Valencia was founded as aRoman colony in 138 BC asValentia Edetanorum [es]. As an autonomous city in late antiquity, its militarization followed the onset of the threat posed by theByzantine presence to the South, together with effective integration to theVisigothic Kingdom of Toledo in the late 6th century.[5]Islamic rule and acculturation ensued in the 8th century, together with the introduction of new irrigation systems and crops. With theAragonese Christian conquest in 1238, the city became the capital of theKingdom 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 theAtlantic World affected Mediterranean trade in the global trade networks and, along with insecurity created byBarbary 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.[6] The city's economic activity suffered a crisis following theexpulsion of the Moriscos in 1609.
The city became a majorsilk manufacturing centre in the 18th century. During theSpanish Civil War, the city served as the provisional seat of theSpanish Government from 1936 to 1937.
Romancornucopia, symbol of Valentia, found on the floor of a Roman building excavated in the Plaça de la Mare de Déu
TheLatin name of the city was Valēntia (Latin pronunciation:[waˈlɛːntija]), meaning "strength" or "valour", due to the Roman practice of recognising the valour of former Roman soldiers after a war. The Roman historianLivy explains that the founding of Valentia in the 2nd century BC was due to the settling of the Roman soldiers who fought against aLusitanian rebel,Viriatus, during the Third Raid of theLusitanian War.[10]
During the period of Islamic rule, the city was calledMedina at-Tarab ('City of Joy') according to one transliteration, orMedina at-Turab ('City of Sands') according to another, since it was located on the banks of the River Turia. It is not clear if an Arabised variant of the Latin name (Balansiyya) referred to the greaterTaifa of Valencia, or just the city itself.[11]
Via gradual phonetic changes,Valentia becameValenciaSpanish pronunciation:[baˈlenθja] inSpanish andValència[vaˈlensia] inValencian. In Valencian, ane with a grave accent (è) indicates[ɛ] in contrast to[e], but the wordValència is an exception to this rule, sinceè is pronounced[e]. The spelling "València" was approved by theAcadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua (AVL) based on tradition after a debate on the matter. The name "València" has been the only official name of the city since 2017.[12] In 2023, the Commission of Culture of the municipal corporation agreed in principle on a dual official denominationValencia/Valéncia, with thefar right managing to impose[editorializing] a non-standard acute accent in thee of the Valencian-language name.[13][14]
Detail of 2nd-century Roman mosaic found in the city
Valencia is one of the oldest cities in Spain, founded in the Roman periodc. 138 BC asValentia Edetanorum.[15] A few centuries later, with the power vacuum left by the demise of the Roman imperial administration, theCatholic Church assumed power in the city, coinciding with the first waves of the invading Germanic peoples (Suebi,Vandals,Alans, and laterVisigoths).
After the fall of theWestern Roman Empire, Valencia became part of theVisigothic Kingdom from 546 to 711 AD.[16] The city surrendered to the invadingMoors about 714 AD.[17]Abd al-Rahman I laid waste to old Valencia by 788–789.[18] From then on, the name of Valencia (Arabised asBalansiya) appears more related to the wider area than to the city, which is primarily cited asMadînat al-Turâb ('city of earth' or 'sand') and presumably had diminished importance throughout the period.[19] During the emiral period, the surrounding territory, under the ascendancy of Berber chieftains, was prone to unruliness.[20] In the wake of the start of thefitna of al-Andalus, Valencia became the head of an independent emirate, theTaifa of Valencia.[21] It was initially controlled byeunuchs,[21] and then, after 1021, by Abd al-Azîz (a grandson ofAlmanzor).[22] Valencia experienced notable urban development in this period.[23] Many Jews lived in Valencia, including the accomplished Jewish poet and philosopherSolomon ibn Gabirol, who spent his last years in the city.[24] After a damaging offensive by Castilian–Leonese forces towards 1065, the territory became a satellite of theTaifa of Toledo, and following the fall of the latter in 1085, a protectorate of "El Cid". A revolt erupted in 1092, handing the city to theAlmoravids and forcing El Cid totake the city by force in 1094, henceforth establishinghis own principality.[25]
Following the evacuation of the city in 1102, the Almoravids took control. As the Almoravid empire crumbled in the mid 12th-century,ibn Mardanīsh took control of eastern al-Andalus, creating a Murcia-centred independent emirate to which Valencia belonged, resisting theAlmohads until 1172.[26] During the Almohad rule, the city perhaps had a population of about 20,000.[27] When the city fell toJames I of Aragon, the Jewish population constituted about 7 per cent of the total population.[24]
12th-century Arab dish
In 1238,[28] King James I of Aragon, with an army composed ofAragonese,Catalans, Navarrese, and crusaders from theOrder of Calatrava, laid siege to Valencia and on 28 Septemberobtained a surrender.[29] Fifty thousand Moors were forced to leave.[citation needed] The Jews of Valencia were afforded a quarter for residence in 1239, which was surrounded by a high wall in 1390. The quarter had three gates, all of which were closed at night; the Jewish cemetery was permitted just beyond 'the Jew's Gate', thePortal dels Jueues.[30]
Valencia endured serious troubles in the mid-14th century, including the decimation of the population by theBlack Death of 1348 and subsequent years of epidemics—as well as the series of wars and riots that followed.
