UK callers, you can call us for 10p per minute on: +08 71 722 11 87
Local call rates in your country: (09) 2316 5332 Finland 08-559 26 228 Sweden 36 98 77 91 Denmark (02) 8005-7161 Australia (04) 889 2448 New Zealand (22) 548-33-65 Switzerland
Valencia is the third-largest city in Spain with a population of approximately 807,396, totalling 1,807,396 if you include the outlying areas. The city has a Mediterranean climate, with warm, dry weather in the summertime and mild winter weather. In ancient times, the region was known as Edetania, and was founded by the Romans in the 2nd Century BC. At various times in history, the city has been occupied by the Visigoths, Moors and the Aragonese.
Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, also known as El Cid, conquered Valencia in 1094, eventually converting the local mosques into churches. After Vivar died in July of 1099, his wife Doña Ximena held power for two years, until Valencia was attacked by the Almoravids in 1102. The Christian residents of the city set it aflame and abandoned it rather than stay under the rule of the Almoravids.
Then, in 1238, Jaime the Conqueror besieged Valencia with a combined military force made up of French, English, German and Italian soldiers, and quickly brought about victory, causing a mass exodus of 50,000 Moors leaving the city. King James I of Aragon took control of Valencia, incorporating it into the newly-created Kingdom of Valencia.
The very first printing press in the Iberian Peninsula was located in Valencia, and what’s more, the first Bible published in a Romance language (Valencian) was produced there in the late 15th Century. Another notable occurrence around this time was the loaning of gold by Valencian bankers to Queen Isabella for Columbus' famous voyage in 1492.
In January of 1706, during the War of the Spanish Succession, an earl named Charles Mordaunt led a small group of Englishmen into Valencia and captured the nearby fortress at Sagunto, thereby tricking the army of Spanish Bourbons into retreat. Mordaunt and his men kept control over the city for over a year, until the Battle of Almansa in April 1707. This is when the English forces were forced to evacuate the city.
Valencia became the capital of the Republic during the Spanish Civil War, and weathered a blockade and a siege by Franco's army. During the years of Franco’s rule over the city, speaking or teaching the Valencian language was forbidden. By contrast, compulsory study of the language has been the norm since Valencia gained autonomy in 1982.
Some of the highlights:
Valencia is renowned for its Las Fallas Festival, which takes place every March, as well as for its local delicacy paella valenciana and La Tomatina, an annual tomato fight in August which draws tourists and locals alike to the nearby town of Buñol.
Most of the signs and announcements in the city are printed in Valencian, with a small Spanish translation presented below the main text.
Valencia’s vibrant nightlife scene has been famous since the 1980s, with the hottest pubs and clubs situated in the Carmen district. Just like the rest of Spain, the nightlife scene tends to really get going well after the midnight hour.
The biggest square in town is the Plaça de l’Ajuntament, where you can see the Town Hall, along with quite a few high-quality restaurants and pubs. The Plaça de la Verge is where the Basilica of the Virgin and the Turia Fountain are located, and around the corner you can find the Plaça de la Reina, which contains a cathedral, distinctive orange trees, and plenty more pubs and dining options.
The Turia River was diverted several decades ago, and the former riverbed is today the site of the Turia Gardens, where you’ll find a playground, a fountain, and recreational areas. Nearby, the Palau de la Música and the City of Arts and Sciences can be visited, two of the most popular local attractions. World-famous architect Santiago Calatrava designed the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences, which consists of a science museum, an IMAX theatre and an oceanographic park. The Music Palace presents yet another great example of Modernist architecture in the city.
The ancient, winding streets of the Carmen district are packed with structures that date back to the Roman and Arabic eras. The Cathedral, built between the the 13th and 15th Centuries, is Gothic with Baroque and Romanesque elements. Next door is the Gothic Basilica of the Virgin, along with the Serrano and Quart Towers, forming a portion of what was once the protective city walls.
UNESCO has added the Late-Gothic Silk Exchange to its list of World Heritage Sites, and the Modernist Mercado Central (Central Market) is one of the largest of its kind in all of Europe. Finally, the central railway station (Estación Del Norte) is constructed in the Art Deco style and deserves going out of your way to glimpse if you don’t arrive in the city by train.
Express Booking Form
About us
Tell your friends about us
+08 71 722 11 87