Google
Web City Travel Guide   
 ->   ->   -> 

Valencia travel guide — Valencia tourism and travel information

Welcome to Valencia Travel Guide, extensive source of tourist information and travel services offer related to Valencia and Spain. Book cheap hotels, cheap flights and get car rental. We also offer Valencia travel guide books and maps and atlases. Please visit Spain travel guide for more travel and tourism iformation and attractions in the Spain.

our Valencia travel guide — Valencia tourism and travel information content

  1. Valencia travel and tourist guide
  2. Valencia travel services
  3. Valencia travel books

latest Valencia and Spain discussion posts

Join our comprehensive travel discussion board! Share your Valencia and Spain travel experience! Our Ask and Answer forum is geographically divided, the team of editors world-wide is ready to answer your questions.

Valencia travel guide

search in books:  

Search discount Valencia travel books in all books. You can also browse and buy directly Valencia city guide and Spain travel guide books, Valencia maps and Spain maps and atlases.

about Valencia

Valencia (Spanish: Valencia /ba'lenθja/; Catalan: València /və'łεnsjə/) is a medium-sized port city (the third largest city in Spain) and industrial area on the east coast of Spain. It is the capital of the Valencian Country and of province of Valencia. As of the 2003 census, the population of the city of Valencia proper was 780,653, and the population of the entire urban area was estimated to be 1,465,423, ranking as the third-largest urban area in Spain.

Valencia has enjoyed strong economic growth over the last decade, much of it spurred by tourism and construction. However, this model of development has led to a great deal of building on rural land. Furthermore, the Valencia government's implementation of the LRAU [law regulating urban activity] has been extremely controversial since it involves the expropriation of foreign residents' homes, often without compensation. Critics argue that this legislation (which was theoretically designed to protect rural land) is being misused for large urban and industrial developments. The European Union's Committee of Petitions reported on the issue in 2004, finding that the Valencian government was breaching basic European rights. The ambassadors of EU Member States have protested to the Spanish authorities on behalf of their citizens and the issue may be referred to the European Court of Human Rights. Wide media coverage of the case abroad threatens the local "residential tourism" industry.

It is famous for the Las Fallas festival in March, for paella valenciana and the new City of Arts and Sciences.

Valencia has a metro system, run by FGV. Valencia has a reasonably successful football club known as Valencia C.F.

It is a predominantly Spanish-speaking city, but a significant minority speak Catalan (virtually always known locally as "Valencian"), particularly with family. For many this is an important issue, and the local government makes sure it emphasises the use of the local language. For instance, all signs in the Metro are in Valencian, with Spanish translations underneath in smaller type. Both languages are official.

Valencia history

The city was founded by the Romans in 137 BC on the site of a former Iberian town, by the river Turia. The river flooded in the 1950s killing many Valencians. The river was re-routed and the dry river bed was converted to a park that runs through the city. The city has been occupied by the Visigoths, Moors and the Aragonese. In 1094, Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (El Cid) conquered Valencia (this victory was immortalised in the Lay of the Cid), but the city returned to the Almoravids in 1102. The king James I of Aragon reconquered the city in 1238 and incorporated it to the new formed Kingdom of Valencia, one of the kingdoms forming the Crown of Aragon.

In the 15th and 16th centuries, Valencia was one of the major cities in the Mediterranean. The writer Joanot Martorell, author of Tirant lo Blanch, and the poet Ausias March are famous Valencians of that era.

The first printing press in the Iberian Peninsula was located in Valencia. The first printed Bible in a Romance language, Catalan, was printed in Valencia circa 1478, attributed to Bonifaci Ferrer.

Valencian bankers loaned funds to Queen Isabella for Columbus' trip in 1492.

War of the Germanies 1519–1522.

Expulsion of Moriscos in 1609.

During the War of the Spanish Succession, Valencia sided with Charles of Austria. After the victory of the Bourbons at the Battle of Almansa (April 25, 1707), the city lost its privileges or furs.

After the fall of Madrid in the Spanish Civil War, the capital of the Republic was moved to Valencia. The city suffered from the blockade and siege by Franco's forces. The postwar period was hard for Valencians. During the Franco years, speaking or teaching Valencian was prohibited; using the language at all was subject to criminal penalties.

Valencia was granted Autonomous Statutes in 1982.

Near cities to Valencia


Near webcams to Valencia


back to top

Valencia travel services

choose from our international travel services offer:

cheap flights to Valencia

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of four main cheap airline tickets and cheap flights online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap airline tickets Valencia, cheap flights Valencia, also available cheap airline tickets to Spain and to the whole world. Up to date cheap flights Valencia deals also available.

cheap Valencia hotels

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main cheap hotels and accommodation online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap hotels in Valencia, Spain hotel guide and cheap hotels and accommodation in lot of other world-wide destinations. Up to date cheap Valencia hotel deals and discount accommodation tips also available.

cheap Valencia vacations

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main cheap vacations online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap vacations in Valencia, Spain vacation rentals and cheap vacations in lot of other destinations world-wide. Up to date Valencia vacation deals also available.

cheap car rentals in Valencia

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main car rentals online booking systems. We are happy to offer car rentals in Valencia, car hire in Spain and cheap car rental in lot other world-wide destinations. Up to date cheap Valencia car hire deals also available.

Valencia travel insurance

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of Essential Travel Ltd., leading online travel insurance company, we can offer you health travel insurance for Valencia, accident health Valencia travel insurance, all using our online Valencia travel insurance form. We also offer travel insurance for other cities in Spain. This offer is available for UK residents only.

Valencia real estate

City Travel Guide comes with Valencia real estate guide with several tips on home valuation, realtors comparison, secrets on finding the "right" home, loans guide and other helpful real estate advices. Our partners also maintain Valencia property for sale and rental listings, real estate laws and reviews. We will try to help you with buying property in Spain, choosing real estate agents, property finders, relocation help, and information for English speakers wanting to buy real estate in Valencia.

back to top

Valencia travel books

Valencia travel guide books

search travel guide books:  

Valencia maps and atlases

search maps and atlases:  
back to top

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Valencia, Spain".

Copyright © 2004 City Travel Guide Team. All rights reserved. | contact us | sitemap | links | XHTML and CSS