Valencia

Trip preparation

Valencia is the third largest city in Spain and the capital ofthe Community of Valencia. Located by the Mediterranean Sea, on the east coastof the Iberian Peninsula, it has a population of around 800,000. The city has played host — andcontinues to do so — to such important events as the 5th World MeetingofFamilies in 2006, the 32nd and 33rdAmerica’s Cup in 2007 and 2010, the 2008 World Indoor Championships inAthletics, the F1 European Grand Prix, the Global Champions Tour, and theMotoGP World Championship, to name but a few. As a result of these sportingevents and much more, Valencia has been chosen as the European Capital of Sport2011. The website www.turisvalencia.es/ofertas has many offers for travel to Valencia. Visit and see for yourself what this city has to offer www.incrediblebuttrue.com.

General

AIRPORT – CITYCENTRE UNDERGROUND CONNECTION - Line 5 Airport/Torrent Avinguda- Neptú. Every 10-20 minutes approx.- Line 3 Airport/Palmaret- Rafelbunyol. Every 10-20 minutes approx.   TIP: purchase the VLC Tourist Card (www.valenciatouristcard.com) from the airport’s Tourist Info office, and enjoy free, unlimited urban publictransport. - 36 International Air Connections - 19 National Air Connections Further information: www.turisvalencia.es  

Best travel time

Due to its location on the Mediterranean coastline, Valencia enjoys a warm climate for most of the year. Rainfall is mostly confined toautumn, while snowfall is non-existent. The city boasts an average temperatureof 18º C and around 300 days of sun per year.

History

The city was founded by the Romans in 138 BC, andsubsequently occupied by the Visigoths, followed by the Moors in 714, who ruleduntil 1238, when King James I of Aragonre-conquered Valenciafor good. By then, the city had been influenced by Arabic culture, havingadopted its irrigation methods, along with some of its cuisine and artistic influences.The Water Court — Europe’s longest-running legal institution, which controlswater usage for irrigation — dates back to this era and it has recently been addedto UNESCO’s World Heritage list, as has the Silk Exchange, which was designatedin 1996. This is also a surviving example of Valencia’s Golden Age, which reachedits apogee in the 15th and 16th centuries. During theseyears, the city flourished economically, politically and culturally, turningValencia into the commercial capital of Europe, not to mention the birthplaceof silk marketing — its most affluent industry from the 14th to the18th century. Until then, the city only consisted of what nowadays isknown as the old town — one of the biggest in Europe — and it was not until theend of the 19th century that Valencia began to grow, eventually reachingthe 19 neighbourhoods which it comprises today.

Traditions and Culture

Valencia has two official languages: Spanish and Valencian. Among some of the most famous Valencians are the painter Joaquín Sorolla,novelist Vicente Blasco Ibáñez and architect Santiago Calatrava.

By boat

The Port of Valencia r anks first in Spainand fifth in Europe in terms of freighttransportation. Furthermore, it has seen a 15% rise in cruise passengers since2009, bringing the current total figure to almost 250,000. Valencia also boasts good transportation linkswith the Balearic Islands.  

By car

Valencia has a modern roadsystem and there are three main access routes to the city: the A-7, whichconnects it with both the northeast and southeast of Spain, and the A-3, which comesfrom the west. Although very easy to navigate on foot, Valencia also has a metro system that has been growing over the years, currently standing at six lines, two of which link the airport and the port with the city centre with a journey time of just 20 minutes. The Bonometro ticket is valid for ten journeys and costs €6.55, while a single journey ticket costs €1.40, although the “Móbilis” contactless smartcard has just been introduced, which can be topped-up as necessary for more journeys. Equally handy is the bus, which costs €1.30 for a single journey and€6.95 for ten.   The most convenient way of getting around, however, is by purchasing the VALENCIA TOURIST CARD (www.valenciatouristcard.com). Available in three different time period options (24h, 48h and 72h.10€ / 16€ / 20€), it gives you unlimited metro and bus journeys, as well asdiscounts on the Valencia Bus Turistic and in various shops, museums and restaurants. You can even buy it online.    Valencia’s most recently launched formof public transport is Valenbisi, a system through which you can hire bicycles,with a total of 275 bicycle stations located throughout the city.

By plane

- Distance from the airport to the city centre: 8 Km. - Approx. cost Airport-Valencia city centre taxi: 20 Euros.

By taxi

In Valencia, taxis run on meters and prices vary according to the time, route and day of theweek; the minimum fare is €3.80 during the day and €6 at night. Taxis can behailed in the street or found at taxi stands, as well as ordered via telephone.  

