Founded by the Romans, Valencia has been the home of many cultures over its history: Romans, Visigoths, Moors and the Aragonese all made the city an important cultural and financial centre.

In the year 1094, Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, called El Cid Campeador, conquered Valencia on behalf of the Christians, but the city later fell to the Almoravids in 1102. Following the Moorish domination, it was in 1238 that James I of Aragon finally reconquered the city, and founded the Kingdom of Valencia, with its characteristic legislative privileges (Furs).

During the 15th and 16th centuries, Valencia became one of the major economic powers on the Mediterranean seaboard. It was the time of the Valencian siglo de oro (Golden Age), which was characterized by splendour in the arts at the hands of Joanot Martorell (author of Tirant lo Blanc, the first modern European novel), Ausias March, Roig de Corella, Isabel de Villena, Jordi de Sant Jordi and Jaume Roig, among others.

During the War of Spanish Succession, Valencia sided with archduke Charles of Austria, and after the victory of the Bourbons at the Battle of Almansa (April 1707), Phillip V abolished the local privileges, or fueros. In 1874, Alfonso XII was proclaimed constitutional king at Sagunto, north of Valencia.

When democracy was restored, the Land of Valencia was given its present Autonomous Statutes in 1982. The history of the city, now the capital of the Land of Valencia, is both rich and varied, providing a patrimony that has converted it into one of the major cities in Spain on both cultural and economic levels.

The rich variety of Valencian cuisine, reflecting the diversity of local products, is another ol the pleasant surprises that await you. Among the region's well known dishes, Valencian paella is the true protagonist. Genuine paella is done over a wood fire, with the broth being prepared first before adding the rice.

But there are many other valencian rice recipes, such as: arròs a banda (rice dish with seafood), arròs negre (rice with squid, hence "black"), arròs al forn (oven-baked rice), arròs amb bledes (rice with chard), arròs amb fesols i naps (with haricot beans and turnip)...

You can also stil try other treats such as fideuà (a kind of paella with noodles instead of rice), originally from Gandia; all i pebre (eels in garlic sauce), from the inland lagoon of Albufera; suquet de peix (fisherman's dish); esgarrat (salted cod with sweet peppers); figatell (meatballs made from liver).

All of these can be enjoyed together with Valencian wines - white from the Alto Turia and Serranía areas, or red from Requena, Utiel and Campo de Llíria. And in addition to the quality of Valencia's fruits, in which oranges play a major role, you'll find an extensive array of confectionery, the star of which is the arnadí (a pie made from sweet potatoes) and a series of typical refreshments such as horchata de chufa (tiger nut milk), often accompanied by fartons (a kind of sweet breadstick), originating in Alboraya.

You may have heard of the Moonlit Valencian Nights...

Leisure and entertainment activities in Valencia constitute one of the most exciting and extensive ranges throughout the Mediterranean. The climate collaborates with night-farers, filling open terraces and street cafés in the Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo, or the romantic dance salon with live music on the Malvarrosa beach.

Everywhere, discos, night clubs and pubs provide the right kind of scene for enjoying a night out.

Valencia offers a complete spectrum of facilities for sporting activities, greatly aided by its mild climate. You can concentrate on water sports such as sailing, windsurfing, fishing, etc. Or stick to land by playing golf (four courses), tennis, or squash; going hiking or horseriding and participating in team sports. Or take to the wing with aerial sports, such as sports flying, microlight aircraft, hang gliding, parachuting or ballooning. For genuine Valencian sports, you should ask about pulling and dragging contests and the joies, or horse races, which are popular among regional farmers. The region's true protagonist, however, is Valencian pelota, played in special enclosed courts, or trinquetes, or in the streets of surrounding towns, in either llargues, raspall or galotxa styles.

Valencians love fiestas and delight in sharing their joy with others. By far the most popular of festivities are the world famous Fallas (12-19 March), or festive bonfires, with their explosion of colours, fireworks and the smell of gunpowder. The creativity shown in the artistic monuments ushering in the spring, the music of marching bands and the colourlul display ol local costumes make a visit to Valencia in Fallas (pronounced: fai-yas) an unforgettable experience.

