Valencia#Squares and gardens

File:Sello plaza de la virgen valencia.jpg, symbol of Valentia, found on the floor of a Roman building excavated in the Plaça de la Mare de Déu]]

The Latin name of the city was Valentia ({{IPA|la|waˈlɛntɪ.a|IPA}}), meaning "strength" or "valour", due to the Roman practice of recognising the valour of former Roman soldiers after a war. The Roman historian Livy explains that the founding of Valentia in the 2nd century BC was due to the settling of the Roman soldiers who fought against a Lusitanian rebel, Viriatus, during the Third Raid of the Lusitanian War.{{cite book |author=Astin, A. E. |title=The Cambridge Ancient History |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5Oe1u1H_OSMC&pg=PA140 |year=1989 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-23448-1 |page=140 |access-date=14 November 2015 |archive-date=5 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505125245/https://books.google.com/books?id=5Oe1u1H_OSMC&pg=PA140 |url-status=live}}

During the period of Islamic rule, the city was called Medina at-Tarab ('City of Joy') according to one transliteration, or Medina 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 greater Taifa of Valencia, or just the city itself.{{cite web |author1=Galbis, Agustí |title=La ciutat de Valencia i El nom de "Madinat al-Turab" |url=https://agustigalbis.wordpress.com/category/del-sit-a-jaume-i/page/4/ |website=Del Sit a Jaume I "Bloc en els artículs d'Agustí Galbis |access-date=24 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407144424/https://agustigalbis.wordpress.com/category/del-sit-a-jaume-i/page/4/ |archive-date=7 April 2014 |language=ca |date=19 June 2009}}

Via gradual phonetic changes, Valentia became Valencia {{IPA|es|baˈlenθja|}} in Spanish and València {{IPA|ca|vaˈlensia|}} in Valencian. In Valencian, an e with a grave accent (è) indicates {{IPA|ca|ɛ|}} in contrast to {{IPA|ca|e|}}, but the word València is an exception to this rule, since è is pronounced {{IPA|ca|e|}}. The spelling "València" was approved by the Acadèmia 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.dogv.gva.es/datos/2017/02/14/pdf/2017_1189.pdf |author=Generalitat Valenciana |title=Decret 16/2017, de 10 de febrer, del Consell, pel qual s'aprova el canvi de denominació del municipi de Valencia per la forma exclusiva en valencià de València. [2017/1189] |language=ca, es |date=14 February 2017 |access-date=29 June 2020 |archive-date=21 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210121134738/http://www.dogv.gva.es/datos/2017/02/14/pdf/2017_1189.pdf |url-status=live}} In 2023, the Commission of Culture of the municipal corporation agreed in principle on a dual official denomination {{lang|es|Valencia}}/{{lang|ca|Valéncia}}, with the far right managing to impose{{Editorializing|date=February 2024}} a non-standard acute accent in the e of the Valencian-language name.{{Cite web|url=https://www.eldiario.es/comunitat-valenciana/valencia/pp-pasa-avl-horas-despues-reunion-mazon-acuerda-vox-denominacion-bilingue-valencia-fuera-normativa-valencia_1_10526871.html|website=eldiario.es|first=Carlos|last=Navarro Castelló|title=El PP pasa de la AVL horas después de la reunión con Mazón y acuerda con Vox una denominación bilingüe de Valencia fuera de la normativa: Valéncia|date=19 September 2023|access-date=20 September 2023|archive-date=21 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230921230905/https://www.eldiario.es/comunitat-valenciana/valencia/pp-pasa-avl-horas-despues-reunion-mazon-acuerda-vox-denominacion-bilingue-valencia-fuera-normativa-valencia_1_10526871.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/comunidad-valenciana/2023-09-19/discordia-acento-valencia-desafio-pp-vox-avl-rae_3738001/|website=El Confidencial|date=19 September 2023|title="València o Valéncia": PP y Vox desafían a la 'RAE valenciana' y le cambian la tilde a la ciudad|first=Víctor|last=Romero|access-date=20 September 2023|archive-date=22 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922045022/https://www.elconfidencial.com/espana/comunidad-valenciana/2023-09-19/discordia-acento-valencia-desafio-pp-vox-avl-rae_3738001/|url-status=live}}

{{main|History of Valencia}}

{{For timeline}}

File:Museu d'Història de València, detall del mosaic de la Medusa.jpg

Valencia is one of the oldest cities in Spain, founded in the Roman period {{Circa|138 BC}} as Valentia Edetanorum.{{cite book|author=Gwillim Law|title=Administrative Subdivisions of Countries: A Comprehensive World Reference, 1900 through 1998|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nXCeCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA340|year=1999|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-1-4766-0447-3|page=340}} A few centuries later, with the power vacuum left by the demise of the Roman imperial administration, the Catholic Church assumed power in the city, coinciding with the first waves of the invading Germanic peoples (Suebi, Vandals, Alans, and later Visigoths).

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Valencia became part of the Visigothic Kingdom from 546 to 711 AD.{{Cite web |title=Valentia (138 a.c. - 711) {{!}} Museu d'Història de València |url=https://mhv.valencia.es/es/historia-viva/valentia-138-ac-711 |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=mhv.valencia.es |archive-date=20 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240420094735/https://mhv.valencia.es/es/historia-viva/valentia-138-ac-711 |url-status=live }} The city surrendered to the invading Moors about 714 AD.{{cite book |author=Coscollá Sanz, Vicente |title=La Valencia musulmana |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZxclI2EHjrMC&pg=PA16 |year=2003 |publisher=Carena Editors, S. L. |isbn=978-84-87398-75-9 |page=16 |access-date=14 November 2015 |archive-date=27 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427145425/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZxclI2EHjrMC&pg=PA16 |url-status=live}} Abd al-Rahman I laid waste to old Valencia by 788–789.{{Sfn|Torró|2009|p=159}} From then on, the name of Valencia (Arabised as Balansiya) appears more related to the wider area than to the city, which is primarily cited as Madînat al-Turâb ('city of earth' or 'sand') and presumably had diminished importance throughout the period.{{Sfn|Torró|2009|p=160}} During the emiral period, the surrounding territory, under the ascendancy of Berber chieftains, was prone to unruliness.{{Sfn|Torró|2009|p=161}} In the wake of the start of the fitna of al-Andalus, Valencia became the head of an independent emirate, the Taifa of Valencia.{{Sfn|Torró|2009|p=163}} It was initially controlled by eunuchs,{{Sfn|Torró|2009|p=163}} and then, after 1021, by Abd al-Azîz (a grandson of Almanzor).{{Sfn|Torró|2009|pp=164–165}} Valencia experienced notable urban development in this period.{{Sfn|Torró|2009|p=165}} Many Jews lived in Valencia, including the accomplished Jewish poet and philosopher Solomon ibn Gabirol, who spent his last years in the city.Saénz-Badillos, Ángel. "Valencia". IN: Encyclopedia of Jews in the Islamic World, Executive Editor Norman A. Stillman. First published online: 2010. After a damaging offensive by Castilian–Leonese forces towards 1065, the territory became a satellite of the Taifa 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 the Almoravids and forcing El Cid to take the city by force in 1094, henceforth establishing his own principality.{{Sfn|Torró|2009|pp=166–167}}

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 the Almohads until 1172.{{Sfn|Torró|2009|p=168}} During the Almohad rule, the city perhaps had a population of about 20,000.{{Sfn|Torró|2009|p=169}} When the city fell to James I of Aragon, the Jewish population constituted about 7 per cent of the total population.

File:Plat àrab València.jpg

In 1238,{{cite book |author=Guichard, Pierre |title=Al-Andalus frente a la conquista cristiana: los musulmanes de Valencia, siglos XI-XIII |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0vrzEdzdOMUC&pg=PA176 |year=2001 |publisher=Universitat de València |isbn=978-84-7030-852-9 |page=176 |access-date=14 November 2015 |archive-date=29 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529095118/https://books.google.com/books?id=0vrzEdzdOMUC&pg=PA176 |url-status=live}} King James I of Aragon, with an army composed of Aragonese, Catalans, Navarrese, and crusaders from the Order of Calatrava, laid siege to Valencia and on 28 September obtained a surrender.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} Fifty thousand Moors were forced to leave.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}} 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', the Portal dels Jueues.[https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/14628-valencia Jewish Encyclopedia.]

Valencia endured serious troubles in the mid-14th century, including the decimation of the population by the Black Death of 1348 and subsequent years of epidemics—as well as the series of wars and riots that followed.

In 1391, there was a pogrom on the Jewish Quarter of Valencia, which became known as the Massacre of 1391. The violence against Jews had begun by Catholic mobs in Seville, then spread to all of Castile and on to the Crown of Aragon, which included Valencia. Although the royal guards tried to protect the Jews, thousands were murdered and those who survived were forced to convert. The Jewish quarter was destroyed.

By the late 14th century, Genoese traders promoted the expansion of the cultivation of white mulberry in the area and later introduced innovative silk manufacturing techniques. Valencia became a centre of mulberry production and was, for a time, a major silk-producing centre.{{Cite web |url=https://www.uv.es/vlc-ruta-seda/es/blog-ruta-seda/blog-ruta-seda-1285971056578/GasetaRecerca.html?id=1285971184937 |publisher=Universitat de València |title=La influencia de la seda en la historia y la cultura valenciana |date=7 June 2016 |first=Ricardo |last=Franch Benavent |access-date=20 July 2020 |archive-date=10 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410155213/https://www.uv.es/vlc-ruta-seda/es/blog-ruta-seda/blog-ruta-seda-1285971056578/GasetaRecerca.html?id=1285971184937 |url-status=live}} The Genoese community in Valencia—merchants, artisans and workers—became, along with Seville's, one of the most important in the Iberian Peninsula.{{sfn|Navarro Espinach|1994|pp=223–224}}

In 1407, following the model of the Barcelona institution created some years before, a Taula de canvi (a municipal public bank) was created in Valencia, although its first iteration yielded limited success.{{Cite journal |url=https://revistas.um.es/medievalismo/article/view/407021/274671 |pages=318–319 |publisher=Editum |location=Murcia |issue=29 |year=2019 |journal=Medievalismo |title=La estructura del primer banco público de Europa: la Taula de Canvi de Barcelona (siglo XV) |first=Laura |last=Miquel Milian |issn=1131-8155 |doi=10.6018/medievalismo.407021 |s2cid=213263696 |doi-access=free |access-date=4 June 2022 |archive-date=7 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307042248/https://revistas.um.es/medievalismo/article/view/407021/274671 |url-status=live |hdl=10201/93080 |hdl-access=free }}

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.{{cn|date=February 2025}} Some of the city's landmark buildings were built during the Late Middle Ages, including the Serranos Towers, the Silk Exchange, the Miguelete 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 major slave trade centre in the 15th century, second only to Lisbon in the West,{{Sfn|González Arévalo|2019|p=17}} prompting a Lisbon–Seville–Valencia axis by the second half of the century powered by the incipient Portuguese slave trade originating in West Africa.{{Sfn|González Arévalo|2019|p=19}} 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.{{Sfn|Santamaría|1992|p=373}}

Valencia also became one of the major ports of embarkation for Jews who left after the expulsion from Spain in 1492, Isaac ben Yehudah Abrabanel and his family among them, by special permission granted to him by King Ferdinand.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

