València

València

ES
Population769,128
Valencia ( və-LEN-see-ə or və-LEN-sh(ee-)ə, Spanish: [baˈlenθja] ), formally València (Valencian: [vaˈlensia]), is the capital of the province and autonomous community of the same name in Spain. It is located on the banks of the Turia, on the east coast of the Iberian Peninsula on the Mediterranean Sea. It is the third-most populated municipality in the country, with 825,948 inhabitants. The urban area of Valencia has 1.5 million people while the metropolitan region has 2.5 million. Valencia was founded as a Roman colony in 138 BC as Valentia Edetanorum. As an autonomous city in late antiquity, its militarization followed the onset of the threat posed by the Byzantine presence to the South, together with effective integration to the Visigothic Kingdom of Toledo in the late 6th century. Islamic rule and acculturation ensued in the 8th century, together with the introduction of new irrigation systems and crops. With the Aragonese Christian conquest in 1238, the city became the capital of the Kingdom of Valencia. Due to trade with the rest of the Iberian Peninsula, Italian ports, and other Mediterranean locations, the city thrived in the 15th century and Valencia had become one of the largest European cities by the end of the century. The emergence of the Atlantic World affected Mediterranean trade in the global trade networks and, along with insecurity created by Barbary piracy throughout the 16th century. Although the 16th century had been notable for the large number of religious foundations which, according to one estimate, suggested that one third of its area had been occupied by religious buildings. The city's economic activity suffered a crisis following the expulsion of the Moriscos in 1609. The city became a major silk manufacturing centre in the 18th century. During the Spanish Civil War, the city served as the provisional seat of the Spanish Government from 1936 to 1937. The Port of Valencia is one of the busiest container ports in Europe and the Mediterranean. The city is ranked as a Gamma-level global city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network. Valencia has numerous celebrations and traditions, such as the Falles (or Fallas), which were declared a Fiesta of National Tourist Interest of Spain in 1965 and an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in November 2016. The city was selected as the European Capital of Sport 2011, the World Design Capital 2022 and the European Green Capital 2024.

Places to Explore

Curated experiences in València

Bombas Gens Centre d'Art

Bombas Gens Centre d'Art

L'ETNO - Museu Valencià d'Etnologia

L'ETNO - Museu Valencià d'Etnologia

The Valencian Museum of Ethnology (Catalan: Museu Valencià d'Etnologia) is a museum located in the city of Valencia, mediterranean Spain. …

Font de la Nau de l'Aigua

Font de la Nau de l'Aigua

Museo de los Soldaditos de Plomo L'Iber

Museo de los Soldaditos de Plomo L'Iber

Museo de Cerámica de Manises

Museo de Cerámica de Manises

Museu del Palmito d'Aldaia

Museu del Palmito d'Aldaia

Pont de les Flors Alcaldessa Rita Barberá

Pont de les Flors Alcaldessa Rita Barberá

Museu de Prehistòria de València

Museu de Prehistòria de València

The Prehistory Museum of Valencia is a museum of the city of Valencia, in Spain, that exposes archaeological materials covering …

Museo Taurino

Museo Taurino

Monestir de Sant Miquel dels Reis

Monestir de Sant Miquel dels Reis

Jardí Botànic de la Universitat de València

Jardí Botànic de la Universitat de València

The Botanical Garden of the University of Valencia (Valencian: Jardí Botànic de la Universitat de València) is a botanical garden …

València - Estació del Nord

València - Estació del Nord

The Estació del Nord (Valencian) or Estación del Norte (Spanish), both meaning "North Station", is the major railway station in …

Palau de la Generalitat Valenciana

Palau de la Generalitat Valenciana

The Palace of the Generalitat Valenciana, (Valencian: Palau de la Generalitat Valenciana; Spanish: Palacio de la Generalidad Valenciana) is a …

Museu de les Ciències «Príncep Felip»

Museu de les Ciències «Príncep Felip»

The Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe (Valencian: Museu de les Ciències Príncep Felip, Spanish: Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe …

Museu d'Història de València

Museu d'Història de València

Valencia History Museum (Catalan: Museu d’Història de València, Spanish: Museo de historia de Valencia, abbreviated as MhV) was inaugurated on …

Institut Valencià d'Art Modern

Institut Valencià d'Art Modern

The Institut Valencià d'Art Modern (Valencian pronunciation: [instiˈtud valensiˈa ˈðaɾd moˈðɛɾn]; Spanish: Instituto Valenciano de Arte Moderno; English: "Valencian Institute …

Museu Faller

Museu Faller

Palau del Marqués de Dosaigües

Palau del Marqués de Dosaigües

The Palace of the Marquis of Dos Aguas (Spanish: Palacio del Marqués de Dos Aguas, Valencian: Palau del Marqués de …

Mercat Central

Mercat Central

Mercado Central or Mercat Central (English: Central Market) is a public market located across from the Llotja de la Seda …

Església de Sant Nicolau

Església de Sant Nicolau

The Church of Sant Nicolau de Bari and Sant Pere Màrtir is a Valencian Gothic style, Catholic parish church located …

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