Casa Wilfredo

One of the best-preserved old towns in Valencia, where the winding streets are lined with narrow houses painted in bright colours – said to be so that the local fishermen could recognise their homes while out at sea.

Three properties have been combined to create a quirky house on three levels, delightfully furnished with antiques and with a rustic Moroccan flavour. It includes three air-conditioned bedrooms and a walled terrace with a BBQ and a shaded dining area with glimpses of the sea.

The town has a long tradition of chocolate making – you can tour the Valor factory – and a fascinating museum has gold jewellery from Phoenician times, Egyptian flasks and Roman mosaics unearthed from excavations in the town. The main beach never gets too crowded, even in the high season, and you can watch the fishermen unload their catch at the quay in the late afternoon.