Following the death of Ferdinand II in 1516, the nobiliary estate challenged the Crown amid the relative void of power.{{Sfn|Pérez García|2019}} In 1519, the Taula de Canvis was recreated again, known as Nova Taula.{{Cite journal |url=https://revistas.um.es/rcsar/article/view/385751/266291 |publisher=Editum |location=Murcia |journal=Revista de Contabilidad |volume=3 |issue=6 |year=2000 |issn=1138-4891 |title=Los contables de la Taula de Canvis de Valencia (1519-1649). Su formación teórica y práctica |first=Francisco |last=Mayordomo García-Chicote |access-date=4 June 2022 |archive-date=4 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604171031/https://revistas.um.es/rcsar/article/view/385751/266291 |url-status=live }} The nobles earned the rejection from the people of Valencia, and the whole kingdom was plunged into the Revolt of the Brotherhoods and full-blown civil war between 1521 and 1522.{{Sfn|Pérez García|2019}} Muslim vassals were forced to convert in 1526 at the behest of Charles V.{{Sfn|Pérez García|2019}}

Urban and rural delinquency—linked to phenomena such as vagrancy, 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.{{Sfn|García Martínez|1972|pp=85–86}} Furthermore, North African piracy targeted the whole coastline of the kingdom of Valencia, forcing the fortification of sites.{{Sfn|García Martínez|1972|p=88}} By the late 1520s, the intensification of Barbary corsair 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.{{Sfn|Franch Benavent|2008|p=84}} 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.{{Sfn|García Martínez|1972|p=88}} The Berber threat—initially with Ottoman support—generated great insecurity on the coast, and it would not be substantially reduced until the 1580s.{{Sfn|García Martínez|1972|p=88}}

File:València el 1563, per Anton van den Wyngaerde.jpg (1563)]]

File:Embarco moriscos en el Grao de valencia.jpg

The crisis deepened during the 17th century with the 1609 expulsion of the Moriscos, 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 former Crown of Aragon, and in the Kingdom of Valencia specifically, and constituted roughly a third of the total population.{{cite book |last=Meyerson |first=Mark D. |title=The Muslims of Valencia in the Age of Fernando and Isabel: between Coexistence and Crusade |publisher=University of California Press |location=Berkeley, California |date=1991 |isbn=978-0-520-06888-9 |page=14}} The expulsion caused the financial ruin of some of the Valencian nobility and the bankruptcy of the Taula de canvi in 1613.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

The decline of the city reached its nadir with the War of the Spanish Succession (1702–1709), marking the end of the political and legal independence of the Kingdom of Valencia. During the War of the Spanish Succession, Valencia sided with the Habsburg ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, Charles of Austria. King Charles vowed to protect the laws (Furs) of the Kingdom of Valencia, which gained him the sympathy of a wide sector of the Valencian population. On 24 January 1706, after having ridden south from Barcelona, Charles Mordaunt, 3rd Earl of Peterborough, led a handful of English cavalrymen into the city and captured the nearby fortress at Sagunt, bluffing the Spanish Bourbon army into withdrawal.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

The English held the city for 16 months, defeating several attempts to expel them. After the victory of the Bourbons at the Battle of Almansa on 25 April 1707, the English army evacuated Valencia and Philip V ordered the repeal of the Furs of Valencia as punishment for the kingdom's support of Charles of Austria.{{cite book |last=Norwich |first=John Jules |title=The Middle Sea. A History of the Mediterranean |year=2007 |publisher=Chatto & Windus |location=London |isbn=978-0-7011-7608-2}} By the Nueva Planta decrees, the ancient Charters 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 replacing Toledo as the centre of silk-manufacturing in Spain. 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 the Age of Enlightenment in Europe and, in Valencia, its humanistic ideals influenced men such as Gregorio Mayans and Francisco Pérez Bayer, who maintained correspondence with the leading French and German thinkers of the time.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

{{main|Peninsular War}}

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|date=June 2023}}

The mutineers seized the Citadel, the Supreme Junta government took over, and on 26–28 June, Napoleon's Marshal Moncey attacked the city with a column of 9,000 French Grande Armée troops at the first Battle of Valencia. He failed to take the city in two assaults and retreated to Madrid. Marshal Suchet 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 the Bonapartist king, José I (Napoleon's elder brother), moved the Court there in the middle of 1812. The disaster of the Battle of Vitoria on 21 June 1813 obliged Suchet to quit Valencia, and the French troops withdrew in July.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

File:València el 1832, per A. Guesdon.jpg]]

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 the Constitution 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 the Trienio 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 future Isabella II. During the regency of Maria 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.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

File:Inauguración de los trabajos del derribo de las murallas en Valencia.jpg

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 the Valencian language, which had been ruthlessly suppressed from the time of Philip V.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

Work to demolish the walls of the old city started on 20 February 1865.{{Cite web |date=8 December 2006 |first=Daniel |last=Sala |title=La demolición de las murallas de la ciudad |url=https://www.lasprovincias.es/valencia/prensa/20061208/ocio/demolicion-murallas-ciudad_20061208.html |website=Las Provincias |access-date=20 July 2020 |archive-date=22 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091222142613/http://www.lasprovincias.es/valencia/prensa/20061208/ocio/demolicion-murallas-ciudad_20061208.html |url-status=live}} The demolition of the citadel ended after the 1868 Glorious Revolution.

During the Cantonal rebellion in 1873, Valencia was the capital of the short-lived Valencian Canton.{{Cite journal |last=Casals Bergés |first=Quintí |date=2022 |title=El Cantonalismo (1873): Notas para un estudio comparado |url=https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=8726311 |journal=Aportes: Revista de historia contemporánea |volume=37 |issue=110 |pages=59–101 |issn=0213-5868 |access-date=8 October 2023 |archive-date=12 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012113805/https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=8726311 |url-status=live }}

Following the introduction of universal manhood suffrage in the late 19th century, the political landscape in Valencia—until then consisting of the bipartisanship characteristic of the early Restoration period—experienced a change, leading to a growth of republican forces, gathered around the emerging figure of Vicente Blasco Ibáñez.{{Sfn|Aguiló Lúcia|1992|pp=61–62}} Not unlike the equally republican Lerrouxism, the Populist {{ill|Blasquism|es|Blasquismo|lt=}} came to mobilize the Valencian masses by promoting anticlericalism.{{Sfn|Suárez Cortina|2011|p=28}} Meanwhile, in reaction, the right-wing coalesced around several initiatives such as the Catholic League or the reformulation of Valencian Carlism, and Valencianism did similarly with organizations such as Valencia Nova or the Unió Valencianista.{{Sfn|Aguiló Lúcia|1992|p=62}}

File:Baldomer Gili Roig. El Palmar (La Albufera de València), c. 1915 (2).jpg

File:Bombardeo sobre la estación del Norte en Valencia.jpg (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 the L'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 the Art Nouveau style, such as the Estació del Nord and the Central and Columbus markets.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

World War I (1914–1918) greatly affected the Valencian economy, causing the collapse of its citrus exports. The Second 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.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

After the continuous unsuccessful Francoist offensive on besieged Madrid during the Spanish Civil War, Valencia temporarily became the capital of Republican Spain on 6 November 1936. It hosted the government until 31 October 1937.{{citation |url=https://elpais.com/ccaa/2015/11/16/valencia/1447694968_672284.html |title=Valencia, capital de la Segunda República española |work=El País |author=Cristina Vázquez |date=16 November 2015 |access-date=17 April 2018 |archive-date=18 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180418032348/https://elpais.com/ccaa/2015/11/16/valencia/1447694968_672284.html |url-status=live}}

During the Spanish Civil War, Valencia was heavily bombarded by air and sea, mainly by the Fascist Italian air force, as well as the Francoist air force with Nazi 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.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

The postwar years were a time of hardship for Valencians. During Franco's regime, speaking or teaching Valencian 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 as Juan Peset, rector of University of Valencia, were executed and many of them, including Josep Renau and Max Aub, went into exile.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

File:Historia30-valencia - Valencia anegada por la riada de 1957.jpg

File:Barraques de Beniparrell abans de la Gran Riuada de València (País Valencià, 1957).jpg

In 1943, Franco decreed the exclusivity of Valencia and Barcelona for the celebration of international fairs in Spain.{{Cite web |url=https://www.abc.es/espana/20140210/abci-como-cataluna-volvio-rica-201402100444.html |website=ABC |title=De cómo Cataluña se volvió rica y Galicia, pobre |date=11 February 2014 |first=Luis |last=Ventoso |access-date=20 July 2020 |archive-date=28 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828171157/https://www.abc.es/espana/20140210/abci-como-cataluna-volvio-rica-201402100444.html |url-status=live}} 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 of Adolfo Suárez. In October 1957, a flood from the Turia river resulted in 81 casualties and extensive property damage.{{Cite web |url=https://www.levante-emv.com/valencia/2017/10/04/riada-57-valencia-aniversario-60-anos/1623886.html |first=Sara |last=Cañada Guillen |website=Levante-EMV |date=4 October 2017 |title=Riada de 1957 en València: Se cumplen 60 años |access-date=15 June 2020 |archive-date=15 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615211323/https://www.levante-emv.com/valencia/2017/10/04/riada-57-valencia-aniversario-60-anos/1623886.html |url-status=live}} 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". 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 the advent of democracy in Spain, the ancient kingdom of Valencia was established as a new autonomous entity, the Valencian 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 the Palau de la Música, the Palacio de Congresos, the Metro, the City of Arts and Sciences (Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències), the Valencian Museum of Enlightenment and Modernity (Museo Valenciano de la Ilustracion y la Modernidad), and the Institute of Modern Art (Institut Valencià d'Art Modern). The various productions of Santiago Calatrava, a renowned structural engineer, architect, and sculptor and of the architect Félix Candela have contributed to Valencia's international reputation. In 1983 the statue of Francisco Franco in Plaza del Caudillo was torn down and the plaza renamed Plaza del Ayuntamiento. Some time after, the bronze statue La Paz y la Concordancia by José Puche was erected in Plaza 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.

File:Valencia - panoramio (7).jpg

On 3 July 2006, a major mass transit disaster, the Valencia Metro derailment, left 43 dead and 47 wounded.{{Cite web |url=https://www.lasexta.com/programas/salvados/noticias/accidente-metro-valencia-historia-tragedia-silenciada_2013042957278f764beb28d44602f8b7.html |date=29 April 2013 |title=43 muertos, 47 heridos y 0 responsables: el accidente de metro de Valencia es la historia de una tragedia silenciada |website=LaSexta |access-date=15 June 2020 |archive-date=15 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615213018/https://www.lasexta.com/programas/salvados/noticias/accidente-metro-valencia-historia-tragedia-silenciada_2013042957278f764beb28d44602f8b7.html |url-status=live}} 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 the Sant Calze, a 1st-century Middle-Eastern artifact that some Catholics believe is the Holy Grail.{{efn|It was supposedly brought to that church by Emperor Valerian in the 3rd century, after having been brought by St. Peter to Rome from Jerusalem. The Sant 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0603899.htm |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20060711190739/http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0603899.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 July 2006 |title=About the Santo Caliz (Holy Chalice) |publisher=Catholicnews.com |access-date=9 March 2011}}}}

Valencia was selected in 2003 to host the historic America's Cup yacht race, the first European city ever to do so. The 2007 America's Cup matches took place from April to July. On 3 July 2007, Alinghi defeated Team 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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.americascup.com/en/33rd/news_5.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100123033408/http://www.americascup.com/en/33rd/news_5.php |url-status=dead |title=Announcement of the election as host city for 33rd America's Cup |archive-date=23 January 2010}}

The results of the Valencia municipal elections from 1991 to 2011 delivered a 24-year uninterrupted rule (1991–2015) by the People's Party (PP) and Mayor Rita Barberá, with support from the Valencian Union. Barberá's rule was ousted by left-leaning forces after the 2015 municipal election, with Joan Ribó of Compromís becoming the new mayor.