In 1391, a pogrom struck the Jewish quarter of Valencia, part of a wave ofanti-Jewish attacks that began earlier that year in Seville and spread acrossCastile and into the Crown of Aragon. The assault in Valencia was sparked when a procession of youths marched on the Jewish quarter, shouting that "theArchdeacon of Castile is coming with his cross, and that all the Jews should be baptized or die."[31] Despite efforts by royal guards to intervene, thousands of Jews were murdered, and the survivors were forced to convert. The Jewish quarter was destroyed.[24]
By the late 14th century,Genoese traders promoted the expansion of the cultivation ofwhite mulberry in the area and later introduced innovativesilk manufacturing techniques. Valencia became a centre of mulberry production and was, for a time, a major silk-producing centre.[32] The Genoese community in Valencia—merchants, artisans and workers—became, along with Seville's, one of the most important in the Iberian Peninsula.[33]
In 1407, following the model of the Barcelona institution created some years before, aTaula de canvi (a municipal public bank) was created in Valencia, although its first iteration yielded limited success.[34]
The 15th century was a time of economic expansion, known as the Valencian Golden Age, during which culture and the arts flourished. Concurrent population growth made Valencia the most populous city in the Crown of Aragon.[citation needed] Some of the city's landmark buildings were built during the Late Middle Ages, including theSerranos Towers, theSilk Exchange, theMiguelete Tower, and the Chapel of the Kings of the Convent of Sant Domènec. In painting and sculpture,Flemish and Italian trends had an influence on Valencian artists.
Valencia became a majorslave trade centre in the 15th century, second only toLisbon in the West,[35] prompting a Lisbon–Seville–Valencia axis by the second half of the century powered by the incipient Portuguese slave trade originating inWest Africa.[36] By the end of the 15th century Valencia was one of the largest European cities, being the most populated city in the Hispanic Monarchy and second to Lisbon in the Iberian Peninsula.[37]
Following the death ofFerdinand II in 1516, the nobiliary estate challenged the Crown amid the relative void of power.[38] In 1519, theTaula de Canvis was recreated again, known asNova Taula.[39] The nobles earned the rejection from the people of Valencia, and the whole kingdom was plunged into theRevolt of the Brotherhoods and full-blown civil war between 1521 and 1522.[38] Muslim vassals were forced to convert in 1526 at the behest ofCharles V.[38]
Urban and rural delinquency—linked to phenomena such asvagrancy,gambling,larceny,pimping and false begging—as well as the nobiliary banditry consisting of the revenges and rivalries between the aristocratic families flourished in Valencia during the 16th century.[40] Furthermore,North African piracy targeted the whole coastline of thekingdom of Valencia, forcing the fortification of sites.[41] By the late 1520s, the intensification of Barbarycorsair activity along with domestic conflicts and the emergence of the Atlantic Ocean in detriment of the Mediterranean in global trade networks put an end to the economic splendor of the city.[42] This piracy also paved the way for the ensuing development of Christian piracy, that had Valencia as one of its main bases in the Iberian Mediterranean.[41] The Berber threat—initially withOttoman support—generated great insecurity on the coast, and it would not be substantially reduced until the 1580s.[41]
View of Valencia byAnton van den Wyngaerde (1563)Expulsion of the Moriscos from Valencia Grau by Pere Oromig (1616)
The crisis deepened during the 17th century with the 1609 expulsion of theMoriscos, descendants of the Muslim population that had converted to Christianity. The Spanish government systematically forced Moriscos to leave the kingdom for Muslim North Africa. They were concentrated in the formerCrown of Aragon, and in theKingdom of Valencia specifically, and constituted roughly a third of the total population.[43] The expulsion caused the financial ruin of some of the Valencian nobility and the bankruptcy of theTaula de canvi in 1613.[citation needed]
The English held the city for 16 months, defeating several attempts to expel them. After the victory of the Bourbons at theBattle of Almansa on 25 April 1707, the English army evacuated Valencia andPhilip V ordered the repeal of the Furs of Valencia as punishment for the kingdom's support of Charles of Austria.[44] By theNueva Planta decrees, the ancientCharters of Valencia were abolished and the city was governed by the Castilian Charter, similarly to other places in the Crown of Aragon.
