A piece of Valencia Situation of Valencia has

A piece of Valencia

Situation of Valencia has 805. 304 inhabitants and it’s located in the east of the Iberian Peninsula, on the mediterranean coast. Valencia is the administrative, political and economical capital of the Region of Valencia. Since 1982, Valencians have ahd their own regional governement and official bodies such as La Generalitat, el Consell or Las Cortes valencianas. The two official langues are Valencian and Spanish.

Statistics of Valencia The average stay is growing as much in the case of Spanish visitors as in the case of foreigners: this has been decisive in reaching an enviable milestone: overnight stays by foreigners grew by almost 10%. Of course there is much other data that reflects the dynamism of our city: more international passengers arrived at the airport, the port of Valencia saw a record number of cruises, 164. The amount of leisure activities on offer was extended thanks to new attractions such as the Bioparc, or events like the Formula 1. ACCOMMODATION Hotels Stablishment rooms 5 stars 7 4 stars 30 3 stars 23 2 stars 7 1 star 3 Hostels Stablishment rooms 2 stars 10 OPTIONS 2008 Seats Rooms 3. 289 7. 829 3. 792 822 149 1. 232 4. 281 2. 010 465 85 Seats Rooms 183 110 % of 15 41 25 5 1 % of 2

More statistics EVOLUTION OF THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 62, 3 58, 1 62, 7 65, 7 69, 5 HOW TOURISTS ARRIVE TO VALENCIA? MEANS OF TRANSPORT 2004 2005 2006 2007 Air 46, 1 45, 4 46, 5 51 , Car 38, 3 41, 3 46, 5 42, 9 Rail 15, 5 12, 4 13, 7 12, 3 Coach 8 , 5, 2 4, 9 4, 7 Ship 1, 3 0, 7 0, 6 0, 7 2008 62. 5 • • 2008 51, 6 34, 1 9, 2 2, 1 0, 5 SOME ECONOMIC INDICATORS OF TOURISM Economic impact of tourist activities in Valencia: € 1, 5 BILLIONS Hotel and Catering Employees 2007: 24. 786 Average number of hotel employees 2008: 2. 977 Number of holidays fiscal year 2008: 30

We are going to talk about: Principaly monuments in Valencia. Museums Gardens Nightlife Gastronomy Shopping And more interesting things…

La Lonja “ The silk exchange” It´s popular because, it´s a world heritage site and the finest example of a non-religious building in late gothic style which shows the power and wealth of one of the Mediterranean cities. This beautiful building was built in the XV century. The people who can enjoy it most are adults with cultural interests. The best time to visit the silk exchange is from Tuesday to Friday, because it´s not so crowded. There´s a parking in the Central Market. The monument is situated opposite the Central Market.

The city of Science This set of buildings designed by Santiago Calatrava, contains 2 great museums and the biggest marine park in Europe. It´s popular because of it´s futuristic architecture. Anybody can visit it but especially families with kids. You can visit it during all year but it’s better avoid weekends and the summer months because it´s the most visited museum in Valencia.

“The Cathedral” Work on the Cathedral began in 1262 in a combination of Romanesque, Renaissance, Gothic, Baroque and Neoclassical styles. The Cathedral has 3 doors each one of then with a different styles. The one Fronting in Palau street is Romanesque style. The second one is in Plaza La Reina with Barroque style. And the third one which is in Plaza La Virgen is in Gothic style. Inside you can see interesting paintings of the renaissance. Next to the Cathedral we can find the bell tower called “Miguelete” which is one of the symbols of Valencia.

Others Monuments Estación del Norte (Railway station ). Designed in 1906 by Demetrio Ribes. There are numerous colourful decorative details, with many ceramic items and different kinds of floral decoration. Torres de Serranos and Torres de Quart, (Medieval Towers). They’re gate of the old Christian city walls built in the XV Century.

The Central Market, (Modern building). Lasted from 1910 to 1928 with symbolic decoration which embodies all the richness of the surronding farmland in the luminosity of La Ceramo ceramic ware and its coloured stained glass windows. Town Hall square ( Town hall building and Correos building). They are monuments in classical and modernist style built in the XIX century and they are located in the heart of Valencia. Plaza de Toros, ( bullring). Is a circular brick constrution with four arched entrances, bringing to mind the anphiteatre of Nimes and the Colisseum in Rome.