File:Valencia, Spain.jpg's Sentinel-2 satellite]]

Located on the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula and the western part of the Mediterranean Sea, fronting the Gulf of Valencia, Valencia lies on the highly fertile alluvial silts accumulated on the floodplain formed in the lower course of the Turia River.{{Sfn|Puncel Chornet|1999}} At its founding by the Romans in 138 BC, it stood on an alluvial plain of the Turia River several kilometers from the sea.{{cite book |last1=Monrabal |first1=Josep Sorribes |title=Valencia, 1957-2007: De la riada a la Copa del América |year=2011 |publisher=Universitat de València |isbn=978-84-370-8260-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sRdbTyaOIgYC&pg=PA61 |language=es |access-date=15 November 2023 |archive-date=15 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115224703/https://books.google.com/books?id=sRdbTyaOIgYC&pg=PA61 |url-status=live }}

The Albufera lagoon, located about {{cvt|12|km|mi|0}} 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.{{Sfn|Clemente Meoro|2008|p=1}} The lagoon and its environment are used for the cultivation of rice in paddy fields, and for hunting and fishing purposes.{{Sfn|Clemente Meoro|2008|p=1}}

The Valencia City Council bought the lake from the Crown of Spain for 1,072,980 pesetas in 1911,{{cite book |author=Momblanch y Gonzálbez, Francisco de P. |title=Historia de la Albufera de Valencia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6QUrAQAAMAAJ |access-date=5 February 2013 |year=1960 |publisher=Excmo. Anuntamiento |page=301 |isbn=9788484840701 |archive-date=1 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101125315/http://books.google.com/books?id=6QUrAQAAMAAJ |url-status=live}} and today it forms the main portion of the Parc Natural de l'Albufera (Albufera Nature Reserve), with a surface area of {{convert|21,120|ha|acre}}. Because of its cultural, historical, and ecological value, it was declared a natural park in 1976.

{{Main|Climate of Valencia}}

Valencia and its metropolitan area have a Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa) bordering on a semi-arid climate (Köppen: BSh){{Cite web |title=AEMET IBERIAN CLIMATE ATLAS |url=http://www.aemet.es/documentos/es/conocermas/publicaciones/Atlas-climatologico/Atlas.pdf |website=www.aemet.es |publisher=Agencia Estatal de Meteorología |access-date=2024-04-07 |archive-date=22 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200422054507/http://www.aemet.es/documentos/es/conocermas/publicaciones/Atlas-climatologico/Atlas.pdf |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Evolucion de los climas de Koppen en España: 1951-2020 |url=https://www.aemet.es/documentos/es/conocermas/recursos_en_linea/publicaciones_y_estudios/publicaciones/NT_37_AEMET/NT_37_AEMET.pdf |access-date=2024-01-06 |website=Agencia Estatal de Meteorologia |archive-date=13 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213184548/https://www.aemet.es/documentos/es/conocermas/recursos_en_linea/publicaciones_y_estudios/publicaciones/NT_37_AEMET/NT_37_AEMET.pdf |url-status=live }} with mild winters and hot, dry summers.{{Cite journal |first1=M. |last1=Kottek |first2=J. |last2=Grieser |first3=C. |last3=Beck |first4=B. |last4=Rudolf |first5=F. |last5=Rubel |title=World Map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated |journal=Meteorol. Z. |volume=15 |pages=259–263 |url=http://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/pics/kottek_et_al_2006.gif |doi=10.1127/0941-2948/2006/0130 |access-date=22 April 2009 |date=10 July 2006 |issue=3 |bibcode=2006MetZe..15..259K |archive-date=9 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009232020/http://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/pics/kottek_et_al_2006.gif |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=Mapa topográfico de España del Instituto Geográfico Nacional |url=http://www.ign.es/iberpix2/visor/ |url-status=live |access-date=6 September 2021 |archive-date=19 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170719134808/http://www.ign.es/iberpix2/visor/}} According to the Siegmund/Frankenberg climate classification, Valencia has a subtropical climate.[http://www.ph-heidelberg.de/geographie/forschung-und-entwicklung/klimakarte-der-erde.html Die Klimatypen der Erde] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114174500/https://www.ph-heidelberg.de/geographie/forschung-und-entwicklung/klimakarte-der-erde.html |date=14 November 2021 }} - Pädagogische Hochschule in Heidelberg

The average annual temperature of Valencia is {{cvt|18.6|°C|°F}}; {{cvt|23|°C|°F}} during the day and {{cvt|14.2|°C|°F}} at night. In the coldest month, January, the maximum daily temperature typically ranges from {{cvt|15|to|20|C|F}}, the minimum temperature typically at night ranges from {{cvt|6|to|10|C|F}}. December, January and February are the coldest months, with average temperatures around {{cvt|17|C|F}} during the day and {{cvt|8|C|F}} at night. March is transitional, the temperature often exceeds {{cvt|20|°C|0}}, with an average temperature of {{cvt|19.3|°C}} during the day and {{cvt|10|°C}} at night. During the warmest months – July and August, the maximum temperature during the day typically ranges from {{cvt|28|to|32|C|F}}, about {{cvt|21|to|24|°C|°F}} at night. The highest and lowest temperatures recorded in the city since 1937 were {{convert|44.7|C}} on 10 August 2023 and {{convert|-7.2|C}} on 11 February 1956, respectively.{{cite web |title=València: València - Valores extremos absolutos - Selector - Agencia Estatal de Meteorología - AEMET. Gobierno de España |url=http://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/efemerides_extremos*?w=0&k=val&l=8416&datos=det&x=8416&m=13&v=todos |publisher=AEMET |access-date=2 December 2021 |language=es |archive-date=2 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202155913/http://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/efemerides_extremos*?w=0&k=val&l=8416&datos=det&x=8416&m=13&v=todos |url-status=live}} Valencia has one of the mildest winters in Europe, owing to its southern location on the Mediterranean Sea and the Foehn phenomenon, locally known as ponentà.{{cite web |date=5 February 2020 |title=L'efecte Foehn, fogony o "ponentà" |url=https://vilmeteo.es/el-efecte-foehn/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202194335/https://vilmeteo.es/el-efecte-foehn/ |archive-date=2 December 2021 |access-date=2 December 2021 |publisher=VilMeteo (Meteo Villarreal) |language=ca-valencia}} The January average is comparable to temperatures expected for May and September in the major cities of northern Europe.{{Cite web |title=World Bank |url=https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/greece/climate-data-historical |access-date=13 June 2023 |archive-date=21 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521050629/https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/greece/climate-data-historical |url-status=live }}

The maximum of precipitation occurs in autumn, coinciding with the time of the year when cold drop (gota fría) episodes of heavy rainfall—associated to cut-off low pressure systems at high altitude—{{Cite web |title=La gota fría: dónde, cuándo y cómo se produce |url=https://www.nuevatribuna.es/articulo/actualidad/gota-fria-donde-cuando-como-produce/20190913162654166097.html |website=Nueva Tribuna |date=13 September 2019 |access-date=21 July 2020 |archive-date=21 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721141618/https://www.nuevatribuna.es/articulo/actualidad/gota-fria-donde-cuando-como-produce/20190913162654166097.html |url-status=live}} are common along the Western mediterranean coast.{{Cite web |title=El clima de Valencia |url=http://eltiempo.lasprovincias.es/las-cosas-del-clima/clima-valencia |publisher=Las Provincias |first=Antonio |last=Rivera |date=20 January 2012 |access-date=21 July 2020 |archive-date=21 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721125917/http://eltiempo.lasprovincias.es/las-cosas-del-clima/clima-valencia |url-status=live}} The year-on-year variability in precipitation may be, however, considerable, as exemplified by large floods in 1957 and 2024, 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.{{cite web |date=11 January 2020 |title=Se cumplen 60 años de la última nevada en València |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/local/valencia/20200111/472821620039/valencia-nevada-1960-nieve-ciudad.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200112125943/https://www.lavanguardia.com/local/valencia/20200111/472821620039/valencia-nevada-1960-nieve-ciudad.html |archive-date=12 January 2020 |access-date=24 January 2020 |website=La Vanguardia}}

Valencia, on average, has around 2,733 sunshine hours per year, from 152 in December (average of 5 hours of sunshine duration a day) to 308 in July (average around 10 hours of sunshine duration a day). The average temperature of the sea is {{cvt|14|-|15|°C}} in winter and {{cvt|25|-|26|°C}} in summer.{{cite web |url=https://seatemperature.net/current/spain/valencia-valencia-spain-sea-temperature |title=Sea temperature in Valencia |access-date=18 June 2020 |archive-date=20 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620144811/https://seatemperature.net/current/spain/valencia-valencia-spain-sea-temperature |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://eltiempo.lasprovincias.es/meteorologia/temperatura-del-agua-del-mar |title=Temperatura del agua del mar |newspaper=Las Provincias |date=18 July 2010 |access-date=24 October 2015 |language=es |first=Antonio |last=Rivera |publisher=Vocento |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304122241/http://eltiempo.lasprovincias.es/meteorologia/temperatura-del-agua-del-mar |url-status=live}} Average annual relative humidity is around 66%.{{cite web |url=http://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=8416&k=val |work=Agencia Estatal de Meteorología |title=Valores climatológicos normales. València |access-date=4 April 2019 |language=es |archive-date=4 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404171628/http://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=8416&k=val |url-status=live}}

{{Weather box

|location= Valencia (normals and extremes 1991-2020), altitude: 11 m.a.s.l.

