Valencia

Make the most of your time in Valencia, use the information provided on this web site by clicking on the links to plan your visit.

Valencia is the capital of Spain’s Valencia province and is the country’s third largest city after national capital Madrid and Barcelona. Founded by the Romans in 138BC, Valencia now has a population of around 800,000 and sees more than 800,000 tourists flock to its beaches and historic sites each year, giving some idea of its growing popularity. The 15th century marked something of a golden age for Valencia with a boom in the skills trade and an increase in autonomy. Until the mid-19th century Valencia was protected by a wall and two of its towers - Serranos and Quart - still stand adding an element of historic heritage to the city. The last two decades of the 20th century signalled a period of transformation for this dynamic coastal city and there has been much economic growth in recent years, what with more employment, a number of flagship projects and hosting sailing’s America’s Cup. Its location on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea and mild temperate climate make Valencia an ideal place to visit, particularly with its various culinary delights, beaches, festivals and cultural events. The city has also become one of the Mediterranean’s main industrial centres and has seen a proliferation of international business and trade.

Valencia brings together a mixture of historic tradition and innovative architecture. There is no better contrasting example of this than the fantastically impressive City Hall and the new and futuristic City of Arts and Sciences. This imaginative millennium project is fast becoming one of Spain’s top attractions and displays a city within a city which is designed to get people to understand something of the Arts and Sciences. Among the other fascinating attractions are the Jardin del Turia which winds round the city centre, the popular Valencia Institute of Modern Art and the concert hall. The city’s new ultramodern section connects the coastal areas with the Old Town; tourists will find there is much to see and do in each part they visit. As the birthplace of the famous Spanish dish paella there are, as would be expected in this type is city, numerous restaurants and places to eat as well as many bars, clubs and shops for visitors to indulge in.

The city boasts 19 kilometres of rolling warm and sandy beaches next to the Mediterranean Sea. The port divides the beaches into two sections with the north side proving particularly lively and crowded. There are opportunities for windsurfing, sailing and boating or visitors can choose to enjoy the restaurants and leisure activities that the beaches inevitably provide.

Among the various cultural events two activities stand out - Las Fallas and La Tomatina. Each year in August there is a no-holds-barred tomato fight! In a slightly more sedate affair, Las Fallas sees Valencians celebrate St Joseph’s Day on March 19 with much energy, fireworks and audacious papier mache models.