Valencian Community | Travel experience

Valencia on map

Valencia (in Valencian: València) is the capital of the autonomous community of Valencia and its province. It is the third largest city in Spain and the 21st largest in the European Union. It forms part of an industrial area on the Costa del Azahar.

The estimated population of the city of Valencia proper was 810,064 as of 2008 official statistics. The population of the metropolitan area was 1,583,331 (865 km²). Including the satellite urban area of Sagunto, the total population of the extended region was 1,705,742 (1,161 km²). As of 2007, the mayor of Valencia is Rita Barberá Nolla.

Its main festival, the Fallas (Falles in Valencian), has a reputation throughout Spain, while the world famous Spanish dish paella originated around Valencia.

The city contains a dense monumental heritage (including the Lonja de la Seda (World Heritage Site since 1996), but its landmark is undoubtedly the City of Arts and Sciences an avant-garde and futuristic museum complex.

The Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències (in Valencian), Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (in Spanish) or City of Arts and Sciences is an ensemble of five areas in the dry riverbed of the now-diverted River Turia in Valencia, Spain.

Designed by Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava in collaboration with Félix Candela, and started in July 1996, it is an impressive example of contemporary architecture.

he „city” is made up of the following, usually known by their Valencian names:

El Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía — Opera house and performing arts centre
L’Hemisfèric — Imax Cinema, Planetarium and Laserium
L’Umbracle — Walkway / Garden
El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe — Science museum
L’Oceanogràfic — Open-air oceanographic park

Official website: http://www.cac.es/

Source: Wikipedia

Valencia city tour bus

The mock-up of the Cathedral of Valencia (Metropolitan Basilica Cathedral) or Saint Mary of Valencia Cathedral. Most of Valencia Cathedral was built between the XIIIth century and the XVth, and that is why its style is mainly Gothic. One of the supposed Holy Chalices, present around the world, is revered in one of this cathedral's chapels; this chalice has been defended as the true Holy Grail; indeed, most Christian historians all over the world declare that all their evidence points to this Valencian chalice as the most likely candidate for being the authentic cup used at the Last Supper. It was the official papal chalice for many popes, and has been used by many others, most recently by Pope Benedict XVI, on July 9, 2006. This chalice dates from the 1st century, and was given to the cathedral by king Alfons el Magnànim in 1436.