The Valencian economy recovered during the 18th century with the rising manufacture of woven silk and ceramic tiles. The silk industry boomed during this century, with Valencia replacingToledo as the centre of silk-manufacturing in Spain.[32] The Palau de Justícia is an example of the affluence manifested in the most prosperous times of Bourbon rule (1758–1802) during the rule of Charles III. The 18th century was theAge of Enlightenment in Europe and, in Valencia, its humanistic ideals influenced men such asGregorio Mayans andFrancisco Pérez Bayer, who maintained correspondence with the leading French and German thinkers of the time.[citation needed]
The 19th century began with Spain embroiled in wars with France, Portugal, and England—but the Peninsular War (also known as the Spanish War of Independence) affected the Valencian territories and the capital city. The repercussions of the French Revolution were still being felt when Napoleon's armies invaded the Iberian Peninsula. The Valencian people rose up in arms against them on 23 May 1808, inspired by leaders such as Vicent Doménech el Palleter.[citation needed]
The mutineers seized the Citadel, theSupreme Junta government took over, and on 26–28 June, Napoleon's MarshalMoncey attacked the city with a column of 9,000 FrenchGrande Armée troops at the firstBattle of Valencia. He failed to take the city in two assaults and retreated to Madrid. MarshalSuchet began a long siege of the city in October 1811, and after intense bombardment forced it to surrender on 8 January 1812. After the capitulation, the French instituted reforms in Valencia, which became the capital of Spain when theBonapartist king,José I (Napoleon's elder brother), moved the Court there in the middle of 1812. The disaster of theBattle of Vitoria on 21 June 1813 obliged Suchet to quit Valencia, and the French troops withdrew in July.[citation needed]
Ferdinand VII returned to the throne at end of the Peninsular War, which freed Spain from Napoleonic domination. On his return, on 24 March 1814 from exile in France, the Cortes requested that he respect the liberal Constitution of 1812, which significantly limited royal powers. Ferdinand refused and went to Valencia instead of Madrid. Here, on 17 April,General Elio invited the King to reclaim his absolute rights and put his troops at the King's disposition. The king abolished theConstitution of 1812 and dissolved the two chambers of the Spanish Parliament on 10 May. Thus began six years (1814–1820) of absolutist rule, but the constitution was reinstated during theTrienio Liberal, a period of three years of liberal government in Spain from 1820 to 1823.
On King Ferdinand VII's death in 1833,Baldomero Espartero became one of the most ardent defenders of the hereditary rights of the king's daughter, the futureIsabella II. During the regency ofMaria Cristina, Espartero ruled Spain for two years as its 18th prime minister from 16 September 1840 to 21 May 1841. City life in Valencia carried on in a revolutionary climate, with frequent clashes between liberals and republicans.[citation needed]
The start of demolition work on the walls of the city in 1865
The reign of Isabella II as an adult (1843–1868) was a period of relative stability and growth for Valencia. During the second half of the 19th century the bourgeoisie encouraged the development of the city and its environs; landowners were enriched by the introduction of the orange crop and the expansion of vineyards and other crops. This economic boom corresponded with a revival of local traditions and of theValencian language, which had been ruthlessly suppressed from the time of Philip V.[citation needed]
Work to demolish the walls of the old city started on 20 February 1865.[45] The demolition of the citadel ended after the1868 Glorious Revolution.[45]
Following the introduction ofuniversal manhood suffrage in the late 19th century, the political landscape in Valencia—until then consisting of the bipartisanship characteristic of the earlyRestoration period—experienced a change, leading to a growth ofrepublican forces, gathered around the emerging figure ofVicente Blasco Ibáñez.[47] Not unlike the equally republicanLerrouxism, the PopulistBlasquism [es] came to mobilize the Valencian masses by promotinganticlericalism.[48] Meanwhile, in reaction, the right-wing coalesced around several initiatives such as the Catholic League or the reformulation of ValencianCarlism, andValencianism did similarly with organizations such as Valencia Nova or the Unió Valencianista.[49]
Women working at the Albufera (c. 1915)Bombing of the city by the ItalianAviazione Legionaria (1937) during the Spanish Civil War
In the early 20th century, Valencia was an industrialised city. Although the silk industry had disappeared, there was a large production of hides and skins, wood, metals, and foodstuffs, the latter with substantial exports, particularly of wine and citrus. Small businesses predominated, but with the rapid mechanisation of the industry, larger companies were being formed. The best expression of this dynamic was in regional exhibitions, including that of 1909 held next to theL'Albereda (Paseo de la Alameda), which depicted the progress of agriculture and industry. Among the most architecturally successful buildings of the era were those designed in theArt Nouveau style, such as theEstació del Nord and the Central and Columbus markets.[citation needed]
World War I (1914–1918) greatly affected the Valencian economy, causing the collapse of its citrus exports. TheSecond Spanish Republic (1931–1939) opened the way for democratic participation and the increased politicisation of citizens, especially in response to the rise of Conservative Front power in 1933. The inevitable march toward civil war and combat in Madrid resulted in the relocation of the capital of the Republic to Valencia.[citation needed]
After the continuous unsuccessfulFrancoist offensive on besieged Madrid during theSpanish Civil War, Valencia temporarily became the capital of Republican Spain on 6 November 1936. It hosted the government until 31 October 1937.[50]
During theSpanish Civil War, Valencia was heavily bombarded by air and sea, mainly by theFascist Italian air force, as well as the Francoist air force withNazi German support. By the end of the war, the city had survived 442 bombardments, leaving 2,831 dead and 847 wounded, although it is estimated that the death toll was higher. The Republican government moved to Barcelona on 31 October of that year. On 30 March 1939, Valencia surrendered and Nationalist Spanish troops entered the city.[citation needed]
The postwar years were a time of hardship for Valencians. During Franco's regime, speaking or teachingValencian was prohibited; in a significant reversal, it is now compulsory for every schoolchild in Valencia. Franco's dictatorship forbade political parties and began a harsh ideological and cultural repression countenanced and sometimes led by the Catholic Church. During Franco's regime some leading Valencian intellectuals, such asJuan Peset,rector ofUniversity of Valencia, were executed and many of them, includingJosep Renau andMax Aub, went into exile.[citation needed]
1957 floodValencian houses following the Valencia flood of 1957
In 1943, Franco decreed the exclusivity of Valencia and Barcelona for the celebration of internationalfairs in Spain.[51] These two cities would hold the monopoly on international fairs for more than three decades, until the rule's abolishment in 1979 by the government ofAdolfo Suárez.[51] In October 1957,a flood from the Turia river resulted in 81 casualties and extensive property damage.[52] The disaster led to the remodelling of the city and the creation of a new river bed for the Turia, with the old one becoming one of the city's "green lungs".[52] The economy began to recover in the early 1960s, and the city experienced explosive population growth through immigration spurred by jobs created with the implementation of major urban projects and infrastructure improvements.
