City:

The city of Valencia is the capital of the “Comunidad Valenciana” and the province of Valencia. It is located in the middle-east of Spain, on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea. The city is considered the third largest city of the Spanish State, according to its population rate, 1.500.000 inhabitants.
The province of Valencia has an area of approximately 10,807 km². Inland, you can find mountainous areas whilst on the coast the land is completely flat, and has many beaches as well as a big lake called “La Albufera”.
Valencia is a Mediterranean city that invites one and all to enjoy its diversity and unforgettable charisma. It is a city of contrasts, proud of its illustrious, deep rooted history whilst being at the cutting edge of all the latest social and technological developments. It is city open to all, accessible to everyone, it is a city which can be enjoyed by all residents and visitors alike.

Valencia is a city for encounters and contrasts. The legacy left by the cultures and civilisations which have reached these shores in the past still remains alive in the city's monuments and streets, not to mention in its people's hearts.
Business and trade coexist with leisure and culture. Valencia is a city that never sleeps. It has a rich cultural life with festivals, concerts, shows and exhibitions all year round.
A city like this can be enjoyed with all five senses. Dialogues flow smoothly, ideas float back and forth easily, lines of communication are always open and people feel at their ease. Valencia invites you to indulge your passion for the art of encounters.

Weather:

Valencia enjoys a mild temperate Mediterranean climate. The average annual temperature is 17ºC with warm summers and very mild winters, rarely below 10ºC. There is only light rainfall mainly in autumn and the beginning of spring.

Places to visit in Valencia

Monuments
Valencia is a city with a great cultural interest where one can find ancient monuments such as El Palacio de la Generalitat, El Miguelete, La Lonja, Torres de Serranos, Torres de Quart, the Central Market, The Cathedral along with many other historical places like The Round Square Plaza Redonda, Plaza del Ayuntamiento (City Hall Square) and the Old city…

Museums
The most important museums are:
• Valencian Institute of Modern Art
• XIX Century Museum
• Museum of Fine Arts
• National Ceramics Museum
• The Cathedral Museum
• Museum of Palaeontology
• Museum of the Patriarch
• Prehistoric Museum
• Museum of “Las Fallas”
• Museum of Craftsmanship
• Municipal Museum of History
• Maritime Museum • Museum of the City
• Museum of Ethnology • Science Museum

Other interesting places to visit

The City of Arts and Sciences, 21st century emblem of the Valencian Community, is designated as a fun a leisure space aiming to influence the scientific, technical, educational and leisure, tourist, economical and commercial urban fields. It is a unique place in the world to enjoy yourself with Art, Science and Nature.
The City of Arts and Sciences is situated next to the old bed of the river Turia, in the area between the Saler highway and the Moreras road; with a surface of 350.000 m². It has four great areas: the Art Palace, a plurifunctional building for the development of cultural activities of all kinds; L’Hemisfèric, Cinema-Planetarium with the latest technological systems; the Science Museum, that will house exhibitions of subjects related to science and leading technology; and the Universal Oceanographic Park, a big urban park with two aims: first, intended for promenade and relax, and second, for leisure and fun with the diffusion of underwater principal aspects.

All around the city one can also find many gardens and green areas to enjoy leisure such as “Los Viveros”, “Jardín Botánico”, “Cauce viejo del Rio Turia” …
www.turisvalencia.es

Beaches

In the Valencian Region there are 485 kilometres of coastline. Beaches of all kinds can be found from very long straight beaches to those in small coves or inlets. The sand is fine and golden and, on some beaches you can find fine, clean gravel. All beaches have a splendid climate and light.

In the north of the port of Valencia are the beaches of “Levante”, “Arenas” and “Malvarosa”, the closest ones to the city, and the easiest to get by public transport. Typical restaurants can be found here, where you can taste exquisite Valencian dishes.
In the south of the city, there is the beach of “Pinedo”. About eight kilometres away is the beach of “El Saler”, which is situated in an area of great ecological interest, with the “Albufera lake”, extensive pine trees, and one of the most prestigious golf courses in the country.
All along the coast of Valencia you can find beaches distinguished by the blue flag of the European Union, thus showing their cleanliness and quality of services.