|metric first= yes

|single line= yes

| Jan record high C =26.6

| Feb record high C =27.2

| Mar record high C =31.0

| Apr record high C =33.4

| May record high C =42.0

| Jun record high C =38.2

| Jul record high C =40.3

| Aug record high C =43.0

| Sep record high C =38.4

| Oct record high C =35.8

| Nov record high C =31.2

| Dec record high C =26.8

| year record high C =

| Jan high C =16.8

| Feb high C =17.4

| Mar high C =19.4

| Apr high C =21.2

| May high C =24.0

| Jun high C =27.5

| Jul high C =29.9

| Aug high C =30.6

| Sep high C =28.0

| Oct high C =24.6

| Nov high C =20.2

| Dec high C =17.4

| year high C =

| Jan mean C =12.1

| Feb mean C =12.7

| Mar mean C =14.7

| Apr mean C =16.6

| May mean C =19.6

| Jun mean C =23.3

| Jul mean C =25.9

| Aug mean C =26.5

| Sep mean C =23.7

| Oct mean C =20.1

| Nov mean C =15.6

| Dec mean C =12.8

| year mean C =

| Jan low C =7.5

| Feb low C =8.0

| Mar low C =9.9

| Apr low C =11.9

| May low C =15.1

| Jun low C =19.0

| Jul low C =21.9

| Aug low C =22.5

| Sep low C =19.3

| Oct low C =15.6

| Nov low C =11.0

| Dec low C =8.3

| year low C =

| Jan record low C =-1.6

| Feb record low C =-0.5

| Mar record low C =1.2

| Apr record low C =5.0

| May record low C =6.0

| Jun record low C =12.6

| Jul record low C =16.0

| Aug record low C =16.2

| Sep record low C =11.6

| Oct record low C =6.3

| Nov record low C =2.4

| Dec record low C =-0.3

| year record low C =

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation mm =39

| Feb precipitation mm =30

| Mar precipitation mm =40

| Apr precipitation mm =33

| May precipitation mm =36

| Jun precipitation mm =26

| Jul precipitation mm =7

| Aug precipitation mm =15

| Sep precipitation mm =70

| Oct precipitation mm =63

| Nov precipitation mm =52

| Dec precipitation mm =48

| year precipitation mm =

| unit precipitation days = 1mm

| Jan precipitation days =3.9

| Feb precipitation days =3.5

| Mar precipitation days =4.1

| Apr precipitation days =4.5

| May precipitation days =4.2

| Jun precipitation days =2.2

| Jul precipitation days =1.2

| Aug precipitation days =2.3

| Sep precipitation days =5.2

| Oct precipitation days =4.7

| Nov precipitation days =4.3

| Dec precipitation days =4.3

| year precipitation days =

| Jan humidity = 65

| Feb humidity = 64

| Mar humidity = 64

| Apr humidity = 62

| May humidity = 66

| Jun humidity = 66

| Jul humidity = 68

| Aug humidity = 68

| Sep humidity = 67

| Oct humidity = 68

| Nov humidity = 66

| Dec humidity = 66

| year humidity =

| Jan sun =174

| Feb sun =181

| Mar sun =217

| Apr sun =237

| May sun =267

| Jun sun =282

| Jul sun =313

| Aug sun =288

| Sep sun =237

| Oct sun =208

| Nov sun =171

| Dec sun =158

| year sun =

| Jan percentsun = 57

| Feb percentsun = 59

| Mar percentsun = 59

| Apr percentsun = 60

| May percentsun = 60

| Jun percentsun = 63

| Jul percentsun = 69

| Aug percentsun = 68

| Sep percentsun = 63

| Oct percentsun = 60

| Nov percentsun = 57

| Dec percentsun = 54

| year percentsun =

|source = Agencia Estatal de Meteorologia (AEMET OpenData){{cite web | url=https://www.aemet.es/es/datos_abiertos/AEMET_OpenData | title=AEMET OpeenData |publisher=Agencia Estatal de Meteorologia |access-date=2024-05-12 }}}}

{{Weather box|

| location = Valencia ({{cvt|4|km|0|disp=sqbr}} from sea, altitude: 11 m.a.s.l., averages 1981–2010)

| metric first = yes

| single line = yes

| collapsed = yes

| Jan high C = 16.4

| Feb high C = 17.1

| Mar high C = 19.3

| Apr high C = 20.8

| May high C = 23.4

| Jun high C = 27.1

| Jul high C = 29.7

| Aug high C = 30.2

| Sep high C = 27.9

| Oct high C = 24.3

| Nov high C = 19.8

| Dec high C = 17.0

| year high C = 22.8

| Jan mean C = 11.9

| Feb mean C = 12.7

| Mar mean C = 14.6

| Apr mean C = 16.2

| May mean C = 19.0

| Jun mean C = 22.9

| Jul mean C = 25.6

| Aug mean C = 26.1

| Sep mean C = 23.5

| Oct mean C = 19.7

| Nov mean C = 15.3

| Dec mean C = 12.6

| year mean C = 18.3

| Jan low C = 7.1

| Feb low C = 7.8

| Mar low C = 9.7

| Apr low C = 11.5

| May low C = 14.6

| Jun low C = 18.6

| Jul low C = 21.5

| Aug low C = 21.9

| Sep low C = 19.1

| Oct low C = 15.2

| Nov low C = 10.8

| Dec low C = 8.1

| year low C = 13.8

| Jan precipitation mm = 37

| Feb precipitation mm = 36

| Mar precipitation mm = 33

| Apr precipitation mm = 38

| May precipitation mm = 39

| Jun precipitation mm = 22

| Jul precipitation mm = 8

| Aug precipitation mm = 20

| Sep precipitation mm = 70

| Oct precipitation mm = 77

| Nov precipitation mm = 47

| Dec precipitation mm = 48

| year precipitation mm = 475

| Jan precipitation days = 4.4

| Feb precipitation days = 3.9

| Mar precipitation days = 3.6

| Apr precipitation days = 4.8

| May precipitation days = 4.3

| Jun precipitation days = 2.6

| Jul precipitation days = 1.1

| Aug precipitation days = 2.4

| Sep precipitation days = 5.0

| Oct precipitation days = 5.0

| Nov precipitation days = 4.3

| Dec precipitation days = 4.8

| year precipitation days = 46.3

| unit precipitation days = 1 mm

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan humidity =64

| Feb humidity =64

| Mar humidity =63

| Apr humidity =62

| May humidity =65

| Jun humidity =66

| Jul humidity =67

| Aug humidity =68

| Sep humidity =67

| Oct humidity =67

| Nov humidity =66

| Dec humidity =65

| year humidity =

| Jan sun = 171

| Feb sun = 171

| Mar sun = 215

| Apr sun = 234

| May sun = 259

| Jun sun = 276

| Jul sun = 315

| Aug sun = 288

| Sep sun = 235

| Oct sun = 202

| Nov sun = 167

| Dec sun = 155

| year sun = 2696

| source 1 = Agencia Estatal de Meteorología{{cite web |url=http://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=8416&k=undefined |title=Valores climatológicos normales |work=Agencia Estatal de Meteorología |access-date=18 June 2020 |language=es |archive-date=19 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200619082834/http://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=8416&k=undefined |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/efemerides_extremos?w=0&k=val&l=8416&datos=det |title=Valores Extremos |work=Agencia Estatal de Meteorologia |access-date=6 January 2024 |archive-date=6 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240106164847/https://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/efemerides_extremos?w=0&k=val&l=8416&datos=det |url-status=live }}

| date = June 2020

| source =

}}

{{Historical populations|1842|66355|1857|106435|1860|107703|1877|142063|1887|168740|1897|203958|1900|215687|1910|233018|1920|247281|1930|315816|1940|454654|1950|503886|1960|501777|1970|648003|1981|744748|1991|752909|2001|738441|2011|792054|2021|788842|source=National Statistics Institute{{cite web|title=Changes in the municipalities in the population census since 1842|url=https://www.ine.es/intercensal/inicio.do|publisher=National Statistics Institute|language=es}}}}The third largest city in Spain and the 24th most populous municipality in the European Union, Valencia had a population of 809,267{{cite web |url=http://www.ine.es |title=Instituto Nacional de Estadística. (National Statistics Institute) |publisher=Ine.es |date=28 May 2001 |access-date=6 May 2009 |archive-date=7 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190907000901/https://www.ine.es/ |url-status=live}} within its administrative limits on a land area of {{convert|134.6|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=on}} in 2009. The urban area of Valencia extending beyond the administrative city limits has a population of between 1,564,145Eurostat – Larger Urban Zones: [http://www.urbanaudit.org/CityProfiles.aspx Urban Audit.org] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071217141925/http://www.urbanaudit.org/CityProfiles.aspx |date=17 December 2007 }}{{Cite web |title=Inici - València |url=https://www.valencia.es/val/estadistica/inici |access-date=6 September 2021 |website=www.valencia.es |archive-date=6 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906185024/https://www.valencia.es/val/estadistica/inici |url-status=live}} and 1,595,000.[http://www.demographia.com/db-worldua.pdf World Urban Areas] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503021711/http://www.demographia.com/db-worldua.pdf |date=3 May 2018 }} – Demographia, 04.2018

According to the Valencia city hall and Spanish Ministry of Development, the metropolis within the Horta of Valencia has a population of 1,567,118 in an area of {{cvt|628.81|km2}}. From 2001 to 2011, there was a population increase of 14.1%, amounting to 191,842 people.[http://www.fomento.gob.es/MFOM.CP.Web/handlers/pdfhandler.ashx?idpub=BAW013 Áreas urbanas +50, Ministerio de Fomento de España] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826234241/http://www.fomento.gob.es/MFOM.CP.Web/handlers/pdfhandler.ashx?idpub=BAW013 |date=26 August 2014 }}.

The metropolitan area had a population of 1,770,742 in 2010 according to citypopulation.de,[http://www.citypopulation.de/world/Agglomerations.html The Principal Agglomerations of the World – Population Statistics and Maps] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704112702/http://www.citypopulation.de/world/Agglomerations.html |date=4 July 2010 }} – citypopulation.de 2,300,000 in 2015 according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development,Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, [https://books.google.com/books?id=kBsfY-Pe2Q4C Competitive Cities in the Global Economy] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016032356/https://books.google.com/books?id=kBsfY-Pe2Q4C |date=16 October 2015 }}, OECD Territorial Reviews, (OECD Publishing, 2006), Table 1.1 2,513,965 in 2017 according to the World Gazetteer,[https://en.populationdata.net/countries/spain/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203055641/https://en.populationdata.net/countries/spain/|date=3 December 2018}} – World Gazetteer, 2017 and 2,522,383 in 2017 according to Eurostat.[http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=met_pjanaggr3&lang=en "Population by sex and age groups"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160622081900/http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=met_pjanaggr3&lang=en |date=22 June 2016 }} – Eurostat, 2017.

Between 2007 and 2008, there was a 14% increase in the foreign-born population, with the largest numeric increases by country being from Bolivia, Romania, and Italy. This growth in the foreign born population, which rose from 1.5% in 2000{{cite web |url=http://www.ayto-valencia.es/ayuntamiento/webs/estadistica/Padron/2001/Pob_estrangera_2001.xls |title=foreign born population in 2001 |access-date=9 March 2011 |archive-date=20 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720133411/http://www.ayto-valencia.es/ayuntamiento/webs/estadistica/Padron/2001/Pob_estrangera_2001.xls |url-status=live}} to 9.1% in 2009,{{cite web |url=http://www.ayto-valencia.es/ayuntamiento/otras_publicaciones.nsf/0/44A5D00DFB826F6DC12575E00027F9CA/$FILE/Pob_Estrangera_2009.pdf |title=Foreign born population in 2008, p7 |access-date=9 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720133538/http://www.ayto-valencia.es/ayuntamiento/otras_publicaciones.nsf/0/44A5D00DFB826F6DC12575E00027F9CA/$FILE/Pob_Estrangera_2009.pdf |archive-date=20 July 2011 |url-status=dead}} has also occurred in the two larger cities of Madrid and Barcelona.{{cite web |url=http://www.ayto-valencia.es/ayuntamiento/webs/estadistica/Padron/2007/Pob_estrangera_2007.xls |title=Table 1.1 foreign born population |access-date=9 March 2011 |archive-date=20 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720133452/http://www.ayto-valencia.es/ayuntamiento/webs/estadistica/Padron/2007/Pob_estrangera_2007.xls |url-status=live}} The main countries of origin in those cases were Romania, the United Kingdom, and Bulgaria.{{cite web |url=https://data.kyero.com/en/data/spain/community/valencia/population |title=Population of Valencia 2017 |access-date=29 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215223726/https://data.kyero.com/en/data/spain/community/valencia/population |archive-date=15 December 2018 |url-status=dead}}

File:Banco de Valencia, Valencia, España, 2014-06-30, DD 135.JPG]]