By train

The new high-speed line connecting Valencia to Madrid will came into operation on December´10. Valencia’s new Joaquín Sorolla station is just an hour and a half away from Atocha (Madrid). Tickets bought onlineat least fifteen days in advance can be purchased for as little as €31.90.  If you go to the website's offerssection and look under the AVE SPECIAL category, you'll find a number ofdifferent offers exclusively available to AVE passengers between 22 Novemberand 10 March. All you have to do is show your ticket in the city's differenttourist services outlets. For moreinformation, visit www.turisvalencia.es/ofertas andwww.renfe.com  

Experience and enjoy

Valencia surprises visitorswith its harmonious blend of antiquity and modernity. On the one hand, a visitto the old town — one of the largest in Spain — is a must.   There you'll findeverything from the bustling Plaza de la Reina and Plaza de la Virgen, between which is located the Cathedral with its famous bell tower, El Miguelete, and the Serranos and Quart Towers, the only two perfectly-conserved city gates.   Strolling through the Barrio del Carmen, you’ll arrive at the jewel of civil gothic architecture, the Lonja de la Seda (Silk Exchange), which is situated opposite the modernist CentralMarket and just a stone’s throw from the stunning Plaza Redonda.   In the Barrio del Ensanche stands another gem— this time modernist — the Colón Market, restored in 2003, where you won’t be able to resist sitting down to enjoy a drink or snack.   All of these contrast with the chameleon-like City of Arts and Sciences, designed by Valencia’s own Santiago Calatrava. The atmosphere inside this spectacular architectural complex, which lies in the former Turia riverbed, makes it, without a doubt, one of the most worth while visits of all.   Hiring a bicycle is highly recommended here, as you can cycle the 10 km along the riverbed which crosses the city from east to west, and take a quicktrip to the African plains with a visit to Bioparc, a new zoo-immersion concept which opened its doors in 2008.   Nearby is the bus stop for the Albufera Bus Turistic which takes you on a two-hour visit to the Albufera National Park where you can take a trip in an albuferenc, littleboats used by fishermen to go fishing in the lake, or visit a barraca (traditional thatched cottage), the houses where the families of the El Palmar fishermen used to live.   Furthermore, Valencia boasts a seven-kilometres tretch of beaches, where you can enjoy some of the city’s traditional disheson the seafront. Nearby is the Juan Carlos I Royal Marina, where you can view yet another breathtaking building, the Veles e Vents, designed by David Chipperfield and Fermín Vázquez.   Art lovers are spoilt for choice, with over 30 museums to choose from. Some house modern and contemporary art, such as the IVAM, the MUVIM and the Carmen Museum, which have exhibited everything from Botero to Goya.   On the other hand, you have the San Pío V Museum of Fine Arts, the second largest art gallery in Spain, after the Prado Museum, with paintings dating from the 15th to 19th centuries, as well as its gothic altarpieces.   Also worthy of mention is the National Ceramics Museum, located in the baroque-style Marqués de Dos Aguas Palace, which boasts an extensive collection of national and international ceramics, as well as decorative arts.   Valencia is also a city steeped in musical tradition, so music lovers have a date at the Palau de la Música and the Palau de les Arts, both of which offer a wealth of top-class programmes.   Agenda February and September: Valencia Fashion Week (www.valenciafashionweek.com) February: MTV Winter 14th – 20th of February: Valencia Restaurant Week (www.valenciacuinaoberta.com) 15th – 19th of March: Fallas Festival (www.fallasfromvalencia.com) April: Holy Week (www.semanasantamarinera.org) April: Film Festival of Valencia (www.mostravalencia.com) May: Global Champions Tour (www.globalchampionstour.com) June: Grand Prix of Europe of Formula 1 (www.valenciastreetcircuit.com) June: Mediterranean Festival (www.lesarts.com) July: Festival de Jazz (www.palaudevalencia.com) July: July Festival (www.feriadejulio.com) 9th of October: Day of the Valencia Region November: Valencia Open 500 (www.valenciaopen500.com) November: Moto GP World Championship (www.circuitvalencia.com)

Food

  Although its most famous dish is paella, Valencia has a wide variety of cuisine to offer, ranging from traditional meals to the more avant-garde. Esgarraet and all i pebre are two very typical dishes. Products inextricably linked with Valencia include chufa (tiger nut), from which the refreshing and very healthy horchata drink is made; rice, prepared in countless different ways; wine; and of course, oranges. If you’d like to extend yourknowledge of these products, there are various very interesting tourist trips on offer.   During the Fallas festival it’s very common to enjoy a typical hot chocolate with buñuelos (a kind of doughnut), while on 9 October it is customary to have frutitas de mazapán (marzipan fruits). As for those balmy Valencian evenings, how about an Agua de Valencia, a cocktail made from orange juice, sugar and champagne.