In a highly symbolic moment for Valencians, Jaume I's sword will go on show beside the Reial Senyera, the city's royal banner, at City Hall on Thursday 8 October.
Last week, Mónica Gil, the city's councillor for Fiestas and Traditions, called it "a historic opportunity" to see "two symbols of enormous value" together, in the year Valencia marks 750 years since the death of Jaume I, the king who took the city in 1238 and whose entry it celebrates every 9 October – 9 d'Octubre.
According to the city's tourism board, it's the first time the pair have gone on show together.
The one-day display, La Nostra Senyera (Our Senyera), fills City Hall's Salón de Cristal (Crystal Hall) from 10am to 9pm.
The next day, the sword follows the Senyera out of City Hall and on to the Cathedral with the civic procession.
On the evening of the 8th, the Coral Polifónica Valentina sings the Cant a la Senyera (Song of the Senyera) in the Crystal Hall at 7pm, 7.30pm and 8pm. From 7.30pm, folk dances and music fill Plaza del Ayuntamiento below.
The night ends with fireworks at the Puente de Monteolivete at 11.30pm.
At 12 noon the Reial Senyera is lowered from the City Hall balcony. It leads the procession along Calle San Vicente to Plaza de la Reina and into Valencia Cathedral through the Puerta de los Hierros for a Te Deum.
From there it loops past the Archbishop's Palace and along Calle Barxilla back to Plaza de la Reina, then down Calle de la Paz to the Parterre Gardens in Plaza de Alfonso el Magnánimo, where wreaths are laid at the equestrian statue of Jaume I. The procession then returns to City Hall along Calle Pintor Sorolla and Calle de las Barcas.
Plaza del Ayuntamiento then shakes to the traditional mascletà, a daytime barrage of firecrackers, at around 2pm. The day closes with the Moors and Christians parade, which sets off from the Glorieta Gardens at 5pm.
The sword and the Senyera normally live in the Museo Histórico Municipal inside City Hall, which is free to visit on weekday mornings from 9am to 1.45pm.
The Best of the Best Walking Tour covers much of the procession's ground, including Plaza de la Reina, the Cathedral and, on working days, City Hall itself, with 2,000 years of Valencia's history along the way.
Visit our Tours and Excursions section for more activities in Valencia.
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