Cultural life

Valencia is home to numerous cultural activities. You can find theatre plays of different types. In the city, there are theatres such as: El Centro Dramático de la Generalitat Valenciana, la Sala Escalante, el Teatro Principal, el Teatre del Micalet, el Teatro Olympia, el Teatro Talia, etc.
The “Palau de la Música” offers classical music concerts regularly during the year. Once a year, the “Certamen Internacional de Bandas de Música” is held, this Festival keeps a great tradition alive all around the Valencian Province.

Pop-rock music concerts are also organised, where a large variety of Spanish and International artists perform their live music. Art lovers ought to visit museums or a large number of art galleries where temporary exhibitions are held, of which there is a large number in the city.

Access to the City

The city has excellent transport links. There are different ways to access the city of Valencia.

Plane

The international airport of Valencia (VLC) is based in the town of “Manises” which is about eight kilometres west of the city. It offers daily flights to major Spanish cities and overseas. There are also a great number of flights which go to Barcelona and Madrid as a connection with other flights. If you take a taxi from the city to the airport, it may cost you about 13.00 €, however this price may vary depending on the traffic.

There is also a bus route that goes to the airport, it is a yellow bus of the CVT company, bus number 30, which runs every day except Sundays and bank holidays. It costs 1.70 € and connects the airport and the bus station which is situated in C/Menéndez Pidal 13. If you are going to use this service you can get information for the most convenient bus stop by contacting:

Airport
(+34) 961 598 500
(+34) 963 709 500
www.turisvalencia.es

Road network

Valencia is connected with the rest of Europe through the so called Mediterranean highway (A-7 or E-15) and the national roads N-III (E-901), N-332, N-340 and N-234 connect the city with the rest of the country.

There are also daily bus services to the rest of Spain and Europe from the BUS station, which address is:

Calle Menéndez Pidal 13, Valencia
(+34) 963 466 266

Train

The “Estación del Norte” is the main train station in Valencia and is located in the city centre. It offers daily train services to Spanish and European cities. The train service is run by RENFE company; the information phone line is: 902 24 02 02.
You can get to different parts of the province by using the Valencian public railway line (FGV).

For further information, you can phone
(+34) 96 397 40 40.
www.turisvalencia.es
www.renfe.es

Sea connections

The port of Valencia is 4 km away from the city centre, it is very important in terms of trade and transport for travellers.

Further information:
Maritime Station
(+34) 96 393 95 00
Maritime Company TRANSMEDITERRÁNEA:
(+34) 902 45 46 45
www.transmediterranea.es

Public Transport Within the City

Combined ticket
Combined tickets allow travelling on the EMT bus service and the FGV tram and metro lines,
within the “urban zone” of central Valencia.

You will find more information in the metro information desks and at:
www.metrovalencia.com

Taxi
Different companies offer a taxi service. Prices vary depending on the zone. The price shows up on the taximeter. Minimum charge is 1.80€.
The main taxi companies which operate in Valencia are:

Radio-Taxi: 963 703 333
Tele-Taxi: 963 571 313

Local festivities

Valencian people are outgoing, generous and love street parties. The basic ingredients of Valencian parties and festivals are light, gunpowder, fireworks, parades, music, etc.
Fallas is our Valencian main festival. It takes place once a year from the 12th to the 19th of March. There is a rich explosion of colours, noise and gunpowder smell. Artistic monuments called Fallas, plenty of colours and satire, are all around the city. Music and people dressed with typical costumes parade through the streets. Magnificent fireworks, together with “Mascletás” (daytime fireworks displays) and the flowers' gift to the Virgen de los Desamparados are important events. Hot chocolate with “buñuelos” (a typical kind of cake) are typical of this festival. On the 19th of March, all the fallas are burnt, and the experience is unforgettable.

For further information just visit the following link:
fallas.comunitatvalenciana.com

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VAT Reg. No.: G97817381 – C/ Dr. Vicente Zaragozá 70-9, 46020 Valencia – Spain
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