The autonomous region of Valencia (officially valencian. Comunitat Valenciana, Spanish Comunidad Valenciana) is located in eastern Spain.
Coastal Areas
The Valencian Community boasts an impressive
Mediterranean coastline stretching approximately 518 kilometers (322
miles), characterized by golden sandy beaches, dramatic cliffs, hidden
coves, and crystal-clear turquoise waters that attract sun-seekers and
water sports enthusiasts from around the world. Running from northeast
to southwest, the main coastal sections include the Costa del Azahar
(Orange Blossom Coast) in the northern part of the region, known for its
fragrant orange groves, family-friendly resorts, and lively towns like
Castellón and Benicàssim. Further south lies the world-famous Costa
Blanca (White Coast), celebrated for its pristine white-sand beaches,
vibrant nightlife, and popular destinations such as Alicante, Dénia, and
Benidorm, offering everything from serene natural parks to thrilling
theme parks and excellent marina facilities.
To the north, the
Valencian coastline seamlessly borders the Costa Daurada in Catalonia,
famous for its golden beaches and cultural treasures like Tarragona's
Roman ruins. In the south, it transitions into the Costa Cálida within
the Murcia region, renowned for its warm waters, therapeutic mud baths
in Mar Menor, and a more tranquil, less crowded atmosphere ideal for
relaxation and wellness tourism. This strategic position along Spain's
eastern seaboard makes the Valencian shores a perfect blend of natural
beauty, historical sites, and modern leisure opportunities, perfect for
beach holidays, sailing, diving, or simply enjoying fresh seafood by the
sea.
Valencia
Valencia, the vibrant capital
of the Valencian Community in eastern Spain, is a dynamic city that
seamlessly blends over 2,000 years of rich history with modern
innovation and Mediterranean charm. Founded by the Romans in 138 BC as
Valentia Edetanorum, it flourished under Moorish rule and later became a
major trading hub during the Christian Reconquista. Today, visitors can
explore its historic old town with iconic landmarks like the Valencia
Cathedral and its Miguelete bell tower, the UNESCO-listed Silk Exchange
(Lonja de la Seda), the bustling Central Market, and the futuristic City
of Arts and Sciences designed by Santiago Calatrava. Famous as the
birthplace of paella, Valencia offers stunning beaches, lively festivals
such as Las Fallas, and a perfect mix of cultural heritage, gastronomy,
and seaside relaxation that makes it one of Spain's most appealing
destinations.
Coves de Sant Josep
Coves de Sant Josep, located near Vall d'Uixó in the province of
Castellón, is home to one of Europe's longest navigable underground
rivers, offering a magical journey through a breathtaking subterranean
world of stalactites, stalagmites, and crystal-clear waters. These
ancient caves, formed over 250 million years ago and recognized as a
Site of Cultural Interest, feature a guided boat tour along the
mysterious river that reveals stunning geological formations and hidden
chambers illuminated by subtle lighting. Visitors can also explore
walking paths, learn about the cave's scientific and historical
significance, and enjoy nearby hiking or biking routes, making it an
unforgettable natural adventure for those seeking to discover the hidden
wonders beneath Spain's Mediterranean landscape.
Dénia Castle
Dénia
Castle, perched atop a hill overlooking the charming coastal town of
Dénia in Alicante province, stands as a majestic witness to centuries of
Iberian, Roman, Muslim, and Christian history. Originally constructed by
the Moors in the 11th-12th centuries as a defensive fortress, it was
later expanded and now houses an excellent Archaeological Museum that
traces the town's evolution through fascinating artifacts and exhibits.
Highlights include the impressive Torre Roja, the Governor's Palace,
panoramic views of the port and Montgó Natural Park, and remnants of its
medieval glory, making it a must-visit for history enthusiasts who can
combine a visit with the town's beautiful beaches and vibrant old
quarter.
Monasterio de El Puig
Monasterio de El Puig, also known as the Real Monasterio de Santa María
de El Puig, is a historic sanctuary located just north of Valencia that
holds deep significance as the patroness site of the Kingdom of Valencia
since 1237. Founded by King James I of Aragon after a miraculous
discovery of the Virgin Mary's image during the Reconquista, this
Renaissance-style monastery with its defensive towers features beautiful
architecture, religious art, and a peaceful atmosphere dedicated to
Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles. Declared a National Historic-Artistic
Monument, it attracts pilgrims and tourists alike for its spiritual
heritage, scenic surroundings, and role in Valencian history, offering a
serene escape that blends faith, culture, and stunning views of the
surrounding countryside.
Valencian
Castilian
Castilian is the main language spoken in
Valencia. The inhabitants speak mainly Valencian among themselves.
Traffic signs don't always have the Castilian name first and the
Valencian name underneath, it's more common for the Valencian name to be
mentioned first or even alone. Valencian residents have no problem
conversing in Castilian with tourists.
