Llíria: Music, Roman Baths and Trails through the Sierra de la Concordia

Llíria's cultural identity is particularly evident in its music: since 2019, the city has been a UNESCO Creative City of Music, and music is a fundamental part of its cultural identity.

Culture

A striking testament to the city's history is the Church of Santa María, popularly known as Iglesia de la Sangre. It is a national monument and was built in the 13th century over Llíria's former Great Mosque. Its architecture combines elements from the transition between Romanesque and Gothic styles.

Inside, the Iglesia de la Sangre has a polychrome wooden ceiling. Geometric, plant and epigraphic motifs appear alongside animals from the medieval bestiary and courtly scenes depicting the feudal life of the period.

The Monastery of San Miguel also combines architecture and painting. The Colección Museográfica Monasterio San Miguel de Llíria is housed in an 18th-century church that preserves murals by José Vergara. The monastery's collection also includes paintings by Manuel Camarón Melía associated with the hagiographic cycle of Saint Michael.

History

The Termas de Mura are regarded as the most important architectural complex of 1st-century Edeta and as one of the most monumental religious and healing complexes in Roman Hispania. The complex includes a Greek-designed oracle sanctuary and twin Roman baths of the Pompeian type.

The bathing and healing complex comprises cold, warm and hot rooms, including the frigidarium, tepidarium and caldarium. Another historic bathing complex is the Arab Baths, which were the main public bath, or hammam, of the old Andalusian city of Llíria, Madinat Lyria, and were built in the 12th century.

The Arab Baths cover 400 m² and include a landscaped open courtyard or lounge area, as well as cold, warm and hot bathing rooms. After the Christian conquest, they remained in operation until the end of the 15th century.

Nature

Parque de San Vicente is located about three kilometres from the centre of Llíria. On foot or by bicycle, the route there begins at the end of Calle del Pla de l'Arc and follows the course of the Acequia Mayor.

The park is a botanically rich woodland area with waterfowl, fish and squirrels. There are also picnic facilities.

Trails

The PR-CV 258 Cavalló de l'Olivera hiking trail runs through a dense pine forest in the Sierra de la Concordia. It reaches the Iberian settlement of Castellet de Bernabé and the highest point of the route, Puntal del Llop.

For horse riders, there is the officially approved Llíria–Montes de la Concordia riding route. The 26.8-kilometre circular route runs through traditionally cultivated farmland and Mediterranean forests.

The PR-257 Wine Route is an officially approved trail through the countryside of La Concordia. It is 26.80 kilometres long and takes approximately 6 hours and 30 minutes. For personal day planning, the trails can be compared by activity, route length and stated duration.

Local information

Llíria hosts the annual agri-food fair “A Mos Redó-Productes de Llíria”.

More local pages: Mislata, La Drova, Mogente, Turís, Albuixech, Gátova, Tuéjar, Cheste

For the broader travel overview: Valencia.