A wedge-shaped grid of streets just to the east of the city center, the upscale barrio of Gran Via is popular during the day for its restaurants, and at night for its clubs. Most Valencians refer to the neighborhood as “Canovas,” after the circular plaza which serves as its unofficial entrance.
The neighborhood is delimited by the Turia and two large avenues: the Gran Via Marqués del Turia and Avenida Regne de Valencia. Within these borders is an urban layout which seems unthinkable to anyone who’s spent time in El Carmen: a perfectly logical, four-by-seven grid of streets.
Of course, logic doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t get lost — the problem in Canovas is that all the streets look the same, and it’s difficult to know exactly where you are. The buildings were all constructed at the same time, around the turn of the 20th century, the streets are all tree-lined and of the same width, and all of the intersections are extra-large and diamond-shaped.
Downloadable PDF of the Barrio on Valencia.es
But when a neighborhood is this beautiful, repetition isn’t a problem. Nobody has ever let out an exasperated sigh, and said, “Another charming, shady street with stately old buildings and an abundance of wonderful restaurants?”
You could throw a dart at a map of Canovas, and you’re almost guaranteed to hit an excellent spot to eat. This is our default lunch zone; where we come whenever we don’t have a specific restaurant in mind. We’ll make a loop around a block… Burriana, Salamanca, Conde Altea… and check out various menús del día, choosing whichever sounds best.
Canovas is buzzing at lunchtime, but it’s also one of the more popular places to party the night away. The scene is different than in Ruzafa, Benimaclet or El Carmen — more mature and far less alternative, with places playing pop, and a relatively buttoned-down Spanish clientele. Hipsters are a rare sight in the clubs of Canovas… and, once in awhile, that can be refreshing.
Location on our Map: Plaza Canovas
–Framed Photos Valencia, Spain