Valencia Airport (IATA: VLC) Aeropuerto de Manises is approximately
15 minutes from downtown. There are hardly any direct flights to
Valencia.
The following direct flights are currently available
from Valencia to Germany and possibly vice versa:
Cologne/Bonn
(Ryanair)
Frankfurt / Hahn (Ryanair)
Nuremberg (Ryanair)
Valencia has a very dense and well organized bus network, the EMT
Valencia. This is supplemented by the metro and tram lines, so that the
surrounding towns are also easy to reach.
For tourists it is
worth buying a ten-ticket (Bonobus). These cost around €7, so a ride
costs around €0.70. There are also daily and monthly tickets. For a
longer stay, we recommend a subscription to the Agencia Valenciana de
Movilidad. With this subscription, you can travel on all buses, metros
and trams at any time of the day.
Furthermore, you can make very
good progress with the so-called Valenbisi, bicycles, which you can
rent. There are 2 tariffs. Once a weekly rate (very suitable for
tourists) and the annual rate.
Fallas. The Fallas are spring festivals, they take place in many
communities in the period from March 15th to 19th. A falla is a large
wooden or papier-mâché doll made by a neighborhood or association.
During the night of March 19-20, the Fallas are burned.
Tomatina. The
Tomatina takes place in Buñol on Wednesday of the last week of August.
At the festival there is a battle with overripe tomatoes in the streets.
More than 40,000 people from all over the world take part.
Fiesta de
San Dionisio. Liberation from the Moors is celebrated in the region on
October 9th. This day is called Fiesta de San Dionisio.
The most famous dishes of the region are rice dishes, such as the
famous Paella Valenciana. Also known for Valencia is the sweet tigernut
milk horchata.
Rice
Rice from the Valencia region has a long
tradition and is famous in Spain. Cultivation was introduced by the
Moors in the 8th century. Since that time, the Albufera Valenciana area
has been an important growing region in Spain. The grain is very short
and distinctively white, which is due to the high starch content. The
Bahía, Sénia and Bomba varieties are protected by Denomination of
Origin. All retail packaging must be identified by a numbered label
issued by the Standards Council.
Valencia is just as safe as any other popular travel city. You can walk through the streets (even at night) without fearing anything bad. However, one should beware of pickpockets in the high season (March, June to August). These like to strike in crowded places. Handbags should always be closed and carried in front. Backpacks should be avoided as they can be easily opened from behind. It is not uncommon for brazen pickpockets to steal mobile phones and disappear into the crowd.
The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain located in the east and southeast of the Iberian Peninsula , on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea . With 23,255 km², it is the eighth largest region in Spain by area and represents 4.60% of the national area. The Valencian Community, narrow and elongated, extends between the Cenia River (in Vinaroz ) and Pilar de la Horadada , a little further south of the Segura River , with a coastline length of 518 km. The Valencian territory also includes the Mediterranean archipelago of the Columbretes Islands , as well as the island of Tabarca, along with other islets and rocks close to the Valencian coast. Its geographical position is 40° 47' N in the far north, 37° 51' N in the far south, 0° 31' E in the far east and 1° 32' W in the far west.
The mountains occupy most of the Valencian Community and leave only a
narrow strip of coastline for the plains which, moreover, only widen in
the far north ( plain of Vinaroz ), in the Plana de Castellón , in the
Huerta de Valencia and in the southern end ( Vega Baja del Segura ). On
the rest of the coast, the mountains are a short distance from the
coastline.
In this way, the relief is configured by the northern
mountains, which belong to the Iberian System , the southern sierras of
the Betic System and the central sierras, plateaus and plains. In
addition to these enclaves, the Valencian Community has several islands
and islets, among which it is worth mentioning the Tabarca Island
(Alicante province) and the Columbretes Islands (Castellón province),
which are a set of four groups of volcanic islands .
In the
Maestrazgo is the most emblematic mountain of the community, Peñagolosa
, 1813 m asl (meters above sea level) , popularly considered the
highest, but this honor actually corresponds to Cerro Calderón , in
Rincón of Ademuz , which ascends to 1839 m asl ; Also in this Valencian
exclave we find the Gavilán (1747 m asl ), La Cruz de los Tres Reinos
(1555 m asl ) and Tortajada (1541 m asl ). Another peak of more than
1500 m aslwe find it in the lands of Cocentaina County, Marina Baja and
Hoya de Alcoy (north of Alicante): el Aitana (1558 m asl ).
