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Valencia - Spain's vibrant city with a rich history and a pulsating nightlife.
Valencia, on the eastern coast of Spain, is one of the biggest cities in Spain and among the most liveliest. When visiting Valencia for the first time the first thing you will notice is the extraordinary light that reaches every corner.
But what surprises even more is Valencia's incredible diversity. Moving from one area of the city to another, you experience totally different urban landscapes. You might imagine that you're in a different city altogether.
Valencia region is well known for its orange groves, ceramics, fans and wickerwork. The Valencian coast has many beautiful resorts with golden beaches and towns rich in history, making it an excellent holiday destination.
Valencia enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. The great weather lasts all year long. This, and the friendly nature of the Valencian people encourages tourists to flock here.
This vibrant city of Valencia offers a wealth of plazas and gardens in which to rest and many historical buildings to explore which blend with the modern constructions. The added bonus of a thriving port, marina and long beaches ensures a cultural experience that will never be forgotten.
And there is a wide choice of theatres, cinemas, dance halls and entertainment venues. There are venues to suit every age and taste and the nightlife pulsates until the early hours of the morning.
The City
The historic city centre is a good place to start a sightseeing trip through Valencia. The Town council and main Post Office buildings stand out as impressive buildings worth visiting.
The large Plaza de la Reina leads into the old town with turn-of-the-century buildings and just beyond, the historic Old Quarter and the Barrio del Carmen neighbourhood. Some buildings date from the time of Arab domination of the city and others incorporate the old walls into their structure.
University Area
The new Town Council and the Calatrava Bridge was built in the University Area. The bridge joins the banks of the Turia dry river bed which has been turned into a fantastic garden and recreational area running through the entire city.
This area is almost like a triangle of modernity between Alameda-Blasco Ibánez-Avenida de Aragón streets where you'll also find a good part of the university campus. It is also where you'll find modern glass skyscrapers, some of the best restaurants, pubs and nightclubs in the city, together with the best parks and gardens.
It is here in front of the river Turia that you will find the Palau de la Música with its huge glass dome and main venue in the city for concerts and all types of cultural events.
Luxury Shops and Restaurants
Luxury shops and restaurants, that is what you will find in the Cánovas area, with its streets lined with turn-of-the-century buildings. This is the traditional residential area for the Valencian bourgeoisie, and nowadays home to some of the best clubs and high standard, quality restaurants in the city.
Bordering on the old quarter, you'll find Colón Street, which has some of the most elegant boutiques and shops in the city, and of course, the Corte Inglés department store.
The Cathedral stands on ground once occupied by a Muslim Mosque and an earlier church. The current building is of Gothic-Cistercian design and dates from 1262, although it wasn't completed until the 18th century. This is illustrated by the many differing designs incorporated. There is an imposing tower, which can be climbed using the 200 steps. You will be rewarded at the top with spectacular panoramic views of the city.
The City's Beaches
The city's coastline has three beaches - Las Arenas, la Malvarrosa and Alboraya. If you are fit enough, try to walk along all three in just one morning. Or, just enjoy the landscape and the sea breeze while sipping on a refreshing drink in any of the open-air terraces facing the sea. During the summer-months it is very popular with tourists who come for all kinds of sports including golf, diving, cycling, tennis, etc.
City of Arts and Sciences
The latest great project, the City of Arts and Sciences is the best reflection of the enterprising nature of Valencians. This is a city that legends are made of - it looks expectantly to the future, but is proud of its past.
Fiestas
The city is famous throughout the country for its festivals and its spectacular fireworks, which have developed into an art of its own. Here they spend an entire year building a pyrotechnical work of art, which will be burnt in a single night. This also shows the character of its people, who really enjoy the moment and celebrate each festival as if it were the last one. When it comes to festivals, the city's calendar is full!
Most important are the Fallas de San José, a celebration of the beginning of springtime. Throughout the town you will see impressive cardboard constructions, which will be burned on the last day of the festival, March 19th, after a great party in the streets that last four days. But the spectacle continues for another week, with dances in beautiful regional dresses, bullfights and fireworks.
Easter week (Semana Santa) is also celebrated in fine style, especially around the fishing centre. And for Feria de Julio (in July) the whole city is decorated with a sea of flowers. There are parties, fireworks and some of the most important bullfights in the country.
October 9th sees the commemorations of the reconquest of the town from the Moors. And another typical festival is the "Fiesta de la Mocaorá", an event beloved by gourmets, when traditional specialities of marzipan, Piuletes and Tronadors are prepared.
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