CityCents Valencia

Tomás Romero blew €100 in Valencia. Here’s what he bought

1 STRAW HAT
Squinty eyes and sunburnt noses have never been “in”. Stylish straw hats and sunglasses, on the other hand, are timeless accessories. Pop into one of the city’s hat caves (Sombrero Albero, 9 Plz. Mercado) and you’ll stay cool for a little bit longer. €15

2 HORCHATA
Made from crushed Valencian tiger nuts, horchata is the favourite pick-me-up of all ages in the city. It’s available at most supermarkets, and you’re guaranteed to either love it or hate it. €2

3 BEERS
Not the cheapest, but the bar that sells these limited-edition bottles is definately one of the coolest. Estrella Damm Lounge springs up every summer and is perched on the water’s edge, at the America’s Cup Port. www.estrelladammlounge.com TWO BOTTLES, €5

4 JIJONA TURRÓN
If you’re going to buy turrón, make sure it’s the soft stuff from the town of Jijona. Using a clever combination of pasted almonds, honey and egg whites the master turrón makers have turned its production into an art form. Every block must contain exactly 64% almonds for perfection, and is 100% glorious with a cuppa. €6

5 EARPLUGS
Spain was once declared the second noisiest country in the world by the World Health Organisation. They must have based their findings on the output of Valencians. Along with the brain-shaking firecrackers they explode at nearly every fiesta, August will see (and hear) the city’s first Formula One Grand Prix buzz through the streets. €2

6 SMALL PAELLA
Don’t be confused – paella is the name for the cooking dish as well! And the Valencians who invented the beautiful rice dish were probably too busy stuffing their faces to think up a different one. Mercado Central is the best place to find one, so you can take the taste back home. €8

7 MAGAZINES
Celebrity gossip and high-street fashion bible Cuore has enough pointy “Arrrg” signs to make it quite clear what they’re on about; Spanish Esquire came onto the scene last October; and satirical weekly El Jueves is a tongue-in-cheek look at current affairs. €6.70

8 BONO METRO
While Valencia is not a massive city, making good use of the metro system pays off if you’re on limited time. This little beauty, called a Bono, gives you 10 trips for the price, which is pretty decent considering a single fare will normally cost €1.30. €6.10

9 STREET ART COLOURING BOOK
This taboo-busting kiddies’ book shows up-and-coming street artists how it’s done. Just colour in the graffiti and go! And it’s only one of a vast array of oddities to be found at quirky souvenir shop Popland (5, Calle Moratín). €15

10 CHAMPIONS T-SHIRT
They may well have been dire for the most part of last season, but Valencia CF pulled it together in the end, winning the Copa del Rey. Why not buy a T-shirt from their official merchandise shop to mark this miraculous turnaround? €25

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