Valencia enjoyed strong economic growth before the Great Recession of 2008, much of it spurred by tourism and construction,{{Citation needed|date=June 2008}} 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|date=May 2014}} 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 of Almussafes.[http://corporate.ford.com/our-company/operations-worldwide/global-operations-detail/spain-assemblyplants-valenciabody Global Operations – Spain: Valencia Body and Assembly] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141120053655/http://corporate.ford.com/our-company/operations-worldwide/global-operations-detail/spain-assemblyplants-valenciabody |date=20 November 2014 }} – Corporate.ford.com Agricultural activity still occurs but is of relatively minor importance, with only 1.9% of the working population working in agriculture and {{cvt|3,973|ha}} 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".{{cite web |url=http://www.citymayors.com/business/euro_bizcities.html |title=Best European business cities |publisher=City Mayors |date=28 October 2009 |access-date=15 September 2011 |archive-date=23 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723081225/http://www.citymayors.com/business/euro_bizcities.html |url-status=live}} Its influence in commerce, education, entertainment, media, fashion, science and the arts contributes to its status as one of the world's "Gamma" rank global cities.{{cite web |title=The World According to GaWC 2020 |url=https://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/world2020t.html |website=GaWC - Research Network |publisher=Globalization and World Cities |access-date=31 August 2020 |archive-date=24 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824031341/https://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/world2020t.html |url-status=live}}

The city is the seat of one of the four stock exchanges in Spain, the {{ill|Bolsa de Valencia|es}}, part of Bolsas y Mercados Españoles (BME), owned by SIX Group.{{Cite web |url=https://valenciaplaza.com/bolsa-de-valencia-ni-valenciana-ni-espanola-suiza-como-bme-por-six-group |title=Bolsa de Valencia, ni valenciana ni española: ya es suiza (como BME) |date=12 June 2020 |first=Luis A. |last=Torralba |website=Valencia Plaza |access-date=20 July 2020 |archive-date=20 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720112221/https://valenciaplaza.com/bolsa-de-valencia-ni-valenciana-ni-espanola-suiza-como-bme-por-six-group |url-status=live}}

The Valencia metropolitan area had a GDP amounting to $52.7 billion, and $28,141 per capita.{{cite web |url=http://www.brookings.edu/research/interactives/global-metro-monitor-3 |title=Global city GDP 2011 |publisher=Brookings Institution |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605135349/http://www.brookings.edu/research/interactives/global-metro-monitor-3 |archive-date=5 June 2013}}

In 2021, the European 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%.{{Cite book |last=Bank |first=European Investment |url=https://www.eib.org/en/publications/20240079-eib-group-activity-in-eu-cohesion-regions-2023 |title=EIB Group activities in EU cohesion regions 2023 |date=2024-07-15 |publisher=European Investment Bank |isbn=978-92-861-5761-5 |language=EN}}{{Cite web |title=Press corner |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/home/en |access-date=2024-07-31 |website=European Commission - European Commission}}

In 2022, the city was voted the world's top destination for expatriates, based on criteria such as quality of life and affordability.{{Cite web |date=5 December 2022 |title=Valencia named top city for expats |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/valencia-top-city-expats-spain-b2239265.html |access-date=30 January 2023 |website=The Independent |language=en |archive-date=30 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130153005/https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/valencia-top-city-expats-spain-b2239265.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Liu |first=Jennifer |title=This Spanish city is the No. 1 place to live and work abroad―and it's about to get easier to become a digital nomad there |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/01/this-spanish-city-is-the-no-1-place-to-live-and-work-abroad.html |access-date=30 January 2023 |website=CNBC |date=December 2022 |language=en |archive-date=30 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130151636/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/01/this-spanish-city-is-the-no-1-place-to-live-and-work-abroad.html |url-status=live }}

{{Main|Port of Valencia}}

File:Valence Port (2).jpg

Valencia's port is the biggest on the Mediterranean western coast,{{cite web |url=http://www.valenciaport.com/en-US/ValenciaportEntorno/ValenciaportCifras/Introduccion/Paginas/ValenciaportCifras.aspx |title=Valenciaport in figures |publisher=valenciaport.com |access-date=1 January 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090909202120/http://www.valenciaport.com/en-US/ValenciaportEntorno/ValenciaportCifras/Introduccion/Paginas/ValenciaportCifras.aspx |archive-date=9 September 2009}} the first in Spain in container traffic {{As of|2008|lc=y}}{{cite web |author=Burguera |url=http://www.lasprovincias.es/valencia/20080910/economia/valencia-supera-algeciras-lidera-20080910.html |title=Valencia supera an Algeciras y lidera por primera vez el tráfico de contenedores en España. Las Provincias |date=10 September 2008 |publisher=Lasprovincias.es |access-date=18 June 2009 |language=es |archive-date=12 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212111800/http://www.lasprovincias.es/valencia/20080910/economia/valencia-supera-algeciras-lidera-20080910.html |url-status=live}} and the second in Spain{{cite web |url=http://www.puertoalgeciras.org/2008/04/resumen-general-del-trafico-portuario.html |title=Resumen general del tráfico portuario en febrero | Puerto Bahía de Algeciras Blog |publisher=Puertoalgeciras.org |date=22 February 1999 |access-date=18 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090806075730/http://www.puertoalgeciras.org/2008/04/resumen-general-del-trafico-portuario.html |archive-date=6 August 2009 |url-status=dead}} in total traffic, handling 20% of Spain's exports.{{cite news |last=Mckinley |first=James C. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/global/spainvalencia/nine.html |title=NY Times, 30 July 2008 |work=The New York Times |date=2 March 2011 |access-date=9 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080407171724/http://www.nytimes.com/global/spainvalencia/nine.html |archive-date=7 April 2008}} The main exports are foodstuffs and beverages. Other exports include oranges, furniture, ceramic tiles, fans, textiles and iron products. Valencia's manufacturing 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|date=June 2023}} unemployment was lower than the Spanish average.

Valencia's port underwent radical changes to accommodate the 32nd America'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.

File:Estació d'Aeroport (Metrovalència).jpg

Public transport is provided by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana (FGV), which operates the Metrovalencia (rapid transit, tram) and other rail and bus services. The Estació del Nord (North Station) is the major railway terminus in Valencia. A second station, the Estació de València-Joaquín Sorolla, has been built on land adjacent to this terminus to accommodate high speed AVE trains to and from Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and Alicante. Valencia Airport is situated {{convert|9|km|mi|abbr=on}} west of the city centre, and Alicante–Elche Airport is approximately {{convert|133|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of the city centre.

A bicycle-sharing system named Valenbisi is available to both visitors and residents. As of 13 October 2012, the system had 2750 bikes distributed over 250 stations throughout the city.{{cite web |url=http://www.valenbisi.com/What-is-Valenbisi |title=Valenbisi's official website |publisher=Valenbisi.com |access-date=24 October 2015 |archive-date=7 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107064417/http://www.valenbisi.com/What-is-Valenbisi |url-status=live}}

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 {{cvt|5.9|km}}, while 8% travel for over {{cvt|12|km}} in a single direction.{{cite web |url=https://moovitapp.com/insights/en/Moovit_Insights_Public_Transit_Index_Spain_Valencia-1669 |title=Valencia Public Transportation Statistics |publisher=Global Public Transit Index by Moovit |access-date=19 June 2017 |archive-date=24 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824180628/https://moovitapp.com/insights/en/Moovit_Insights_Public_Transit_Index_Spain_Valencia-1669 |url-status=live}} 50x50px Material was copied from this source, which is available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

File:La Malvarrosa - Juanedc.jpg

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 medieval Torres de Serranos and Quart Towers and the Monasterio de San Miguel de los Reyes, which now holds a conservation library. Whole sections of the old city, for example the Carmen Quarter, have been extensively renovated. The Passeig Marítim, a {{convert|4|km|mi|0|abbr=on|adj=on}} long palm tree-lined beach promenade, was constructed along the beaches 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 diverse nightlife, with bars, dance bars, beach bars and nightclubs staying open well past midnight.{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.ie/life/travel/europe/viva-valencia-welcome-to-the-european-city-that-never-sleeps-34341132.html |title=Viva Valencia! Welcome to the European city that never sleeps |date=10 January 2006 |publisher=Independent.ie |access-date=14 February 2022 |archive-date=6 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206175153/https://www.independent.ie/life/travel/europe/viva-valencia-welcome-to-the-european-city-that-never-sleeps-34341132.html |url-status=live }} The city has numerous convention 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.

File:Fallas2017 Mascletà 06.jpg" during Falles]]

In its long history, Valencia has acquired many local traditions and festivals, among them the Falles, which was declared a Celebration of International Tourist Interest (Festes d'Interés Turístic Internacional) on 25 January 1965 and an intangible 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 33rd America's Cup competitions, the European Grand Prix of Formula One auto racing, the former Valencia Open tennis tournament, and the Global Champions Tour of equestrian sports. The final round of the MotoGP Championship is held annually at the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana.

The 2007 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.{{cite web |title=Economic Impact of the 32nd America's Cup Valencia 2007 |url=http://www.tourisminsights.info/ONLINEPUB/SPORT%20AND%20EVENTS/SAET%20PDFS/INSTITUTO%20VALENCIANO%20DE%20INVESTIGACIONES%20ECONOMICAS%20(2007),%20Economic%20Impact%20of%20the%2032nd%20America%92s%20Cup%20Valencia%202007,%20Ivie,%20Valencia%20.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911122058/http://www.tourisminsights.info/ONLINEPUB/SPORT%20AND%20EVENTS/SAET%20PDFS/INSTITUTO%20VALENCIANO%20DE%20INVESTIGACIONES%20ECONOMICAS%20(2007),%20Economic%20Impact%20of%20the%2032nd%20America%92s%20Cup%20Valencia%202007,%20Ivie,%20Valencia%20.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 September 2016 |website=tourisminsights.info |publisher=Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Económicas |access-date=31 August 2016}}

In October 2021, Valencia was shortlisted for the European Commission's 2022 European Capital of Smart Tourism award, along with Bordeaux, Copenhagen, Dublin, Florence, Ljubljana, and Palma de Mallorca.{{Cite web |title=2022 European Capital of Smart Tourism - Competition winners 2022 |url=https://smart-tourism-capital.ec.europa.eu/cities/competition-winners-2022_en |website=European Commission |date=2 October 2021 |access-date=8 November 2022 |archive-date=7 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221107212251/https://smart-tourism-capital.ec.europa.eu/cities/competition-winners-2022_en |url-status=live }}

Valencia boasts a [https://www.comunitatvalenciana.com/en/valencia/valencia Museu Obert|Open Air Museum], as a walking tour.

{{Main|Ayuntamiento of Valencia}}

{{see also|Valencia City Council elections}}

File:Ayuntamiento de Valencia, España, 2014-06-30, DD 121.JPG]]

Valencia is a municipality, the basic local administrative division in Spain. The ayuntamiento (Ajuntament in Valencian language) is formally known as the Consell Municipal de València, and it is the body charged with the municipal government and administration,{{Cite web |url=https://www.valencia.es/ayuntamiento/ayuntamiento.nsf?opendatabase&lang=1&nivel=1 |publisher=Ayuntamiento de Valencia |title=Ayuntamiento de Valencia |access-date=20 July 2020 |archive-date=25 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725104259/http://valencia.es/ayuntamiento/ayuntamiento.nsf?opendatabase&lang=1&nivel=1 |url-status=live}} and is formed by 33 elected municipal councillors. In 2015, Joan Ribó became the first mayor who did not belong to the People's Party (PP) since 1991, renewing his term for a second mandate following the 2019 election.{{Cite web |url=https://www.lasexta.com/noticias/nacional/joan-ribo-investido-nuevo-alcalde-valencia-apoyo-pspv_201906155d04bc890cf216f9f69a3426.html |website=LaSexta |title=Joan Ribó, investido de nuevo alcalde de Valencia con el apoyo del PSPV |date=15 June 2019 |access-date=20 July 2020 |archive-date=20 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720215847/https://www.lasexta.com/noticias/nacional/joan-ribo-investido-nuevo-alcalde-valencia-apoyo-pspv_201906155d04bc890cf216f9f69a3426.html |url-status=live}} The last municipal election took place on 28 May 2023. María José Catalá of the PP replaced Ribó.

