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Valencia, with a population of 750,000 and capital of the autonomous region of the same name is Spain's third largest city. It is situated in the centre of the Spanish Mediterranean coastline.
It overlooks the spacious Gulf of Valencia and is skirted at the back by a group of medium-high mountains and rolling plains leading to the lands of Aragon and Castile-La Mancha.
It is opposite the Balearic islands and equidistant from the country's two major decision-making centres: Madrid and Valencia. Valencia is identified with the Mediterranean Sea because the culture deriving from the old Mare Nostrum is manifested in its patterns of social behaviour.
Valencia attracts visitors eager to experience its many cultural sites, its leisure and sports facilities, its beaches, its food and, of course, its warm climate and friendly people.
In Valencia, there are many museums to be visited and monuments to be admired. If you want to discover more than just sun and sand, you will find remains of most remote civilisation, Phoenicians, Greeks, Iberians and Romans.
Very popular attractions are the City of Arts and Science, one of the largest leisure and cultural centres in Europe, and the lively "Fallas". The calendar of popular fiestas is rich and varied in Valencia. On March 19th, the Fallas dedicated to St. Joseph take over the streets of the capital and of over 60 other towns in the province. On the appointed day, huge catafalques bearing cardboard figures are erected, to be burnt four days later amid a blaze of fireworks.
These are the fiestas which attract the largest number of spectators and arouse most interest among visitors, drawn by the colourfulness of the Passacaglia, the offering to the Virgin of the helpless and the fireworks display. The Corpus Christi, Fiesta of Moors and Christians and of course, the famous Tomato fiesta "La Tomatina", are other fiestas of Valencia.
Leisure and entertainment activities constitute one of the most exciting and extensive ranges throughout the Mediterranean. Everywhere, discos, nightclubs and pubs provide the right kind of scene for enjoying a night out. |