Also of note are the festivities ol the Seafarers' Holy Week in the port district, the Corpus Christi Parade, the Carnival and the July Fair with concerts and live, open-air music, the festivity of San Vicente Ferrer, the feast day of Mare de Deu dels Desamparats, the fiesta of Sant Dionís, etc.

And only at a few kilometers from Valencia you can also have a look at many other colourful festivities that spread all

around the Comunitat Valenciana at any season of the year.

The Moros y Cristianos (Moors and Christians) feasts are a penchant for pomp, splendor and the donning of garb evoking the days when the Chistian hosts battled against the men of Islam in the 13th century. The feast reaches its maximun climate at the city of Alcoi, but there are many other towns where this tradition is held with great spendor such as Biar, Ontinyent, Bocairent, Villajoyosa, Alicante, Callosa d'Ensarrià, Jijona, Cocentaina, Villena, Elda, Petrer, Crevillente, Bañeres, Albaida, Sax y L'Olleria.

Those festivities, with their spectacular battles and parades or entradas(entries) of the moor and cristian troops, with their rich and colourful festive garb, the unceasing music and kindling admostphere beetwhen the audience and the paraders are realy unforgetable.

There are many other festivities, such as Les Fogueres de Sant Joan, the rigilious mediaeval origin representation of El Misteri d'Elx, the festive pilgrimages of els Peregrins de Les Useres and la Mare de Déu del Lledó. ...

We can find inside the city diverse gardens to have a nice and pleasant walk. For example:

• Antiguo Cauce del Río Turia The Old Turia Riverbed

  Now converted into a garden running through the city, the old Turia riverbed is a centre for culture and leisure. There are sports facilities and recreation areas for children, particularly the Gulliver adventure park, with its immense Gulliver statue on which children can play and romp, now a tourist symbol of the city. On the east bank of the riverbed Stands the Palau de la Música, one of the city's outstanding cultural centres.

• Jardines del Real / Viveros Municipales Royal Gardens or Municipal Gardens

  Located across the Turia riverbed from the ancient city centre, these gardens once contained the Royal Palace, and now have splendid rosebeds, exotic trees, a children's recreation area and the City Zoo.

• Jardín Botánico Botanical Gardens

  This was the first botanical garden established in Spain, containing thousands of plant and tree species and varieties.

• Jardines de Monforte Monforte Gardens

  Neoclassical style gardens adorned with Italian sculptures, providing a classical style gardens adorned with Italian sculptures, providing a romantic mood.

• By air:

  International airport of Valencia (Manises) with scheduled flights to Spanish and European capitals.

• By road:

  A-7 motorway (Exit 51) connecting to the European motorway network. National route N-340 to Castellón, Barcelona, Alicante and Murcia. The A-7 motorway north and N-234 from Sagunto to Teruel, and further to Zaragoza and the Basque Country. The N-III to Madrid and Castilla-La Mancha. The A-7 motorway south and the N-332 to Benidorm, Alicante and Murcia.

• On bus:

  The Bus Station provides links to major Spanish and European cities.

• By rail:

  From the beautiful Railway Station in central Valencia, rail links to a number of Spanish and European cities. The FGV stations (local railways and Metro) provide connections to a number of surrounding towns.

• On boat:

  Valencia's port (the Grao) in the Mediterranean Sea is an important link of transport, either for passengers or goods.

Map of Valencia

Just choose:

• Join the early morning hubbub in the Central Market, where you can participate in thc boisterous play between shoppers and sellers enacted six days a week.
• Dare to climb the 207 steps to the top of the Miguelete Tower, the belltower of the Cathedral, from which you can visually conquer the clty.
• Order an aperitivo at the terrace bar in the plaza de la Virgen, the city's natural salon behind the Cathedral. If it's Thursday, you can witness a session of the Tribunal de las Aguas (Water Court), where for the last thousand years local farmers have settled irrigation disputes on the spot in the local language (12.00 noon, Gothic door to the Cathedral).
• Stroll around the ancient city centre, seeing the Gothic Lonja, the hexagonal Tower of the Santa Catalina Church, the Cathedral, and the Palau de la Generalitat on your way east to the Serranos Tower overlooking the ancient Turia riverbed.
• Wonder at the unique Baroque-style alabaster facade of the Palacio del Marqués de Dos Aguas before entering to tour the impressive González Martí National Ceramics Museum.
• Sightseeing at the port? Take a long walk on the long Levante pier, or take the Golondrina boat for a pleasant ride to the lighthouse.
• On Sundays and holidays, come to the Mercaderes barrio next to the Central Market and browse around the open-air market at the Plaza Redonda.
• No one will believe you on your return if you say you didn't have an authentic Valencian paella . Trying one is a must!
• Take an educational tour round the San Pío V Fine Arts Museum. When you leave, continue on to the Jardines del Real and enjoy a scenic stroll through the gardens.
• Get into the swing at the 18-hole golf course in El Saler, one of the best courses in Europe, just a few yards from the sea.
• If the heat and thirst get you down, there's nothing better than an original horchata de chufa in Alboraya to pick you up. For a mid-afternoon snack, order some fartons to dunk in this cool, refreshing drink.
• Wander through the Turia riverbed gardens in the early evening, but be sure to arrive on time for a concert at the Palau de la Música.
• Look around the shops and department stores in town and pick out some authentic artisan's work to take home. Or survey the creations of Valencian furniture and fashion designers. Don't forget to stop at the Centro de Artesanía de la Comunidad Valenciana.
• Drive down to the lookout over the Albufera lagoon south of Valencia at sunset, before the red and golden hues disappear into the night.
• Valencian cuisine will enable you to rediscover the culinary taste of past epochs. Indulge in a good dinner, enjoying old recipes combined with new wines.
• Visit the IVAM Centre Julio González and Centre del Carme) and see their important collections of modern and contemporary art.
• Mingle with the Valencians on their night haunts. When the moon is up, come to the pub areas in the Malvarrosa, Cánovas or the Barri del Carme. Start with some Agua de Valencia, but go easy at first if you want to last the whole night.

Tourist Information Offices of the Government of Valencia.

In Valencia, contact:

      * Tourist Central Office
        Paz,48
        46002 Valencia

      * Estación del Norte
        Játiva,24
        46007 Valencia

      * Aeropuerto de Valencia
        46940 Manises

More tourist information at:

      * Plaza del Ayuntamiento, 1
        46002 Valencia

      * Av. Cataluña, 1
        46010 Valencia

PRACTICAL INFORMATION FOR VISITORS

LANGUAGE
There are two official languages in Valencia: "Valenciano", used in the Valencian Community, and Spanish, Spain's official language.

TIME ZONE
People generally eat later than in other European countries: breakfast (7:30 and 10:00 a.m.) is similar to the continental style. Restaurants serve lunch between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., and dinner from 8:30 p.m. until 10:30 p.m.

The timetable for shops is from 10 am to 1.30pm and from 4.30pm to 8pm. The big stores are open all day from 10am to 9pm.

POSTAL SERVICES
The Central Post and Telegraph Office (Plaza del Ayuntamiento, 24) is open on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and between 9:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Telephone: 96 310 27 30. Stamps are also available in all tobacconists.

ELECTRICITY  
Standard electrical voltage in Valencia is 220-240 V AC, 50 Hz. A transformer and an adapter are necessary to use North American electrical appliances whose plugs have two square pins. Adapters are available in most hardware stores.

CREDIT CARDS
Most hotels, restaurants and shops in Valencia accept the main credit cards such as American Express, VISA, Mastercard, 4B, Access y Diners Club.

BANKS
Most banks are open from Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Only a few branches open on Saturday mornings. There are 24-hour automatic tellers around the city, and most (Servired, 4B, etc.) offer international services.

HOLIDAYS  
-New Year's Day: 1st January
-San Vicente Mártir: 22nd January
-San José: 19th March
-San Vicente Ferrer: 5th April, moved to the Monday following Easter
-Good Friday and Easter Monday: (dates change every year)
-Labour Day: 1st May
-Sant Dionís: 9th October, Valencian Community National Day
-All Saints: 1st of November
-The Day of the Constitution: 6th of December
-The Feast of the Immaculate Conception: 8th of December.

Links

Also try

Welcome to  Puerto de Mazarrón  Welcome to Mazarron Welcome to Murcia 

Welcome to Guardamar :Facts About Javea/Xabia  Information on  the Monover Valley

Golf Courses on The Costa Blanca Alicante   Bowling Clubs On The Costa Blanca

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Information on the Valencia area of Spain for property buyers