With theadvent of democracy in Spain, the ancient kingdom of Valencia was established as a new autonomous entity, theValencian Community, the Statute of Autonomy of 1982 designating Valencia as its capital. Valencia has since then experienced a surge in its cultural development, exemplified by exhibitions and performances at such iconic institutions as thePalau de la Música, thePalacio de Congresos, the Metro, theCity of Arts and Sciences(Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències), the Valencian Museum of Enlightenment and Modernity(Museo Valenciano de la Ilustración y la Modernidad), and the Institute of Modern Art(Institut Valencià d'Art Modern). The various productions ofSantiago Calatrava, a renowned structural engineer, architect, and sculptor and of the architectFélix Candela have contributed to Valencia's international reputation. In 1983 the statue of Francisco Franco inPlaza delCaudillo was torn down and the plaza renamedPlaza del Ayuntamiento. Some time after, the bronze statueLa Paz y la Concordancia by José Puche was erected inPlaza de la Reina and dedicated to victims of terrorism. These public works and the ongoing rehabilitation of the "Old City"(Ciutat Vella) have helped improve the city's livability, and tourism is continually increasing.
Modern developments in the Penya-Roja neighborhood
On 3 July 2006, a major mass transit disaster, theValencia Metro derailment, left 43 dead and 47 wounded.[53] Days later, on 9 July, the World Day of Families, during Mass at Valencia's Cathedral, Our Lady of the Forsaken Basilica,Pope Benedict XVI used theSant Calze, a 1st-century Middle-Eastern artifact that some Catholics believe is theHoly Grail.[a]
Valencia was selected in 2003 to host the historicAmerica's Cup yacht race, the first European city ever to do so. The2007 America's Cup matches took place from April to July. On 3 July 2007,Alinghi defeatedTeam New Zealand to retain the America's Cup. Twenty-two days later, on 25 July 2007, the leaders of the Alinghi syndicate, holder of the America's Cup, officially announced that Valencia would be the host city for the 33rd America's Cup, held in June 2009.[55]
Valencia and surroundings as seen by theESA'sSentinel-2 satellite
Located on the eastern coast of theIberian Peninsula and the western part of theMediterranean Sea, fronting theGulf of Valencia, Valencia lies on the highly fertile alluvial silts accumulated on the floodplain formed in the lower course of theTuria River.[56] At its founding by the Romans in 138 BC, it stood on an alluvial plain of the Turia River several kilometers from the sea.[57]
TheAlbufera lagoon, located about 12 km (7 mi) south of the city proper (and part of the municipality), was originally a saltwater lagoon, but since the severing of links to the sea, it has eventually become a freshwater lagoon, progressively decreasing in size.[58] The lagoon and its environment are used for the cultivation ofrice inpaddy fields, and for hunting and fishing purposes.[58]
The Valencia City Council bought the lake from theCrown of Spain for 1,072,980pesetas in 1911,[59] and today it forms the main portion of theParc Natural de l'Albufera (Albufera Nature Reserve), with a surface area of 21,120 hectares (52,200 acres). Because of its cultural, historical, and ecological value, it was declared a natural park in 1976.
