblem of the city, is 65 feet high and offers stunning views of the surroundings.
The Cuevas del Batán (literally, Batán caves), located near the watch tower, form a residential complex carved into the rock face. There were once an astonishing 509 houses of this type. At the Cuevas del Batán Cultural Space you can visit eight cave houses occupying 4,840 square feet.
With our holiday deals to Paterna, you’ll only have to worry about enjoying this beautiful town, which has an excellent bus network to help you get around. And to round off your trip, catch the metro and in 20 minutes you’ll be in the heart of Valencia city. What more could you ask for?
