Valencia, Spain

Valencia is located at the mid point of the Spanish east Mediterranean coast, 350 km east of Madrid and 350 km south of Barcelona.It is a cosmopolitan city, its openness making it the meeting point of various civilizations over the years.

Today, due to its privileged geographical situation and its extensive infrastructure, Valencia is easily accessible and well connected to the important Spanish and European capitals.

Valencia has been called the city of the 100 bell towers, of which the most outstanding are the Gothic Miguelete Tower (1381-1424), adjoining the cathedral, and the hexagonal Tower of Santa Catalina (1688-1705), a fine example of Valencian Baroque style. The most important church is the cathedral (La Seo), situated in the ancient city centre. Begun in the 13th century (completed 1482), it represents several styles (its three doorways are respectively Romanesque, Baroque, and Gothic); and it possesses many works of art, including two large religious paintings by Goya. On Thursdays at noon the doorway opening onto the Plaza de la Constitución is the site of the Tribunal de las Aguas (Water Court), which has been in existence at least since the 10th century. It is composed of farmers, who hear disputes over irrigation waters and dispense justice on the spot, conducting all proceedings orally, in the Valencian dialect of Catalan.

Notable civic buildings include the splendid late-Gothic (15th century) Lonja de la Seda (Silk Exchange); the Palacio de la Diputación, which housed the parliament of the kingdom of Valencia, with a 15th-century courtyard and beautifully panelled rooms; the Town Hall (Ayuntamiento), a modern building with important archives and the city historical museum; and the 18th-century Neoclassical Palacio de Justicia. Valencia was a walled town, but the walls were  removed in the 19th century, and only two of its gates survive. Remains of Moorish buildings include the Almud’n (the public granary), which houses the Museum of Paleontology, and the Baños del Almirante (13th century).

There are museums of art and ceramics, botanical gardens, and a university (1501) which, in the early 1970s, was being transferred to a newly developed University City.

At any time of the year, the beach is accessible by car, bicycle, tram, or any one of our of modern buses. In just ten minutes, you can be relaxing on the beautiful beaches of las Arenas or la Malvarrossa.

The new promenade has become a leisure centre par excellence, where one can sunbathe, rollerskate, run, enjoy a walk, savour a splendid paella or any one of many fresh seafood dishes.