The average annual temperature of Valencia is 18.6 °C (65.5 °F); 23 °C (73 °F) during the day and 14.2 °C (57.6 °F) at night. In the coldest month, January, the maximum daily temperature typically ranges from 15 to 20 °C (59 to 68 °F), the minimum temperature typically at night ranges from 6 to 10 °C (43 to 50 °F). December, January and February are the coldest months, with average temperatures around 17 °C (63 °F) during the day and 8 °C (46 °F) at night. March is transitional, the temperature often exceeds 20 °C (68 °F), with an average temperature of 19.3 °C (66.7 °F) during the day and 10 °C (50 °F) at night. During the warmest months – July and August, the maximum temperature during the day typically ranges from 28 to 32 °C (82 to 90 °F), about 21 to 24 °C (70 to 75 °F) at night.[65] The highest and lowest temperatures recorded in the city since 1937 were 44.5 °C (112.1 °F) on 10 August 2023 and −7.2 °C (19.0 °F) on 11 February 1956, respectively.[66] Valencia has one of the mildest winters in Europe, owing to its southern location on theMediterranean Sea and theFoehn phenomenon, locally known asponentà.[67] The January average is comparable to temperatures expected for May and September in the major cities of northern Europe.[68]
The maximum of precipitation occurs inautumn, coinciding with the time of the year whencold drop (gota fría) episodes of heavy rainfall—associated tocut-off low pressure systems at high altitude—[69] are common along the Western mediterranean coast.[70] The year-on-year variability in precipitation may be, however, considerable,[70] as exemplified by large floods in1957 and2024, which both occurred in the month of October. Snowfall almost does not occur at all; the most recent occasion snow accumulated on the ground was on 11 January 1960.[71]
Valencia, on average, has around 2,733 sunshine hours per year, from 158 in December (average of 5 hours of sunshine duration a day) to 313 in July (average around 10 hours of sunshine duration a day). The average temperature of the sea is 14–15 °C (57–59 °F) in winter and 25–26 °C (77–79 °F) in summer.[72][73] Average annualrelative humidity is around 66%.[74]
Climate data for Valencia (normals 1991-2020), altitude: 11m.a.s.l.
The third largest city in Spain and the21st most populous municipality in theEuropean Union, Valencia has a population of 824,304 within its administrative limits[80] on a land area of 134.6 km2 (52 sq mi) as of 2025. Theurban area of Valencia extending beyond the administrative city limits has a population of between 1,564,145[81][82] and 1,595,000.[2]
Between 2007 and 2008, there was a 14% increase in theforeign-born population, with the largest numeric increases by country being fromBolivia,Romania, andItaly. This growth in the foreign born population, which rose from 1.5% in 2000[90] to 9.1% in 2009,[91] has also occurred in the two larger cities ofMadrid andBarcelona.[92] The main countries of origin in those cases were Romania, theUnited Kingdom, andBulgaria.[93]
Valencia enjoyed strong economic growth before theGreat Recession of 2008, much of it spurred by tourism andconstruction,[citation needed] with concurrent development and expansion of telecommunications and transport. The city's economy is service-oriented, as nearly 84% of the working population is employed in service sector occupations.[citation needed] However, the city still maintains an important industrial base, with 8.5% of the population employed in this sector. Growth has recently improved in the manufacturing sector, mainly automobile assembly;Ford Valencia Body and Assembly lies in the municipality ofAlmussafes.[94] Agricultural activity still occurs but is of relatively minor importance, with only 1.9% of the working population working in agriculture and 3,973 ha (9,820 acres) of farmland (mostly orchards and citrus groves).
Since the onset of the Great Recession, Valencia had experienced a growing unemployment rate, increased government debt, and other issues, and severe spending cuts were introduced by the city government. However, in 2009, Valencia was designated "the 29th fastest-improving European city".[95] Its influence in commerce, education, entertainment, media, fashion, science and the arts contributes to its status as one of the world's "Gamma" rankglobal cities.[7] According toForbes, Valencia is among the most livable cities in the world.[96]
In 2021, theEuropean Investment Bank (EIB) provided a €27 million loan to Sociedad Anónima Municipal Actuaciones Urbanas de Valencia (AUMSA) to support affordable public rental housing projects, which included building 323 new units and renovating four existing ones, expanding AUMSA's housing stock by more than 50%.[99][100]
Valencia's port is the biggest on the Mediterranean western coast,[103] the first in Spain in container traffic as of 2008[update][104] and the second in Spain[105] in total traffic, handling 20% of Spain's exports.[106] The main exports are foodstuffs and beverages. Other exports include oranges, furniture, ceramic tiles, fans, textiles and iron products. Valencia'smanufacturing sector focuses on metallurgy, chemicals, textiles, shipbuilding and brewing. Small and medium-sized industries are an important part of the local economy, and before the current crisis,[when?] unemployment was lower than the Spanish average.
Valencia's port underwent radical changes to accommodate the 32ndAmerica's Cup in 2007. It was divided into two parts—one was unchanged while the other section was modified for America's Cup festivities. The two sections remain divided by a wall that projects far into the water to maintain clean water for America's Cup events.
Public transport is provided byFerrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana (FGV), which operates theMetrovalencia (rapid transit, tram) and other rail and bus services. TheEstació del Nord (North Station) is the major railway terminus in Valencia. A second station, theEstació de València-Joaquín Sorolla, has been built on land adjacent to this terminus to accommodate high speedAVE trains to and from Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and Alicante.Valencia Airport is situated 9 km (5.6 mi) west of the city centre, andAlicante–Elche Airport is approximately 133 km (83 mi) south of the city centre.