{{Multiple image

| image1 = Paella hirviendo.jpg

| caption1 = Traditional preparation of paella.

| direction = vertical

| image2 = Horchata de chufa 2.jpg

| caption2 = A glass of orxata and fartons

}}

Valencia is known internationally for the Falles (Les Falles), a local festival held in March, as well as for paella valenciana, traditional Valencian ceramics, craftsmanship in traditional dress, and the architecture of the City of Arts and Sciences, designed by Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela.

There are also a number of well-preserved traditional Catholic festivities throughout the year, like those of the Holy Week, which are considered some of the most colourful in Spain.{{cite web |title=Maritime Holy Week |url=https://www.visitvalencia.com/en/events-valencia/festivities/maritime-holy-week |website=visitvalencia.com |access-date=16 July 2019 |archive-date=16 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716082341/https://www.visitvalencia.com/en/events-valencia/festivities/maritime-holy-week |url-status=live}}

Valencia used to be the place of the Formula One European Grand Prix, first hosting the event on 24 August 2008, but was dropped later at the beginning of the 2013 Formula 1 season. However, Valencia still holds the annual Moto GP race at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo, usually the last race of the season, in November.

The University of Valencia (officially Universitat 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's Berklee College of Music opened a satellite campus at the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia, their first and only international campus outside the U.S.{{cite news |last=Minder |first=Raphael |title=Berklee to Open a Campus in Spain |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/14/world/europe/14iht-educSide14.html |access-date=12 April 2012 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=15 March 2011 |archive-date=23 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120423222340/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/14/world/europe/14iht-educSide14.html |url-status=live}} Since 2003, Valencia has also hosted the music courses of Musikeon, the leading musical institution in the Spanish-speaking world.

{{Main|Valencian cuisine}}

Valencia is known for its gastronomic culture. The paella, a simmered rice dish with meat (usually chicken or rabbit) or seafood, was born in Valencia. Other traditional dishes of Valencian gastronomy include fideuà, arròs a banda, arròs negre (black rice), fartons, bunyols, Spanish omelette, pinchos or tapas and calamares (squid).

Valencia was also the birthplace of the cold xufa beverage known as orxata, popular in many parts of the world, including the Americas.

File:Carrer de la Pau, sign of street in Valencia.jpg street sign]]

Valencian and Spanish are the official languages. Spanish is currently the predominant language in the city proper.{{cite web |title=Institut Valencià d'Estadística |access-date=9 March 2011 |url=http://www.ive.es/portal/page/portal/IVE_PEGV/CONTENTS/censos/censo2001definitivos/ini_val.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928084558/http://www.ive.es/portal/page/portal/IVE_PEGV/CONTENTS/censos/censo2001definitivos/ini_val.htm |archive-date=28 September 2011 |work=Generalitat Valenciana |url-status=dead}} Valencia proper and its surrounding metropolitan area are—along with the Alicante area—the traditionally Valencian-speaking territories of the Valencian Community where the Valencian language is less spoken and read.{{Sfn|Briz|2004|p=120}} 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.{{Cite web |url=https://www.levante-emv.com/valencia/2019/09/22/1--ciudadania-habla-habitualmente/1924371.html |website=Levante-EMV |first=Sandra |last=Urbina |title=Solo el 1,3 % de la ciudadanía habla habitualmente en valenciano |date=21 September 2019 |access-date=20 July 2020 |archive-date=20 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720210234/https://www.levante-emv.com/valencia/2019/09/22/1--ciudadania-habla-habitualmente/1924371.html |url-status=live}} 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.{{Sfn|Zabaltza|2017|p=69}} In 1993, the municipal government agreed to use exclusively Valencian for the plaques that serve as street signs.{{Cite web |url=https://www.levante-emv.com/valencia/2016/01/29/nuevo-nomenclator-calles-valenciano/1371962.html |website=Levante-EMV |date=29 January 2016 |title=Nuevo nomenclátor de calles en valenciano |first=Hortensia |last=García |access-date=20 July 2020 |archive-date=20 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720170526/https://www.levante-emv.com/valencia/2016/01/29/nuevo-nomenclator-calles-valenciano/1371962.html |url-status=live}} The variety of Valencian spoken in and around the city of Valencia is known as apitxat.{{Cite book|first=Kim|last=Schulte|page=96|year=2021|isbn=978-3-11-073965-7|title=Convergence and divergence in Ibero-Romance across contact situations and beyond|publisher=Walter de Gruyter|chapter=Structural convergence of two Ibero-Romance varieties. The case of colloquial Valencian as the outcome of contact between Catalan and Spanish|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6YWFEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA96}}

;Falles

{{Main|Falles}}

File:Crema falla 2015.jpg

Every year, the five days and nights from 15 to 19 March, called Falles, are a continual festival in Valencia; beginning on 1 March, the popular pyrotechnic events called mascletàes start every day at 2:00 pm. The Falles (Fallas in Spanish) is an enduring tradition in Valencia and other towns in the Valencian Community,{{cite web |url=http://www.fvmp.es/fvmp3/guia/4.2.guia-cul-fiestas.html?codine=46250 |title=Fiestas de Valencia |author=City Council of Valencia |date=2008 |work=www.fvmp.es |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113131540/http://www.fvmp.es/fvmp3/guia/4.2.guia-cul-fiestas.html?codine=46250 |archive-date=13 January 2012}} where it has become an important tourist attraction. The festival started being celebrated in the 18th century,{{cite web |url=http://www.fallasvalencia.es/fallas/historia/historia-las-fallas/ |title=Historia de las Fallas – Fallas Valencia 2015 |first=Las |last=Provincias |work=fallasvalencia.es |access-date=1 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919234928/http://www.fallasvalencia.es/fallas/historia/historia-las-fallas/ |archive-date=19 September 2016 |url-status=dead}} and came to be celebrated on the night of the feast day of Saint 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.{{cite book |author=Eamonn Rodgers |title=Encyclopedia of Contemporary Spanish Culture |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6KKFAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA174 |date=11 March 2002 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-78858-3 |page=174 |access-date=2 October 2016 |archive-date=29 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429223427/https://books.google.com/books?id=6KKFAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA174 |url-status=live}}

This tradition continued to evolve, and eventually the parots were dressed with clothing to look like people—these were the first ninots, 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, and neighborhood groups still rival with each other to make the most impressive creations.{{cite book |author=Antonio Ariño Villarroya |title=La ciudad ritual: la fiesta de las Fallas |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aUzLVON2UdMC&pg=PA13 |date=1 January 1992 |publisher=Anthropos Editorial |isbn=978-84-7658-368-5 |page=60 |access-date=2 October 2016 |archive-date=11 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611013844/https://books.google.com/books?id=aUzLVON2UdMC&pg=PA13 |url-status=live}} 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".

;Holy Week

The Setmana or {{ill|Holy Week in Valencia|es|Semana Santa Marinera|lt=Semana Santa Marinera}}, as the Holy Week is known in the city, was declared "Festival of National Tourist Interest" by 2012.{{Cite web |url=https://www.lasprovincias.es/v/20120322/valencia/semana-santa-quiere-fiesta-20120322.html |website=Las Provincias |date=22 March 2012 |title=La Semana Santa quiere ser fiesta internacional |first=Marina |last=Costa |access-date=15 June 2020 |archive-date=24 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424162222/http://www.lasprovincias.es/v/20120322/valencia/semana-santa-quiere-fiesta-20120322.html |url-status=live}}

Its historic centre is one of the largest in Spain, spanning approximately {{Convert|169|ha|acre}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.ayto-valencia.es/ayuntamiento/webs/estadistica/inf_dtba/pub/Districte_01.pdf |title=Districte 1. Ciutat Vella |work=Oficina d'Estadística. Ajuntament de València |language=ca-valencia, es |year=2008 |access-date=16 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100405033648/http://www.ayto-valencia.es/ayuntamiento/webs/estadistica/inf_dtba/pub/Districte_01.pdf |archive-date=5 April 2010 }} Major monuments include Valencia Cathedral, the Torres de Serrans, the Torres de Quart (:ca:Torres de Quart), the Lonja de la Seda (declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996), and the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències (City of Arts and Sciences), an entertainment, cultural and architectural complex designed by Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela.{{cite web |url=http://www.cac.es/ |title=Sitio oficial de Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias |access-date=18 September 2011 |author=Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias |year=2011 |work=Cac.es |archive-date=23 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123101327/http://www.cac.es/ |url-status=live}} The Museu de Belles Arts de València houses a large collection of paintings from the 14th to the 18th centuries, including works by Velázquez, El Greco, and Goya, as well as an important series of engravings by Piranesi.{{cite web |url=http://museobellasartesvalencia.gva.es/ |title=MUSEO DE BELLAS ARTES DE VALENCIA |access-date=12 October 2011 |work=Museobellasartesvalencia.gva.es |editor=Generalitat Valenciana |archive-date=25 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525050236/http://museobellasartesvalencia.gva.es/historia.html |url-status=live}} The Institut Valencià d'Art Modern (Valencian Institute of Modern Art) houses both permanent collections and temporary exhibitions of contemporary art and photography.{{cite web |url=http://www.ivam.es/ |title=Instituto Valenciano de Arte Moderno |access-date=12 October 2011 |work=Ivam.es |editor=Generalitat Valenciana |archive-date=16 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016083759/http://www.ivam.es/ |url-status=live}}

The ancient winding streets of the Barrio del Carmen contain buildings dating to Roman and Arab times. The Cathedral and its bell tower El Miguelete, built between the 13th and 15th centuries, are primarily of Valencian Gothic style but contains elements of Baroque and Romanesque architecture. Beside the cathedral is the Gothic Basilica of the Virgin (Basílica De La Mare de Déu dels Desamparats). The 15th-century Serrans and Quart towers are part of what was once the wall surrounding the city.

UNESCO has recognised the Silk Exchange market (La Llotja de la Seda), erected in early Valencian Gothic style, as a World Heritage Site.{{cite web |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/782 |title=La Lonja de la Seda de Valencia |work=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |access-date=9 March 2011 |publisher=United Nations |archive-date=14 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514032507/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/782 |url-status=live}} The Central Market (Mercat Central) in Valencian Art Nouveau style, is one of the largest in Europe. The main railway station Estació Del Nord is built in Valencian Art Nouveau (a Spanish version of Art Nouveau) style.

