About City

The original Latin name of the city was Valentia, meaning “strength”, or “valour”, the city being named according to the Roman practice of recognizing the valour of former Roman soldiers after a war. The Roman historian Livy explains that the founding of Valentia in the 2nd century BC was due to the settling of the Roman soldiers who fought against an Iberian rebel, Viriato. During the rule of the Muslim kingdoms in Spain, it was called Medina at-Turab (‘City of Sands’), since it was located on the banks of the River Turia, while the term Balansiyya was reserved for the entire Taifa of Valencia.

Valencia is known internationally for the Falles (Las Fallas), a local festival held in March and for paella valenciana, traditional Valencian ceramics, intricate traditional dress, and the architecture of the City of Arts and Sciences designed by Santiago Calatrava and Felix Candela.

La Tomatina, an annual tomato fight, draws crowds to the nearby town of Bunol in August. There are also a number of well-preserved traditional Catholic festivities throughout the year. Holy week celebrations in Valencia are considered some of the most colourful in Spain. Valencia has a metro system, the Metrovalencia (Valencia Metro).

Attractions & Landmarks

• Plaza Del Mercado: Lonja & Mercado Central.
• La Catedral and Plaza De La Virgen.
• Torres de Serranos.
• Iglesia de San Juan del Hospital.
• Museo de Bellas Artes San Pio V.
• Museo Nacional de Ceramica Gonzalez Marti.
• La Ciudad De Las Artes Y Las Ciencias.
• El Puerto and La Playa.
• Bioparc Valencia.
• Monastery of San Miguel de los Reyes.