Abicycle-sharing system namedValenbisi is available to both visitors and residents. As of 13 October 2012, the system had 2750 bikes distributed over 250 stations throughout the city.[107]
The average amount of time people spend on public transit in Valencia on a weekday is 44 minutes. 6% of public transit riders ride for more than 2 hours every day. The average amount of time people wait at a stop or station for public transit is 10 minutes, while 9% of riders wait for over 20 minutes on average every day. The average distance people usually ride in a single trip with public transit is 5.9 km (3.7 mi), while 8% travel for over 12 km (7.5 mi) in a single direction.[108]
Starting in the mid-1990s, Valencia, formerly an industrial centre, saw rapid development that expanded its cultural and tourism possibilities, and transformed it into a newly vibrant city. Many local landmarks were restored, including the medievalTorres de Serranos and Quart Towers and theMonasterio de San Miguel de los Reyes [es], which now holds a conservation library. Whole sections of the old city, for example the Carmen Quarter, have been extensively renovated. ThePasseig Marítim, a 4 km (2 mi) long palm tree-lined beach promenade, was constructed along thebeaches of the north side of the port(Platja de Les Arenes, Platja del Cabanyal and Platja de la Malva-rosa).
Valencia boasts a highly active and diversenightlife, withbars, dance bars,beach bars andnightclubs staying open well past midnight.[109] The city has numerousconvention centres and venues for trade events, among them the Institución Ferial de Valencia and the Palau de Congressos (Conference Palace), and several five-star hotels to accommodate business travelers.
Locals and tourists watching the traditional "mascletà" duringFalles
In its long history, Valencia has acquired many local traditions and festivals, among them theFalles, which was declared a Celebration of International Tourist Interest(Festes d'Interés Turístic Internacional) on 25 January 1965 and anintangible cultural heritage by UNESCO on 30 November 2016, and the Water Tribunal of Valencia(Tribunal de les Aigües de València), which was declared an intangible cultural heritage in 2009. In addition to these, Valencia has hosted world-class events that helped shape the city's reputation and put it in the international spotlight, such as the Regional Exhibition of 1909, the 32nd and the 33rdAmerica's Cup competitions, theEuropean Grand Prix ofFormula One auto racing, the formerValencia Open tennis tournament, and the Global Champions Tour of equestrian sports. The final round of theMotoGP Championship is held annually at theCircuit de la Comunitat Valenciana.
The2007 America's Cup yachting races were held at Valencia in June and July 2007 and attracted huge crowds. The Louis Vuitton stage drew 1,044,373 visitors and the America's Cup match drew 466,010 visitors to the event.[110]
Valencia is amunicipality, the basic local administrative division in Spain. Theayuntamiento (Ajuntament inValencian language) is formally known as theConsell Municipal de València, and it is the body charged with the municipal government and administration,[112] and is formed by 33 elected municipal councillors. In 2015,Joan Ribó became the first mayor who did not belong to thePeople's Party (PP) since 1991, renewing his term for a second mandate following the 2019 election.[113] Thelast municipal election took place on 28 May 2023.María José Catalá of the PP replaced Ribó.
There are also a number of well-preserved traditional Catholic festivities throughout the year, like those of theHoly Week, which are considered some of the most colourfulin Spain.[114]
Valencia used to be the place of theFormula OneEuropean Grand Prix, first hosting the event on 24 August 2008, but was dropped later at the beginning of the2013 Formula 1 season. However, Valencia still holds the annual Moto GP race at theCircuit Ricardo Tormo, usually the last race of the season, in November.
TheUniversity of Valencia (officiallyUniversitat de València Estudi General), founded in 1499, is one of the oldest surviving universities in Spain and the oldest in the Valencian Community. It was listed as one of the four leading Spanish universities in the 2011 Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities.
In 2012, Boston'sBerklee College of Music opened a satellite campus at thePalau de les Arts Reina Sofia, their first and only international campus outside the U.S.[115] Since 2003, Valencia has also hosted the music courses ofMusikeon, the leading musical institution in the Spanish-speaking world.
Since 1886, the City of Valencia International Band Contest (Spanish:Certamen Internacional de Bandas de Música Ciudad de Valencia), a music contest forwind orchestras andconcert bands, is held each year in the town.[116]
Valencian andSpanish are theofficial languages. Spanish is currently the predominant language in the city proper.[117] Valencia proper and its surrounding metropolitan area are—along with theAlicante area—the traditionally Valencian-speaking territories of the Valencian Community where the Valencian language is less spoken and read.[118] According to a 2019 survey commissioned by the local government, 76% of the population use only Spanish in their daily life, 1.3% use only the Valencian language, while 17.6% of the population use both languages.[119] However, vis-à-vis the education system and according to the 1983 regional Law on the Use and Teaching of the Valencian Language, the municipality of Valencia is included within the territory of Valencian linguistic predominance.[120] In 1993, the municipal government agreed to use exclusively Valencian for the plaques that serve as street signs.[121] The variety of Valencian spoken in and around the city of Valencia is known asapitxat.[122]
La cremà (burning of theninots) during the 2015 falles
Every year, the five days and nights from 15 to 19 March, calledFalles, are a continual festival in Valencia; beginning on 1 March, the popular pyrotechnic events calledmascletàes start every day at 2:00 pm. TheFalles (Fallas in Spanish) is an enduring tradition in Valencia and other towns in theValencian Community,[123] where it has become an important tourist attraction. The festival started being celebrated in the 18th century,[124] and came to be celebrated on the night of the feast day ofSaint Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters, with the burning of waste planks of wood from their workshops, as well as worn-out wooden objects brought by people in the neighborhood.[125]
This tradition continued to evolve, and eventually theparots were dressed with clothing to look like people—these were the firstninots, with features identifiable as being those of a well-known person from the neighborhood often added as well. In 1901 the city inaugurated the awarding of prizes for the best Falles monuments,[124] and neighborhood groups still rival with each other to make the most impressive creations.[126] Their intricate assemblages, on top of pedestals for better visibility, depict famous personalities and topical subjects of the past year, presenting humorous and often satirical commentary on them.
