What a Month of Bicycle Rides Through Valencia Reveals about Authenticity in Tourism
Photo Caption: The author's bicycle against a backdrop of colorful, Valencian street art. Rebecca Stone
Skift Take
For all its imperfections, Valencia still has its spirit and a sense of authenticity that other destinations have lost in some ways in the age of overtourism. As the city fights to maintain equilibrium, it has a unique opportunity to set an example via the proper management of tourism. Don't put doors in the field. Set up bike lanes instead.
I had only been in Valencia for what felt like five minutes before I’d rented a bike and hit the road.
A relatively flat city with great bike lanes, Valencia, located on Spain’s eastern coast, made it easy for me to tear through the town, exploring all that the city has to offer. Within a couple days, I was speeding past tourists in ‘Ciutat Vella’ (the city center) to get to ‘El Jardín del Turia’ (Turia Park) where I’d ride all the way down to the ‘Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències’ (the City of Arts and Sciences). I’d cruise the promenade along ‘Platja La Malvarrosa’ (Malvarrosa Beach) and ‘Playa del Cabanyal’ (Beach of Cabanyal), soaking in the sunshine and thinking of how the city looks like a lovely, little Los Angeles. I’d cycle downtown to the trendy and up-and-coming neighborhood of Ruzafa to enjoy a dinner of tapas with friends.
I couldn’t deny it. I felt immediately at home in a brand-new city.
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