VALENCIA - SPAIN

Situated on the Mediterranean coast of Spain at the mouth of the river Turia, the exciting, attractive and friendly city of Valencia offers visitors an ideal climate, excellent gastronomy, fiestas and traditions, as well as a wide range of cultural and leisure activities and a vibrant nightlife.

There are few places in the world with such a mild and pleasant climate as Valencia, which enjoys an average annual temperature of 17ºC with warm summers and very mild winters that rarely go below 10ºC. It has sunny days 90% of the year and only light rainfall, mainly in autumn and the beginning of spring.

The wealth of cultural and artistic heritage of this two thousand year old city is most impressive. The Greeks, Phoenicians, Romans, Visigoths and Muslims that settled in Spain have all left their mark on the history and traditions of this land, which has been shaped by the meeting of different cultures. Nowadays, this cathedral city, which was once home to El Cid, has almost 800,000 inhabitants, making it the third largest city in Spain. Thanks to its privileged location in the Mediterranean and a dynamic economy and cultural life, Valencia is enjoying growing prominence amongst other large European cities, becoming an increasingly popular destination for tourists and professionals alike.

On the one hand, the modern installations of the Feria de Valencia (Exhibition Centre) and the Norman Foster-designed Palacio de Congresos (Conference Centre) make it an ideal place to stage international Trade Fairs and Congresses. Nowadays, Valencia is also one of the most important industrial centres in the Mediterranean; as such a cosmopolitan city, it is ideal for trade.

On the other hand, Valencia has many attractions for tourists: a large number museums, including the Museo de Bellas Artes (Fine Arts Museum) and the Valencia Modern Art Museum (IVAM), or the ultra-modern Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (City of Arts and Sciences), designed by Santiago Calatrava, with its IMAX cinema and Oceanographic Park. Or one could take a stroll through the Barrio del Carmen, the old quarters -one of the largest in Spain- and visit, for example, the cathedral with its tower El Miguelete, the old medieval city gates (Torres de Quart and Torres de Serranos), the gothic silk exchange (La Lonja) or the splendid art noveau of the Central Market (Mercado Central) - a true journey through history. Alternatively, one could visit the wide range of modern shopping malls and boutiques, and as night falls, the lively night life of Valencia has something for everyone.

Of course, one must not forget Valencia's many kilometres of magnificent beaches which stretch from the city itself along the coast. The climate offers a permanent invitation to enjoy a wide variety of open air activities, including water sports. This city has always had a close relationship with the sea, which is one of the reasons why Valencia has been chosen, out of 65 cities worldwide, to host the 32nd edition of the America's Cup, a yachting event of great international renown that is to be held here in the spring of 2007.

There are areas of great natural beauty right on the doorstep of the city and a visit to Valencia is incomplete without experiencing the splendour of the countryside and coastal areas. For example, the nature reserve of L'Albufera, the largest lake in Spain and one of the most important wetland areas in the Iberian Peninsula, lies a mere 12 km away from the city. This is a place of great ecological interest with rare species of wading birds and a rich variety of wildlife.

Valencia has a rich gastronomic tradition -it is home to the paella-, offering a wide range of dishes. The waters of L'Albufera have traditionally been worked by fishermen and rice growers, supplying the ingredients and inspiration for many of the Valencia Region's most succulent dishes, and the fertile area surrounding the city (la huerta) is where much of the fresh vegetable produce is grown. Of course, the Valencia Region is also well known for its oranges and is now one of the up-and-coming wine-growing regions in Spain.

No description of Valencia is complete without mention of its annual festival, Las Fallas de San José, which is one of the most famous attractions in Spain. Every March the streets of the city and the surrounding towns are lit up by the spectacle of enormous colourful figures, fireworks and firecracker displays.

Getting to Valencia is easy, as it has a modern transport network consisting of an International Airport, extensive road, motorway and railway networks, and one of the best ports in Europe, all providing easy access from any part of the globe. Communications within the city are also excellent, with a modern underground network that is currently in expansion.