The Valencian Community has 524 km of coastline. The coastline
alternates cliffs such as the Sierra de Irta or those of Villajoyosa
with wetlands, marshes and lagoons, such as the Prat de
Cabanes-Torreblanca , the Albuferas of Valencia and Elche , the lagoons
of La Mata and Torrevieja , transformed into salt pans , or the marshes
of Pego and Sagunto . On the Valencian coast there are also large sand
or gravel sandbanks, such as those of the Almenara marsh , the Saler
meadow or the Guardamar del Segura
The Valencian Community, in
the field of coastal relief, is characterized mainly by the gulf that
occupies the provinces of Castellón and Valencia , and by Cabo de la Nao
, which is where it ends. To the south of Cabo de la Nao, the coasts are
very irregular and with many not very important capes, and, to the south
of these, is the Gulf of Alicante, known by the tourist name of Costa
Blanca .
Among allochthonous rivers , born outside the Valencian territory,
two should be highlighted as the most important, the Segura , with 325
km, which rises in Fuente Segura ( Jaén ) and the Júcar , with 498 km,
which rises in Ojuelos de Valdeminguete , basin . Also noteworthy,
although with a smaller basin, are the 156 km Mijares river , which
rises in the Gúdar mountain range ( Teruel ) and the 280 km Turia river
, which rises in the Muela de San Juan , in the Albarracín mountain
ranges. ( Teruel) and which flows into Valencia. Except for the Segura,
which is born in the Betic mountain ranges , the other rivers are in the
Iberian system .
These rivers have a permanent flow, although the
droughts are pronounced and their autumn floods are highly feared, which
cause flooding in their alluvial plains (from north to south: La Plana ,
La Huerta , La Ribera and La Vega ). They suffer a very intense use of
water by means of dams that derive their waters for human, industrial,
tourist and above all agricultural consumption, and are the basis of the
prosperous Valencian irrigation.
The autochthonous rivers are
characterized by being short, with an irregular and scarce channel,
small basins and great unevenness in its route, at its source in the
mountains near the coast. They usually present great droughts (the
channel is completely dry) and strong floods.
To the north of the
Gulf of Valencia are the rivers Cenia , bordering on Catalonia, the
Cérvol and the Cervera , which are born in the Iberian system and their
flow is scarce and used for irrigation. The Palancia , the Serpis , the
latter also called the Alcoy River, and the small Girona and Gorgos (or
Jalón) rivers pour their waters through the center of the coastal plain
of the Gulf of Valencia.. All these rivers, together with the Turia and
the Júcar, make up the largest alluvial plain in the Valencian
territory. The Júcar serves as a dividing line between the Iberian and
Betico systems and it is worth noting some of its tributaries as
autochthonous rivers: the Magro river and the Albaida river with the
Cáñoles and the Clariano . Also of importance are the Rambla de la Viuda
, a tributary of the Mijares, the Carraixet ravine , the Rambla del Poyo
, ravines parallel to the Turia, and finally the Chelva or Tuéjar river
and the Rambla Castellarda which are tributaries of the Turia.
To
the south of the Penibético massif , the rivers have a very low flow,
their bed is usually dry, and they have wide, stony channels. The Algar
, the Amadorio , the Monnegre , the Rambla de las Ovejas , which flows
into Alicante and the Vinalopó , with its tributary the Tarafa , stand
out .
A special case of an autochthonous river is the Bergantes ,
which rises near the city of Morella in the northwest area of the
province of Castellón and flows into the Guadalope, which is a tributary
of the Ebro .
From the bioclimatic point of view, the vegetation is arranged in
strata based on altitudinal function, which correspond to the
thermoclimates or bioclimatic floors . In the Valencian Community, the
thermo-Mediterranean , Mesomediterranean , Supra-Mediterranean and
Oro-Mediterranean floors are represented , while the presence of the
Cryoro-Mediterranean and Inframe-Mediterranean floors are occasionally
present. 31
In this way, the typical vegetation of the Valencian
Community is the Mediterranean forest , characterized by evergreen and
xerophytic vegetation, adapted throughout the summer period of drought.
The climactic and dominant species is the Holm oak , although the most
abundant species is the Aleppo pine . Other species found in Valencian
lands are holm oaks , gall oaks , and cork oaks , the latter in areas of
acid substrate, as well as olive , almond , carob , orange andpersimmon
tree as cultivated species. The dominant understory is made up of woody
species of the thorny and aromatic type, such as rosemary , thyme ,
kermes oak , mastic , myrtle , fennel , gorse and rockrose . Around the
riverbeds and wetlands there are abundant riverside forests and marsh
vegetation , made up of trees such as poplars , elms and poplars , and
herbaceous species such as reeds , reedsand the mansiega , among many
other species.
In general, the Valencian forest has been greatly
altered by human action throughout history, mainly due to urbanization,
agriculture and forest fires. The maquis , a shrubby secondary
formation, is the typical vegetation in degraded forest areas. Faced
with this problem, extensive areas have been repopulated with
non-climactic species such as pine, which is why it is currently the
most abundant species in Valencian forests.