Come and watch matches of Europe’s oldest sport in the city centre.
Known as the “Cathedral” of Valencian pilota, the Trinquet Pelayo hosts thrilling matches of this traditional sport every Thursday and Saturday.
It is the oldest sports ground still in use in Europe, founded in 1868, and is located right next to the Estación del Norte.
Know where it is, but not sure what “pilota valenciana” is? It is our traditional sport, a gentleman’s game whose origins date back to the time of the Greeks and Romans.
Unlike Basque pelota, here the players face each other on a closed court, hitting the leather ball with their bare hands—protected only by thimbles and adhesive tape—to send it over a rope.
Still not quite clear or you know what it’s all about but haven’t had a chance to watch a live game?
So get yourself a ticket, walk through the trinquete gate and let the sound of the ball and the atmosphere of the fans do the rest.
And if you want, you can round off the plan by dining at And if you like, you can round off the evening by dining at Pelayo Gastro Trinquet, which is right there, and try traditional dishes such as titaina or cod fritters beneath the impressive sculpture of a pilotari’s hand that dominates the dining room.