On the night of 19 March, Valencians burn all the Falles in an event called "La Cremà".
The ancient winding streets of the Barrio del Carmen contain buildings dating toRoman andArab times. TheCathedral and its bell towerEl Miguelete, built between the 13th and 15th centuries, are primarily ofValencian Gothic style but contains elements ofBaroque andRomanesque architecture. Beside the cathedral is theBasilica of Our Lady of the Forsaken(Basílica De La Mare de Déu dels Desamparats). The 15th-centurySerrans andQuart towers are part of what was once the wall surrounding the city.
World-renowned Valencia-born architectSantiago Calatrava produced the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences(Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències), which contains an opera house/performingarts centre, ascience museum, anIMAX cinema/planetarium, an oceanographic park and other structures such as a long covered walkway and restaurants. Calatrava is also responsible for the bridge named after him in the centre of the city. ThePalau de la Música de València (Music Palace) is another noteworthy example of modern architecture in Valencia.
Northern view of the cathedral: dome, apse, and the Basilica of Our Lady
TheValencia Cathedral was calledIglesia Major in the early days of theReconquista, thenIglesia de la Seu (Seu is from the Latinsedes, i.e., (archiepiscopal) See), and by virtue of the papal concession of 16 October 1866, it was called theBasílica Metropolitana. It is situated in the centre of the ancient Roman city where some believe the temple of Diana stood.[citation needed] In Gothic times, it seems to have been dedicated to the Holy Saviour;the Cid dedicated it to the Blessed Virgin; KingJames I of Aragon did likewise, leaving in the main chapel the image of the Blessed Virgin, which he carried with him and is reputed to be the one now preserved in the sacristy. The Moorish mosque, which had been converted into aChristian Church by the conqueror, was deemed unworthy of the title of the cathedral of Valencia, and in 1262 Bishop Andrés de Albalat laid the cornerstone of the new Gothic building, with three naves; these reach only to the choir of the present building. Bishop Vidal de Blanes built the chapter hall, and James I added the tower, calledEl Miguelete inCastilian Spanish or Torre del Micalet in theValencian language because it was blessed on St. Michael's day in 1418.[citation needed] The tower is about 58 metres (190 feet) high and is topped with abelfry (1660–1736).
In the 15th century the dome was added and the naves extended back of the choir, uniting the building to the tower and forming a main entrance. Archbishop Luis Alfonso de los Cameros began the building of the main chapel in 1674; the walls were decorated with marbles and bronzes in theBaroque style of that period. At the beginning of the 18th century, the German Conrad Rudolphus built the façade of the main entrance. The other two doors lead into the transept; one, that of the Apostles in pure pointed Gothic, dates from the 14th century, the other is that of the Palau. The additions made to the back of the cathedral detract from its height. The 18th-century restoration rounded the pointed arches, covered the Gothic columns withCorinthian pillars, and redecorated the walls.
The dome has no lantern, its plain ceiling being pierced by two large side windows. There are four chapels on either side, besides that at the end and those that open into the choir, the transept, and the sanctuary. It contains many paintings by eminent artists. A silverreredos, which was behind the altar, was carried away in the war of 1808, and converted into coin to meet the expenses of the campaign. There are two paintings byFrancisco de Goya in the San Francesco chapel. Behind the Chapel of theBlessed Sacrament is a smallRenaissance chapel built byCalixtus III. Beside the cathedral is the chapel dedicated to the Our Lady of the Forsaken(Mare de Déu dels Desemparats).
TheTribunal de les Aigües (Water Court), a court dating from Moorish times that hears and mediates in matters relating to irrigation water, sits at noon every Thursday outside thePorta dels Apostols (Portal of the Apostles).[135]
In 1409, a hospital was founded and placed under thepatronage ofSanta Maria dels Innocents; to this was attached a confraternity devoted to recovering the bodies of the unfriended dead in the city and within a radius of 5 km (3.1 mi) around it. At the end of the 15th century this confraternity separated from the hospital, and continued its work under the name of "Cofradia para el ámparo de los desamparados". KingPhilip IV of Spain and theDuke of Arcos suggested the building of the new chapel, and in 1647 theViceroy,Conde de Oropesa, who had been preserved fromthe bubonic plague, insisted on carrying out their project. The Blessed Virgin was proclaimed patroness of the city under the title ofVirgen de los desamparados (Virgin of the Forsaken), and Archbishop Pedro de Urbina, on 31 June 1652, laid the cornerstone of the new chapel of this name. The archiepiscopal palace, agrain market in the time of the Moors, is simple in design, with an inside cloister and achapel. In 1357, the arch that connects it with the cathedral was built. Inside the council chamber are preserved the portraits of all the prelates of Valencia.
