Hotels in Valencia, Spain

A little about Valencia...

Valencia is the capital of the Spanish autonomous community of Valencia and its province. It is the third largest city in Spain and the 21st largest city of the European Union. It forms part of an industrial area on the Costa del Azahar. The estimated population of the city of Valencia proper was 807,396 as of 2006 estimates. Population of the urban area was 1,212,000 as of 2000 estimates. Population of the metropolitan area (urban area plus satellite towns) was 1,907,396 as of 2006 estimates. As of 2007, the mayor of Valencia is Rita Barberá Nolla. Valencia has a very changeable Mediterranean climate, with warm dry summers, mild humid winters and stormy autumn and springs.

The city of Valencia and the surrounding area are expected to attract millions of visitors from around the world given that the city of Valencia has been chosen to host the 32nd America's Cup. The first America's Cup competitions took place in June and July 2005 and were key attractions during the summer of 2005. According to official data from the organizing committee, as many as 150,000 visitors flocked to Valencia's port each day during the two-week events.

Squares and Gardens: The largest square is the Plaça de l'Ajuntament, which contains the town hall (ajuntament), a cinema which shows classic movies (La Filmoteca), and many restaurants and bars. This is where the noisy fireworks of the mascletà can be heard every afternoon during the Las Fallas.

The Plaça de la Verge contains the Basilica of the Virgin and the Turia fountain, and is a popular spot for locals and tourists. Around the corner is the Plaça de la Reina, with the Cathedral, orange trees, and many bars and restaurants.

The Turia River was diverted in the 1960s, after severe flooding, and the old river bed is now the Turia gardens, which contain a children’s playground, a fountain, and sports fields. The Palau de la Música is adjacent to the Turia gardens and the City of Arts and Sciences lies at one end. Other gardens in Valencia include the Real, Monforte, and Botanical gardens.

Nightlife: Valencia is famous for its vibrant nightlife. In the 1980s and 1990s clubbers would follow the "ruta del bacalao" from Madrid to Valencia. Today, the more alternative/bohemian bars and nightclubs are concentrated in the Carmen, while the student nightlife is found around Blasco Ibanez and the more mainstream weekend nightlife has its clusters in the areas of Canovas and Juan Llorens. In the summer there is also nightlife on the beach and at the Port and Malvarossa Beach. Since the America's Cup is taking place at Valencia, new clubs have been opened and people from all nations go there to party every weekend. As is normal for Spain, nightlife dœs not take off until well after midnight. Agua de Valencia is the city's unofficial cocktail.