| Valencia, Spain, Europe Property and Tourist Information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Valencia Valencia is a vibrant, modern coastal city with a long history. It is elegant, adorned with many beautiful squares and gardens, alongside grand and often ancient buildings. However it is also very much a working city with thriving industrial areas and a commercial port handling 20% of Spain's exports (2006). Valencia is also a much loved city break destination with many tourists attracted by the mix of old and new, alongside other offerings such as the much loved Las Fallas festival in March. The student population emanating from the two residing universities injects an upbeat atmosphere, with plenty of trendy cafes, bars, and entertainment venues peppering Valencia's center. Geography & Facts The city of Valencia acts as a political and administrative center for it's own province, as well as the autonomous region of Valencia which covers a large area. It is also Spain's third largest city with industrial areas and a medium sized port. As of 2005 the urban area of Valencia (including suburbs) had over 1,600,000 people residing. Although Castilian Spanish is spoken as widely in Valencia as it is throughout the rest of the country the native language for the region is Valencian. Local government promotes the use of Valencian and so visitors should not be surprised to find street signs and more in either or both languages. Sights & attractions Valencia offers a varied range of sights and attractions to offer the visitor. In the city's ancient Barrio de Carmen there are buildings which date as far back as the times of Roman and Moorish domination. Worthy of note is it's 13th-15th century Cathedral, as is the UNESCO recognised Lonja de la Seda marketplace dating from a similar period. Like other major Spanish cities there are also some beautiful squares in Valencia, the largest of which is the Plaza del Ayuntamiento (town hall square). For more information on sights and attractions in Valencia please refer to our Valencia Sights and Attractions document listed on the left hand side of this page. Getting around Valencia boasts an up to date urban transport infrastructure. The easiest way to get around is either on the tube (metro) or via bus. Both offer reasonable ticketing rates and easy to understand 10 ride tickets. The train system in the city is used mainly for intercity connections, though these services do stop off at various suburbs and satellites of Valencia. The mainline train station is located in the city center. Finally the city is well connected with the rest of the world via Valencia airport (VLC), offering international flights to many European cities. The airport is connected with the city center by an aero-bus shuttle service. Cuisine The Valencian region is home to a variety of rice based dishes, the most popular of which is Paella. There are many types of Paella served though the most commonly found is known simply as Paella Valenciana. Paella is Valencia's most famous dish, and is today widely seen as Spain's most prominent national dish. Other notable exports from the region are Horchata (a refreshing drink of Moorish descent made from tiger nuts, water, and sugar), and Turron (a dessert made with almonds, sugar, and honey that is also of Arabic origin). There are many affordable and more often than not good restaurants present in Valencia. Also featuring are high end restaurants, and those specialising in international cuisine. Shopping Plenty of shopping opportunities exist in Valencia with the city offering everything from souvenirs, local goods, and handicrafts, to high street shopping, boutique fashion outlets, and department stores. Climate The climate in Valencia is welcoming for the vast majority of the year. Temperatures often rise to 30°C (86°F) and beyond during the summer months, while it's mild winters boast frequent daily highs of 18°C (64°F). Valencia Tourist Information Offices Airport +34 961 530229 Beach +34 963 557108 City +34 963 514907 / 153931
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