An introduction to Valencia
Valencia, one of the largest cities in Spain was founded by the ancient Romans in 137 BC and has been pillaged, burned and besieged numerous times by various conquerors over the centuries since, but the vivacious Spanish city has sailed into the second millennium as Europe's quintessential sophisticated modern holiday city, a favoured destination for many holidaymakers from Europe and all over the World. Situated on the Mediterranean coast about four hours south of Barcelona, Valencia is spread out around its busy port and backed by the hills which give way to the plains of Aragon.
Holidays to Valencia
Amid the old, Valencia has very much that is new, including its major attraction, the ultra-modern City of Arts and Sciences, which draws around four million appreciative visitors each year.
Outdoors it is hard to beat the golden beaches which fan out from the port along the coast, and the sprawling city offers plenty of green parks for strolling, cycling or simply lolling on a bench to get your breath back after indulging in the vibrancy of the city. This city combines the perfect amount of lazy beach holiday with bustling city chic to keep visitors of all ages happy and busy, or as busy as you want to be!
Football is also a local passion, Valencia's team being at the top of the game, and fans should not miss the atmosphere at one of the carnival-like matches. When night falls, dine on paella, which originated here and will be cooked to it's absolute best with age-old recipes. Once visitors have been filled with culture and Paella they can then hit the high spots to unwind. Valencia is renowned for its lively collection of bars and clubs.
It may sound clichéd, but Valencia does indeed fit the bill as the holiday city, which 'has it all'.
Flights to Valencia
With direct flights of around two hours fifteen minutes Valencia couldn't be more accessible. Valencia Airport is perfectly situated, being only 9km from the centre of Valencia, transfers are quick and simple minimising travel time and any stresses involved. It is connected to Valencia by a variety of ways, there is the main bus line, Metrobus which takes around 45 minutes or the shuttle bus service to the centre of town which takes 20minutes. There are also numerous car hire companies on site and large car parks.
History and Culture
Valencia oozes traditional character, particularly in its old town (El Carmen), and has retained its cultural heritage not only in the form of medieval architecture but also in its quirky, exuberant festivals (like the Battle of the Flowers, the fireworks of Fallas and one, which is now relatively famous dedicated to tomato-hurling). Valencia has always prided itself on standing within it's county, the Valencians even have their own language.