Sant Joan del Mercat – Gothic parish church dedicated to John the Baptist and Evangelist, rebuilt in the Baroque style after a 1598 fire. The interior ceilings were frescoed byPalomino.
El Temple (the Temple), the ancient church of theKnights Templar, which passed into the hands of theOrder of Montesa and was rebuilt in the reigns ofFerdinand VI andCharles III; the former convent of theDominicans, at one time the headquarters of theCapitan General, the cloister of which has a Gothic wing and chapter room, large columns imitatingpalm trees; theColegio del Corpus Christi, which is devoted to the Blessed Sacrament, and in whichperpetual adoration is carried on; theJesuit college, which was destroyed in 1868 by the revolutionary Committee of the Popular Front, but later rebuilt; and theColegio de San Juan (also of the Society), the former college of the nobles, now a provincial institute for secondary instruction.
Thelargest plaza in Valencia is thePlaça del Ajuntament; it is home to theCity Hall(Ajuntament) on its western side and the central post office(Edifici de Correus) on its eastern side, a cinema that shows classic movies, and many restaurants and bars. The plaza is triangular in shape, with a large cement lot at the southern end, normally surrounded by flower vendors. It serves as ground zero during theLes Falles when the fireworks of theMascletà can be heard every afternoon. There is a large fountain at the northern end.
ThePlaça de la Mare de Déu contains the Basilica of the Virgin and the Turia fountain, and is a popular spot for locals and tourists. Around the corner is thePlaza de la Reina, with the cathedral, orange trees, and many bars and restaurants.
TheTuria River was diverted in the 1960s, aftersevere flooding, and the old riverbed is now theTuria Gardens, which contain a children's playground, a fountain, and sports fields. ThePalau de la Música is adjacent to the Turia gardens and the City of Arts and Sciences lies at one end. TheValencia Bioparc is a zoo, also located in the Turia riverbed.
TheJardines del Real [es] ('Del Real Gardens') orJardins de Viveros are located in the Pla del Real district, on just the former site of theDel Real Palace.[136]
El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe, an interactive museum of science built to resemble the skeleton of a whale. It has an area of around 40,000 square metres (430,556 square feet) across three floors.
Valencia is also internationally famous for its football club,Valencia CF, one of the most successful clubs in Europe and La Liga, winning theSpanish league a total of six times including in 2002 and 2004 (the year it also won theUEFA Cup), and was aUEFA Champions Leaguerunner-up in 2000 and 2001. The club is currently owned byPeter Lim, a Singaporean businessman who bought the club in 2014. The team's stadium is theMestalla, which can host up to 49,000 fans. The club's city rival,Levante UD, plays its home games atEstadi Ciutat de València.
Valencia is the only city in Spain with two American football teams inLNFA Serie A, the national first division:Valencia Firebats andValencia Giants. The Firebats have been national champions four times and have represented Valencia and Spain in the European playoffs since 2005. Both teams share the Jardín del Turia stadium.
Once a year between 2008 and 2012 the EuropeanFormula One Grand Prix took place in theValencia Street Circuit. Valencia is among (withBarcelona,Porto andMonte Carlo) the only European cities ever to host Formula One World Championship Grands Prix on public roads in the middle of cities. The final race in2012 European Grand Prix saw home driverFernando Alonso win forFerrari, in spite of starting halfway down the field. TheValencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix(Gran Premi de la Comunitat Valenciana de motociclisme) is part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season at theCircuit Ricardo Tormo (also known asCircuit de València), held in November in the nearby town ofCheste. Periodically the Spanish round of theDeutsche Tourenwagen Masters touring car racing Championship (DTM) is held in Valencia.
^It was supposedly brought to that church byEmperor Valerian in the 3rd century, after having been brought bySt. Peter to Rome from Jerusalem. TheSant Calze (Holy Chalice) is a simple, small stone cup. Its base was added during the medieval period and consists of fine gold, alabaster and gem stones.[54]
^abcSaénz-Badillos, Ángel. "Valencia". IN:Encyclopedia of Jews in the Islamic World, Executive Editor Norman A. Stillman. First published online: 2010.
^Meyerson, Mark D. (1991).The Muslims of Valencia in the Age of Fernando and Isabel: between Coexistence and Crusade. Berkeley, California: University of California Press. p. 14.ISBN978-0-520-06888-9.
^Norwich, John Jules (2007).The Middle Sea. A History of the Mediterranean. London: Chatto & Windus.ISBN978-0-7011-7608-2.
^"Districte 1. Ciutat Vella"(PDF).Oficina d'Estadística. Ajuntament de València (in Valencian and Spanish). 2008. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 5 April 2010. Retrieved16 February 2010.
Suárez Cortina, Manuel (2011). "El republicanismo en la España liberal (1820-1931). Una aproximación historiográfica".Bulletin d'Histoire Contemporaine de l'Espagne (46). Aix-en-Provence:Publications de l'Université de Provence:11–42.ISSN0987-4135.
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![The Museum of Fine Arts of Valencia, is the museum with the second largest amount of paintings in Spain,[133][134] after Prado Museum](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aQk-Antoni-Peris-detalle-06.jpg)
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