Valencia

Useful and practical tourist information about of Valencia.

Valencia is the third Spanish city and the capital of the Valencian Community, located next to the river Turia, on the eastern coast of Spain, next to the Mediterranean Sea. It has an economy mainly centred on the services.

This city has a long history, a great tradition and cultural heritage. Scenery for many worldwide events (the sailing American's Cup, the Formula 1 European Grand Prix, the Open 500 Tennis Tournament and the Equestrian Global Champions Tour) which have contributed to shape the city and give the city important international impact.

Historical and monumental heritage. Cultural spaces in Valencia.

An important historical and monumental heritage makes Valencia one of the cities with the most national and international tourism in Spain.  Among the most emblematic monuments of the city you will find:   the Cathdral, the Miguelete, the Serranos and Quart towers, the Lonja de la Seda (declared a Patrimony of the Humanity by the UNESCO in 1996), the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (the City of Arts and Sciences), the Museo de Bellas Artes of Valencia Pío V (the most  important pictorial museum of the Valencian Community and one of the first in Spain) and the Instituto Valenciano de Arte Moderno (IVAM), which has an objective to investigate and show the art of the 20th Century.

Valencia has been for many centuries a cultural source and refuge, rich in very interesting monuments and architectonic spaces, and has more than fifty museums and exhibition halls. Actually the are many cultural manifestations taking place in this Mediterranean city.

Natural spaces in Valencia.

Within the limits of its municipality, the city of Valencia has different natural places and spaces with an special ecological, cultural and natural importance:  The Albufera Lagoon of Valencia, the Marjal de Rafalell and Vistabella, and the Arenas beach.

The l'Abufera Nature park of Valencia.

It is a wetland area located approximately 10 km south of the city of Valencia, it has extraordinary beauty and ecological and natural interest. It has also obtained many awards: status as a natural park in 1986 by the Valencian Regional Government, the incorporation into the list of internationally important wetland areas for birds since 1990, status as Site of Community Importance (SCI) and integration in 1994 between the Special Protection Areas for Birds (SPAB).

The Marjal de Rafaell and the Vistabella of Valencia.

It is a wetland with mostly reedbeds and rushes, and with an extension of 120 hectares. It nourishes itself from groundwater and remains of irrigation systems, and it is home for different species of birds, fish and underwater vegetation.

The urban beaches of Valencia.

In Valencia there are two beaches with fine sand and urban environment: the Arenas beach and the Malvarrosa beach. Both beaches have the port of Valencia on the south and the Patacona beach of Alboraya on the north. They also have an extensive promenade with many premises which offer a wide and varied offer of local gastronomy and accommodation.  

Other beaches located south of the Turia river, on the Albufera Natural Park, have a less urban environment: El Perellonet beach, Pinedo beach, La Devesa beach, El Saler beach and La Garrofera beach, are the most known and have been awarded with the "Blue Flag" status by the European Community in 2014.

Architecture and modernism in Valencia.

An ensemble of buildings and constructions form a sample of the architecture and modernism of the city of Valencia, and includes the following as the main architectural treasures:  

The Rialto Building of Valencia.

Headquarters for the Valencian Institute of Cinematography (IVAC), is a symbol of art-decó.

The Quart and Serranos Towers of Valencia.

Medieval construction built originally as part of the great wall which surrounded the city of Valencia. 

The City of Arts and Sciences of Valencia.

Is formed by a group of buildings, and among them you can find:  The Palau de Les Arts, the Hemisferic, the Oceanografic and the Agora.

The Veles i Vents building on Valencia's port of Valencia.

Built for the 32 America's Cup celebrated in 2007 in Valencia.

The Lonja de la Seda o de los Mercaderes of Valencia.

A building from the Gothic which shows the economic ownership lived in Valencia during the 15th Century.

The Central Market of Valencia.

Which shows a Valencian modernist architecture, was built at the beginning of the 20th Century.

La Estación del Norte (the North Station) of Valencia.

Another of the Valencian modernism treasure from the beginning of the 20th Century.

The Almudín of Valencia.

From the beginning of the 14th Century is peculiar because of its wooden roof and because of the paintings which cover the interior walls.

In the most recent Valencian architecture the Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava has had an specially highlighted role. He designed very emblematic constructions in the city of Valencia, such as: the Nueve de Octubre, the group formed by the Puente de la Exposición and the Alameda underground station, and the City of the Arts and the Sciences.