The name Ruzafa comes from the Arabic Ruṣāfa, meaning "garden". In the 9th century, the Umayyad prince Abd-Allah Al-Balansi is said to have had a pleasure garden planted two kilometres from the city, inspired by his father's garden in Córdoba.
History & origins
These gardens served as a camp for the Christian troops of James I during the conquest of Valencia in 1238, before being turned into farmland dotted with alquerías. Ruzafa declared itself an independent municipality in 1811 and remained so until 1877, when it was officially annexed to Valencia.
The tourist office now presents it as a neighbourhood where commerce, gastronomy, culture and leisure converge, transformed within a decade by the meeting of several cultures. It's also home to Wayco, one of the spaces that shapes the city's coworking scene.
Heritage & architecture
The Mercado de Ruzafa, designed by architect Julio Bellot Senet in the 1950s, acts as the backbone of the neighbourhood, its colourful façade facing the Baroque church of San Valero y San Vicente Mártir, built between 1676 and 1700 and rebuilt in 1939 after a fire.
Mercado de Ruzafa
1950s marketArchitect Julio Bellot Senet.
Church of San Valero y San Vicente Mártir
Baroque · 1676-1700Rebuilt in 1939.
Sala Russafa
Cultural venueTheatre, dance, classic cinema.
Wayco Ruzafa
Coworking spaceOne of Wayco's two locations in Valencia.
Fallas illuminations
Cuba-Puerto Rico, Sueca-Literato Azorín streetsHuge crowds every March.
Culture & living traditions
The tourist office uses the phrase "Soho of Valencia" directly: galleries, boutiques and restaurants from well-known chefs. The Sala Russafa, the neighbourhood's cultural heart, hosts theatre, dance and screenings of classic films. Every March, the Fallas illuminations, particularly on Cuba-Puerto Rico and Sueca-Literato Azorín streets, draw huge crowds. The tourist office describes a "revolution" in the neighbourhood in barely a decade.
Suggested itinerary
Morning · 9am-12pm: Market and heritage
Mercado de Ruzafa, the church of San Valero y San Vicente Mártir, a stroll through the shopping streets.
Afternoon · 12pm-5pm: Galleries and coworking
Lunch at a chef-led restaurant, a visit to art galleries, a stop by Wayco.
Evening · 5pm onwards: Culture and nightlife
Sala Russafa depending on the programme, then bars and restaurants in the neighbourhood.
Suggested itinerary, not field-tested.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the name Ruzafa come from?
From the Arabic Ruṣāfa, "garden": a pleasure garden planted in the 9th century by an exiled Umayyad prince.
Was Ruzafa ever an independent municipality?
Yes, from 1811 to 1877, when it was officially annexed to Valencia.
Why is Ruzafa compared to Soho?
The tourist office presents it as the "Soho of Valencia", for its concentration of galleries, boutiques and restaurants.
Is Ruzafa suited to remote working?
Yes, the neighbourhood is home to one of Wayco's two coworking locations.
What's worth seeing at the Mercado de Ruzafa?
A market designed in the 1950s by architect Julio Bellot Senet, the heart of the neighbourhood.
Is Ruzafa lively during the Fallas?
Yes, its illuminations, particularly on Cuba-Puerto Rico and Sueca-Literato Azorín streets, draw huge crowds every March.
