Regional information for Valencia

Valencia (or Valencian Community) is an autonomous community in eastern Spain. Between the Sénia and Segura rivers, it has 518 kilometres of coastline on the Mediterranean and covers 23,255 km² of land with 4.5 million inhabitants. Valencia also administers the coastal Columbretes islands and Nova Tabarca.

This region is a typical example of "Mediterranean Spain", with a fantastic climate and coastline. It is unquestionably one of the region’s most visited by tourists.

Tomato Fight

If you want to discover more than just sun and sand, you will find remains of most remote civilizations, Phoenicians, Greeks, Iberians and Romans. The Moorish legacy is still present in traditional artisany and agriculture with its much praised oranges and rice.

Provinces

Traditionally the land is divided into ‘comarques’ and in 1883 was, along with the rest of Spain, divided into provinces. There are 32 ‘comarques’, and three provinces: Castelló, València, and Alacant.

València, capital of the province of the same name, on the river Turia. Famous festival of the Fallas on March 19. A must visit is the Arts and Sciences Museum of Valencia.
Alicante, capital of the province of the same name, on the Mediterranean coast. Famous for its hard nougat (or turrón dur) and Postiguet, Albufereta and San Joan Beaches. The famous festival of the Bonfires of Saint John is in June. Its city hall and the Santa Barbara Castle are historic monuments.
Elx, famous for the wood of the palm tree called Palmeral, and for the Misteri d'Elx, two-day festival of singing and street drama that acts out the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, declared by UNESCO as part of all humankind's oral heritage.
Castelló de la Plana, capital of the province of Castelló.
Torrevieja, in the south, important tourist centre with many hotels, apartments and tourist accommodations; includes La Mata Beach.
Gandia, is another important tourist centre, situated on the Costa del Azahar.
Orihuela, on the Segura River, historic city with palaces, churches and the Cathedral, on the "Vega Baja", a highly productive area for farm products such as oranges, lemons and the like.
Benidorm, a major holiday resort, dubbed Beniyork because of its many skyscrapers, including Spain's tallest, the 52-story Gran Hotel Bali.
Elda, important production centre for shoes and wine in the Vinalopo area
Xixona, near Alicante, famous for its soft nougat or torró de Xixona.
Villena, important for the production of shoes and wine, with many historical and monumental visits. Also, fiestas of "Moros y Cristianos", one of the most important in the Community.
Vila-Real, important producer of ceramics and brick.
Buñol, famous for the tomatina, a town-wide tomato fight held the last Wednesday of August.
Ibi, a toy production centre.

Cuisine of Valencia

Sun and oranges, delicious seafood, vegetables and very good wines are all words often used to describe one of the finest cuisines of Spain. Also rice, which is produced here in large quantities, plays a major part in many of this region’s typical dishes. The Valencianos understood to combine those ingredients to perfect masterpieces, Paella Valenciana being the most famous example.

There are many variations of this recipe and even experts cannot determine which one is the original Paella. Best known is what Valencianos call Paella Marinera: rice with saffron, sea-food and vegetables.

To make really good Paella, you cannot use electric cookers. The best way is to cook it in a large diameter, flat pan called a Paellera, over a charcoal-fire. After all the ingredients have been added you cannot stir it, as this will compromise the overwhelming result.

Fideuá is similar to Paella, but the rice is replaced by a particular kind of noodles. Another speciality is Arroz Negre, "Black Rice", which owes its colour to the ink of cuttlefish.

If you need a refreshing drink then Horchata is worth a try. It is made of the milk of a plant called Chufas (somewhat similar to rice) and is served ice cold.

Major Attractions in Valencia

Costa Blanca

One of the most famous Spanish coasts, with its magnificent sandy beaches makes it a first rate tourist centre. Among the most important cities are Denia, Calpe and Benidorm with its outstanding hotel infrastructure and bubbling nightlife.

Costa Azahar

The "Orange-Blossom-Coast", in the north of Valencia, not only offers great beaches but as well beautiful towns as Peñiscola with its great medieval castle or Oropesa, which conserves the 16th century Tower of the King, erected as a defence against pirates. A true pearl is the enchanting Morella with its narrow lanes, enclosed by 14th century walls. Well known towns on the Costa del Azahar include Peñíscola, Benicàssim, Castellón de la Plana, Sagunt, Valencia, Cullera, Gandia, Denia and Xàbia.

Castellon

The most remarkable monuments are the cathedral Santa Maria and the town hall.

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