There’s a blooming street art scene in Valencia where creative and gifted urban artists are giving life and color to the most rundown corners of the city. The murals often contain powerful social and political messages, making for a thought-provoking and eye-opening experience. It is simply spectacular to see how the El Carmen neighborhood turned into a 24/7 open-air street art museum! Combined with local drinks & tapas we’ll discover the best-kept secrets of local street art in El Carmen!
Ready to see a different side of Valencia’s old town? Let’s get lost in the small streets of El Carmen, off the beaten path! This walking street art tour takes you on an adventure through the lesser-known streets of Valencia, where we’ll unveil surprising works of art from local and international artists, such as impressive murals, hidden graffiti gems and urban art masterpieces.
In Valencia, the street art scene really started to grow from the late 90’s with local artists such as Escif, David de Limon, Julieta XLF, DEIH and La Nena Wapa Wapa as well as international artists such as Disneylexya and Hyuro. It is a constantly evolving, changing scene with art appearing and disappearing in different parts of Valencia. Street artists use the most rundown corners in the city, such as crumbled walls or neglected buildings, as a canvas. The ephemeral nature of urban art means that these artworks often vanish or are replaced/removed overnight. That’s also how street art stays current!
Graffiti is clandestine in Valencia but if you’re lucky you can spot some artists working in the daylight. The street art is highly approved by the locals, that’s why authorities might turn a blind eye. ‘Grey Rita’ is the color the local city council uses to cover the works of art if they feel they are inappropriate or illegal. Nevertheless, many associations, neighbors or local businesses choose to decorate their walls or shutters and contract local street artists.
Let’s unveil the stories and inspiration behind each artwork, so you can truly appreciate the depth of creativity that colors the city. Enjoy historical sights while the local street art will invite us to share fascinating stories about the city’s past, adding a unique dimension to your experience.
Last but not least, besides discovering street art we’ll also enjoy local tapas and drinks! After the first part of the tour, we’ll arrive at this really nice terrace of a local wine bar for an aperitif. It’s got one of the oldest bodegas in the city center – how cool is that? And guess what? We’ll be enjoying some of the best local Valencian wine or vermouth with two small tapas.
And that’s not all! Towards the end of our street art adventure, we’ll arrive at a cozy, small family owned restaurant. The owner Jesus prepares an amazing standing cocktail with local drinks and a tasting of 3 delicious homemade tapas! It’s gonna be the perfect way to wrap up our tour in style and enjoy each other’s company, cheers to the good times!
© 2024 Valencia with Koen - All Rights Reserved