World-renowned Valencia-born architect Santiago Calatrava produced the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences (Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències), which contains an opera house/performing arts centre, a science museum, an IMAX 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. The Palau de la Música de València (Music Palace) is another noteworthy example of modern architecture in Valencia.

file:Plaça maededéu1.jpg|Valencia Cathedral

File:València, pati del palau de l'Almirall.jpg|The gothic courtyard of the Palace of the Admiral of Aragon (Palau de l'Almirall)

File:Convento de Santo Domingo, Valencia, España, 2014-06-29, DD 13.JPG|Convento de Santo Domingo (1300-1640)

file:Lonja Techo Fisheye.jpg|Llotja de la Seda (Silk Exchange, interior)

File:Mercado de Colón, Valencia, España, 2014-06-29, DD 09.JPG|Mercat de Colon in Valencian Art Nouveau style

Valencia,_palazzo_de_marchese_di_Dos_Aigües,_esterno_01.jpg|Palace of the Marqués de Dos Aguas

file:Mercat façana5.jpg|Mercat Central (Central Market), in Valencian Art Nouveau style

File:València, Paseo Real Basilica Nuestra Señora-PM 51920.jpg|One of the few arch-bridges that links the cathedral with neighboring buildings. This one built in 1666.

File:WLM14ES - CONVENTO DE SAN MIGUEL DE LOS REYES DE VALENCIA 06122009 130023 00062 - .jpg|Monastery of San Miguel de los Reyes built between 1548 and 1763

File:Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències, València, Valencia, Spain - panoramio (3).jpg|L'Hemisfèric (IMAX Dome cinema) and Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia

file:El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe – Bilim ve Uzay Müzesi.jpg|Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe

file:Ágora, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, Valencia, España, 2014-06-29, DD 58.JPG|Assut de l'Or Bridge and L'Àgora behind.

File:Santjoanhospital pati.jpg|Sant Joan de l'Hospital church built in 1316 (except for a Baroque chapel)

File:Baños del Almirante 01.JPG|Mudéjar (Christian) baths Banys de l'Almirall (1313-1320)

File:Qk-Antoni-Peris-detalle-06.jpg|The Museum of Fine Arts of Valencia, is the museum with the second largest amount of paintings in Spain,{{cite news |url=http://www.elmundo.es/comunidad-valenciana/2014/10/22/5447a69e22601d56348b4582.html |title=La segunda pinacoteca de España cumple 175 años y mira al siglo XXI |newspaper=El Mundo |date=22 October 2014 |access-date=4 April 2019 |author=EFE |author-link=EFE |publisher=Unidad Editorial Información General S.L.U. |archive-date=4 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404195835/https://www.elmundo.es/comunidad-valenciana/2014/10/22/5447a69e22601d56348b4582.html |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://elpais.com/ccaa/2017/01/12/valencia/1484235074_394875.html |title=El San Pío V, segunda pinacoteca de España, culmina su ampliación |newspaper=El País |date=12 January 2017 |first=Cristina |last=Vázquez |access-date=4 April 2019 |publisher=Prisa |archive-date=4 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404171430/https://elpais.com/ccaa/2017/01/12/valencia/1484235074_394875.html |url-status=live}} after Prado Museum

File:Patriarca dins.jpg|Real Colegio Seminario del Corpus Christi

File:Cimbori almoina abril 1.jpg

The Valencia Cathedral was called Iglesia Major in the early days of the Reconquista, then Iglesia de la Seu (Seu is from the Latin sedes, i.e., (archiepiscopal) See), and by virtue of the papal concession of 16 October 1866, it was called the Basílica Metropolitana. It is situated in the centre of the ancient Roman city where some believe the temple of Diana stood.{{Citation needed|date=January 2022|reason=Need a source for this statement.}} In Gothic times, it seems to have been dedicated to the Holy Saviour; the Cid dedicated it to the Blessed Virgin; King James 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 a Christian 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, called El Miguelete in Castilian Spanish or Torre del Micalet in the Valencian language because it was blessed on St. Michael's day in 1418.{{Citation needed|date=January 2022|reason=In working the new Miguelete article, I did not see a source for this.}} The tower is about {{convert|58|m|ft|abbr=off}} high and is topped with a belfry (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 the Baroque 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 with Corinthian 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 silver reredos, 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 by Francisco de Goya in the San Francesco chapel. Behind the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament is a small Renaissance chapel built by Calixtus III. Beside the cathedral is the chapel dedicated to the Our Lady of the Forsaken (Mare de Déu dels Desemparats).

The Tribunal 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 the Porta dels Apostols (Portal of the Apostles).{{cite web |url=http://www.realitysense.com/valencia-water-court-tribunal-de-las-aguas/ |title=Valencia's unique 'Water Court' |date=25 September 2009 |publisher=Reality Sense |access-date=31 January 2011 |archive-date=21 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101021221049/http://www.realitysense.com/valencia-water-court-tribunal-de-las-aguas |url-status=live}}

File:Palau generalitat9.jpg]]

In 1409, a hospital was founded and placed under the patronage of Santa 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 {{cvt|5|km}} 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". King Philip IV of Spain and the Duke of Arcos suggested the building of the new chapel, and in 1647 the Viceroy, Conde de Oropesa, who had been preserved from the bubonic plague, insisted on carrying out their project. The Blessed Virgin was proclaimed patroness of the city under the title of Virgen 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, a grain 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.

File:SantaCatalina - Vertorama.jpg]]

{{stack|File:Iglesia de los Juanes, Valencia, España, 2014-06-29, DD 19.JPG}}

• 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 by Palomino.
• St. Nicolas
• Santa Catalina
• Sant Esteve

El Temple (the Temple), the ancient church of the Knights Templar, which passed into the hands of the Order of Montesa and was rebuilt in the reigns of Ferdinand VI and Charles III; the former convent of the Dominicans, at one time the headquarters of the Capitan General, the cloister of which has a Gothic wing and chapter room, large columns imitating palm trees; the Colegio del Corpus Christi, which is devoted to the Blessed Sacrament, and in which perpetual adoration is carried on; the Jesuit college, which was destroyed in 1868 by the revolutionary Committee of the Popular Front, but later rebuilt; and the Colegio de San Juan (also of the Society), the former college of the nobles, now a provincial institute for secondary instruction.

File:Plaça de l'Ajuntament de València, País Valencià.JPG

The largest plaza in Valencia is the Plaça del Ajuntament; it is home to the City 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 the Les Falles when the fireworks of the Mascletà can be heard every afternoon. There is a large fountain at the northern end.

The Plaça 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 the Plaza 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 riverbed 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. The Valencia Bioparc is a zoo, also located in the Turia riverbed.

Other gardens in Valencia include:

• The Jardíns de Monfort (:es:Jardines de Monforte)
• The Botanical Garden of Valencia (Jardí Botànic)
• The Jardins del Real or Jardins de Vivers (Del Real Gardens) are located in the Pla del Real district, on just the former site of the Del Real Palace.{{cite web |url=http://www.valencia.es/ayuntamiento/infociudad_accesible.nsf/vDocumentosWebListado/FF9C0E294CBAE260C12572C20023FD3B?OpenDocument&bdOrigen=&idapoyo=&nivel=8&lang=1 |title=Ayuntamiento de Valencia. Jardines del Real – Jardines de Viveros |access-date=29 May 2015 |author=Ayuntamiento de Valencia |date=2010 |website=www.valencia.es |archive-date=29 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529065133/http://www.valencia.es/ayuntamiento/infociudad_accesible.nsf/vDocumentosWebListado/FF9C0E294CBAE260C12572C20023FD3B?OpenDocument&bdOrigen=&idapoyo=&nivel=8&lang=1 |url-status=live}}

File:Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències.jpg complex designed by Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava and Madrilenian architect Félix Candela]]

File:Valencia-L'Oceanogràfic2.jpg, located within the complex of the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències, is currently the largest aquarium in Europe, housing 45,000 animals of 500 species.{{cite web |url=http://oceanograficvalencia.com/info-oceanografic-valencia/ |title=Información Oceanografic de Valencia |first=WebMan - |last=www.webmandesign.eu |work=oceanograficvalencia.com |access-date=30 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013062510/http://oceanograficvalencia.com/info-oceanografic-valencia/ |archive-date=13 October 2016 |url-status=dead}}]]

• Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències (City of Arts and Sciences). Designed by the Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava, it is situated in the former Túria riverbed and comprises the following monuments:
• Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, a flamboyant opera and music palace with four halls and a total area of {{convert|37000|m²|sigfig=3|abbr=on}}.
• L'Oceanogràfic, the largest aquarium in Europe, with a variety of ocean beings from different environments: from the Mediterranean, fishes from the ocean and reef inhabitants, sharks, mackerel swarms, dolphinarium, inhabitants of the polar regions (belugas, walruses, penguins), coastal inhabitants (sea lions, etc.). L'Oceanogràfic also exhibits smaller animals such as coral, jellyfish, sea anemones, etc.
• 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 {{convert|40,000|m2|0|abbr=off}} across three floors.
• L'Hemisfèric, an IMAX cinema (:es:L'Hemisfèric)
• Museu de Prehistòria de València (Prehistory Museum of Valencia)
• Museu Valencià d'Etnologia (Valencian Museum of Ethnology)
• Blasco Ibáñez House Museum
• Institut Valencià d'Art Modern - IVAM – Centre Julio González (Valencian Institute of Modern Art)
• Museu de Belles Arts de València (Museum of Fine Arts of Valencia)
• Museu Faller (Falles Museum)
• Museu d'Història de València (Valencia History Museum)
• L'Almoina Museum (Centre Arqueològic de l'Almoina), located near the Cathedral
• Natural Science Museum of Valencia, located at Jardins del Real
• Museu Taurí de València (Bullfighting Museum)
• MuVIM – Museu Valencià de la Il·lustració i la Modernitat (Valencian Museum of Enlightenment and Modernity)
• González Martí National Museum of Ceramics and Decorative Arts, housed in the Palace of the Marqués de Dos Aguas
• Computer Museum, located within the Technical School of Computer Engineering at the Technical University of Valencia{{cite web |url=http://museo.inf.upv.es |title=Museo de Informática | Web del Museo de Informática de la UPV |publisher=Museo.inf.upv.es |access-date=24 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150918030031/http://museo.inf.upv.es/ |archive-date=18 September 2015 |url-status=dead}}

File:Sentiment Valencianista.jpg]]

File:Estadi Ciutat de València - nocturna.jpg]]

File:VBC-Kazan Eurocup finals 2014 - 40.jpeg]]

Valencia is also internationally famous for its football club, Valencia CF, one of the most successful clubs in Europe and La Liga, winning the Spanish league a total of six times including in 2002 and 2004 (the year it also won the UEFA Cup), and was a UEFA Champions League runner-up in 2000 and 2001. The club is currently owned by Peter Lim, a Singaporean businessman who bought the club in 2014. The team's stadium is the Mestalla, which can host up to 49,000 fans. The club's city rival, Levante UD, plays its home games at Estadi Ciutat de València.

Valencia is the only city in Spain with two American football teams in LNFA Serie A, the national first division: Valencia Firebats and Valencia 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.

File:Valencia Street Circuit GT Open.jpg]]

Once a year between 2008 and 2012 the European Formula One Grand Prix took place in the Valencia Street Circuit. Valencia is among (with Barcelona, Porto and Monte 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 in 2012 European Grand Prix saw home driver Fernando Alonso win for Ferrari, in spite of starting halfway down the field. The Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix (Gran Premi de la Comunitat Valenciana de motociclisme) is part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo (also known as Circuit de València), held in November in the nearby town of Cheste. Periodically the Spanish round of the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters touring car racing Championship (DTM) is held in Valencia.

