Valencia is the third largest city in Spain. Partly a victim of sprawling modernisation, there are, nevertheless lots of interesting places to see, some really fine buildings and a couple of excellent museums. One of its most attractive features for the visitor, is the relaxed pavement cafe scene around the Plaza San Jaime and the colourful markets ? Central Market, Mercado Colon and Ruzafa Market, and the oldest part of town- the mazelike Barrio del Carmen, where shopping, dining, and entertainment supplement some fascinating sightseeing. Ceramic domed roofs glitter in the Levantine sunshine, and the tree-lined boulevards of the modern town contrast with the old-fashioned patios and plazas of the older quarter.