Valencia is also the home of the Asociación Española de Rugby League, who are the governing body for Rugby league in Spain. The city plays host to a number of clubs playing the sport and to date has hosted all of the country's international home matches.{{cite web |title=Equipos Españoles de Rugby League |url=http://www.spainrugbyleague.com/#!clubes/c9qb |publisher=Espana Rugby League |access-date=6 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006135458/http://www.spainrugbyleague.com/#!clubes/c9qb |archive-date=6 October 2015 |url-status=dead}} In 2015, Valencia hosted their first match in the Rugby league European Federation C competition, which was a qualifier for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup. Spain won the fixture 40–30.{{cite web |date=26 September 2015 |title=European Championship C – Game 1 |url=http://www.rlef.eu.com/european_bowl/report?RLE00000627 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928143539/http://www.rlef.eu.com/european_bowl/report?RLE00000627 |archive-date=28 September 2015 |access-date=6 October 2015 |website=RLEF}}

File:Districtes ciutat valencia.svg

• Ciutat Vella: La Seu, La Xerea, El Carmen, El Pilar, El Mercat, Sant Francesc
• Eixample: Ruzafa, El Pla del Remei, Gran Via
• Extramurs: El Botànic, La Roqueta, La Petxina, Arrancapins
• Campanar: Campanar, Les Tendetes, El Calvari, Sant Pau
• La Saïdia: Marxalenes, Morvedre, Trinitat, Tormos, Sant Antoni
• Pla del Real: Exposició, Mestalla, Jaume Roig, Ciutat Universitària
• Olivereta: Nou Moles, Soternes, Tres Forques, La Fontsanta, La Llum
• Patraix: Patraix, Sant Isidre, Vara de Quart, Safranar, Favara
• Jesús: La Raiosa, L'Hort de Senabre, La Creu Coberta, Sant Marcel·lí, Camí Real
• Quatre Carreres: Montolivet, En Corts, Malilla, La Font de Sant Lluís, Na Rovella, La Punta, Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències
• Poblats Marítims: El Grau, El Cabanyal, El Canyameral, La Malva-Rosa, Beteró, Natzaret
• Camins del Grau: Aiora, Albors, Creu del Grau, Camí Fondo, Penya-Roja
• Algirós: Illa Perduda, Ciutat Jardí, Amistat, Vega Baixa, La Carrasca
• Benimaclet: Benimaclet, Camí de Vera
• Rascanya: Els Orriols, Torrefiel, Sant Llorenç
• Benicalap: Benicalap, Ciutat Fallera
• Pobles del Nord
• Pobles del Oest
• Pobles del Sud

These towns administratively are within districts of Valencia.

• Towns north of Valencia city: Benifaraig, Poble Nou, Carpesa, Cases de Bàrcena, Mauella, Massarrojos, Borbotó
• Towns west of Valencia city: Benimàmet, Beniferri
• Towns south of Valencia city: Forn d'Alcedo, Castellar-l'Oliveral, Pinedo, El Saler, El Palmar, El Perellonet, La Torre

{{Main|Category:People from Valencia}}

{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Spain}}

Valencia is twinned with:{{cite web |title=Ciutats agermanades amb València |url=https://www.valencia.es/val/la-ciutat/ciutats-agermanades |website=valencia.es |publisher=València |language=ca |access-date=19 May 2021 |archive-date=19 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519114400/https://www.valencia.es/val/la-ciutat/ciutats-agermanades |url-status=live}}

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

• {{flagicon|GER}} Mainz, Germany (1978)
• {{flagicon|ITA}} Bologna, Italy (1980)
• {{flagicon|VEN}} Valencia, Venezuela (1985)
• {{flagicon|MEX}} Veracruz, Mexico (1985)
• {{flagicon|CHN}} Guangzhou, China (2012)
• {{flagicon|CHN}} Xi'an, China (as of 2020, declaration of intent)

{{div col end}}

Valencia also has friendly relations with:

• {{flagicon|UKR}} Odesa, Ukraine (1981)
• {{flagicon|CHN}} Chengdu, China (2017)

{{Portal|Spain}}

• Archdiocese of Valencia
• List of tallest buildings in Valencia
• Nou Mestalla
• Prehistory of the Valencian Community

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite EB1911 |wstitle=James I. of Aragon |volume=15 |pages=141–142 }}
• {{cite book |last=Martínez Díez |first=Gonzalo |title=El Cid histórico: un estudio exhaustivo sobre el verdadero Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar |publisher=Editorial Planeta |year=1999 |location=Barcelona}}
• {{cite Catholic Encyclopedia |wstitle=Archdiocese of Valencia |last=Amado |first=Ramón Ruiz |volume=15}}
• {{SmithDGRG|title=Valentia}}
• {{cite book |last1=Beltran i Calvo |first1=Vicent |last2=Segura i Llopes |first2=Carles |title=Els parlars valencians |year=2018 |publisher=Universitat de València |isbn=978-84-9134-240-3}}
• {{Cite journal |last=Aguiló Lúcia |first=Lluís |publisher=Universitat de València |location=Valencia |title=Notas sobre la historia política de la ciudad de Valencia (1876-1939) |journal=Cuadernos Constitucionales de la Cátedra Fadrique Furió Ceriol |issn=1133-7087 |issue=1 |year=1992 |pages=59–65 |url=https://dialnet.unirioja.es/descarga/articulo/2539465.pdf}}
• {{Cite journal |jstor=41678056 |title=El castellano en la Comunidad Valenciana |first=Antonio |last=Briz |journal=Revista Internacional de Lingüística Iberoamericana |volume=2 |issue=4 |year=2004 |pages=119–129}}
• {{Cite journal |title=Los aprovechamientos pesqueros en La Albufera de Valencia |first=Mario Enrique |last=Clemente Meoro |journal=Estudios Sobre Derecho Civil Foral Valenciano |editor-first=Francisca |editor-last=Ramón Fernández |editor-first2=Vicent-Jesús |editor-last2=Altur Grau |year=2008 |url=http://derechocivilvalenciano.com/estudios/costumbres-valencianas/item/download/26_c4bb892484afcf27e624fdd04db2a7ed}}
• {{Cite journal |last=Franch Benavent |url=https://revistas.usc.gal/index.php/ohm/article/view/446 |first=Ricardo |title=El comercio en el Mediterráneo español durante la Edad Moderna. El estudio del tráfico a su vinculación con la realidad productiva y el contexto social |journal=Obradoiro de Historia Moderna |issn=1133-0481 |issue=17 |year=2008 |pages=77–112 |doi=10.15304/ohm.17.446 |location=Santiago de Compostela |publisher=Universidade de Santiago de Compostela|doi-access=free|hdl=10347/3896 |hdl-access=free }}
• {{Cite journal |title=Bandolerismo, piratería y control de moriscos en Valencia durante el reinado de Felipe II |last=García Martínez |first=Sebastián |journal=Estudis: Revista de Historia Moderna |year=1972 |issue=1 |pages=85–168 |issn=0210-9093 |publisher=Universidad de Valencia |location=Valencia |url=http://roderic.uv.es/handle/10550/34018}}
• {{Cite journal |last=González Arévalo |title=La esclavitud en la España Medieval. (siglos XIV-XV). Generalidades y rasgos diferenciales |publisher=Universitat Jaime I |year=2019 |issue=47 |journal=Millars: Espai i Història |location=Castellón de la Plana |pages=11–37 |issn=1132-9823 |doi=10.6035/Millars.2019.47.2 |url=http://www.e-revistes.uji.es/index.php/millars/article/view/4038/3435|doi-access=free|hdl=10234/187209 |hdl-access=free }}
• {{Cite journal |last=Navarro Espinach |journal=Anuario de Estudios Medievales |volume=24 |year=1994 |title=Los genoveses y el negocio de la seda en Valencia (1457-1512) |first=Germán |page=201 |issn=0066-5061 |publisher=Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas |location=Barcelona |doi=10.3989/aem.1994.v24.971|doi-access=free |url=http://estudiosmedievales.revistas.csic.es/index.php/estudiosmedievales/article/view/971}}
• {{Cite journal |last=Pérez García |first=Pablo |title=La nobleza valenciana del Quinientos: lo social y su nomenclatura |doi=10.4000/e-spania.32914 |journal=E-Spania |issue=34 |year=2019 |publisher=Université Paris-Sorbonne, Paris IV |location=Paris |url=https://journals.openedition.org/e-spania/32914 |issn=1951-6169|doi-access=free|hdl=10550/71887 |hdl-access=free }}
• {{Cite journal |year=1999 |title=Valencia: opciones, desorden y modernidad, o la ciudad que se devora a sí misma |issue=47 |journal=Scripta Nova. Revista Electrónica de Geografía y Ciencias Sociales |volume=3 |url=https://revistes.ub.edu/index.php/ScriptaNova/article/view/121 |first=Alfonso |last=Puncel Chornet |location=Barcelona |publisher=Universidad de Barcelona |issn=1138-9788}}
• {{Cite journal |last=Santamaría |first=Álvaro |year=1992 |title=La demografía en el contexto de Valencia. Siglo XV |journal=Medievalia |volume=10 |pages=363–386 |doi=10.5565/rev/medievalia.291|doi-access=free |publisher=Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona |location=Bellaterra |url=https://revistes.uab.cat/medievalia/article/view/v10-santamaria}}
• {{Cite journal |journal=Bulletin d'Histoire Contemporaine de l'Espagne |issn=0987-4135 |issue=46 |year=2011 |last=Suárez Cortina |first=Manuel |title=El republicanismo en la España liberal (1820-1931). Una aproximación historiográfica |publisher=Publications de l'Université de Provence |location=Aix-en-Provence |pages=11–42}}
• {{Cite book |year=2009|chapter-url=https://roderic.uv.es/bitstream/handle/10550/28598/159-169.pdf?sequence=1 |chapter=Maldîna Balansiya. La Valencia andalusí. Siglos VIII-XIII |first=Josep |last=Torró |title=La ciudad de Valencia: historia, geografía y arte de la ciudad de Valencia |volume=1 |isbn=978-84-370-7665-2 |pages=159–169| publisher=Universitat de València }}
• {{Cite journal |title=¿Vías paralelas? Anticatalanismo valenciano y antivasquismo navarro durante la Transición |first=Xabier |last=Zabaltza |journal=Dictatorships & Democracies. Journal of History and Culture |year=2017 |volume=5 |issue=5 |pages=53–80 |doi=10.7238/dd.v0i5.3134 |location=Barcelona |issn=2564-8829 |publisher=Universitat Oberta de Catalunya; Fundació Carles Pi i Sunyer|doi-access=free|hdl=10357/48474 |hdl-access=free }}

• {{Cite book |publisher=Karl Baedeker |location=Leipsic |title=Spain and Portugal: handbook for travellers |chapter-url=https://archive.org/stream/spainportugalhan00karlrich#page/n479/mode/2up |chapter=Valencia |date=1908 |oclc=1581249 |edition=3rd}}
• {{cite EB1911 |ref=none |wstitle=Valencia (city) |volume=27 |pages=845–846 }}
• {{cite EB1911 |ref=none |wstitle=Valencia (province) |volume=27 |pages=844–845 }}

{{Sister project links|voy=Valencia|Valencia}}

• [https://www.valencia.es/ Official website of the city of Valencia] (Valencian) {{in lang|es}}
• [https://www.visitvalencia.com/ Official tourism website of the city of Valencia] (Valencian) {{in lang|en|de|fr|es|pt|it|ja|zh}}
• [https://www.comunitatvalenciana.com/ Official website of the Community Valenciana tourism]
• [https://cac.es/en/ Valencia – The City of Arts & Science]
• [https://www.postalcodigo.com/valencia Postal codes in Valencia]
• [https://spainestate.com spainestate]

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