Museums of Valencia. In valencia we can find a lot of different museums and the list is very large: The most traditional museums in Valencia are: Museo del Arroz, Museo Taurino, Museo Histórico, Museo Fallero and much more. Examples of modernist museum are: IVAM (Modern Art), Museo Principe Felipe, Museo de Bellas Artes.

GARDENS IN VALENCIA Gardens in Turia river are the biggest green space of Valencia. Visitors can contemplate the main Valencian trees and plants. Includes sports facilities and ther services like bars, restaurants, children’s area. . . Another gardens in Valencia: Parterre. The gardens were created around 1850, and 47 magnolias and 2 monkeypuzzle trees were already growing there since 1852. Monforte. The vegetation is divided in 2 areas: one in the French style, and the other is Romanic, with large leafy trees. Ayora. 17. 000 square metres with abundant vegetation. There is a mansion with a square tower in the centre Viveros. The gardens still retain an air of centuries gone by, with their little squares and fountains with statues

A trip in L’Albufera It’s a natural park situates 10 kilometres away from Valencia. It’s a lagoon with wet lands around. (you can arrive there taking a bus in Plaza de la Virgen). L’albufera is considerated a paradise for migratory birds and other animals. You can visit the lagoon by traditional small boat and eat the best rice in Valencia, exactly in the village of El Palmar. Also there are dune formations separated by depressions knows as malladas. Part of the sandbar is la Devesa del Saler, with pinewoods and rich undergrowth. It’s possible to see yet the “Barracas”, old and traditional Valencian houses.

Beaches in Valencia has a lot and beautiful beaches where can relax, play with friends, enjoy the day, have a bath, etc. Our city is famous for its excellent weather and its clean beaches. All of them have services with included car parks, showers and medical assistances. In the city there are beaches as Malvarrosa or Arenas. Beaches plenties of people with a lot of restaurantes and pubs. Great nightlife in summer. In the surrondings there another fantastic beaches as Pinedo, Saler and Perelló. This beaches are quieter than city’s beaches, and most of them are located in the Albufera’s natural park, a very interesting landmark.

Gastronomy Valencian food is tipically Mediterranean. Common ingredients includes fish, seafood, vegetables, fruits and desserts. Valencian typical dishes: Paella Fideua (a kind of noodles with seafood) Arrós al forn. A dry rice made in the oven in a pottery dish accompanied by pork, tomato and garlic, principaly

Horchata and Bunyols with Chocolate Desserts and drinks originate in Africa as Orxata (sweet drink made from tiger nuts, water and sugar, acompanied by fartons which are dunked in the drink) and Bunyols (fritters made of flour, water and yeast) and Chocolate.

“Paella” The “Paella” is typical dish, originate from the coast. One of the main ingredients for. . Chicken Green beans Beans Rabbit Rice There are several different kinds of paella, including vegetarian, seafood, meat and chicken, mixed meat and fish an rabbit.

“Festivals and events” “Fallas” is the most famous festival in Valencia. It date back to the middle ages when the brotherhood of carpenters would burn their wood shavings on bonfires called “Fallas”. It take place on the night of the 19 of Març. These monuments (made of cardboard), have a satirical element of the current local an (political) life. There are bullfights, parades balls, the offering of flowers to the Virgen of the abandoned (and there also) “cremá”. Your can see the “mascletá”(It´s a kind of fill word of noise.

On the 9 th of October every year, the people of Valencia celebrate the national day of their autonomous region. This is a historical commemoration of the date in 1238 when King James I officially entered the city of Valencia, freeing it from Moorish rule. The 9 th of October is also the day of St. Dyonisius, the equivalent of Valentine's Day in Valencia. On this day the custom is for men to give the women what is known as a “Mocadorà”, also called a “Mocaorà”: a bundle of marzipan sweets wrapped up in a handkerchief.

The America’s Cup is different from other international regattas. It's more than just a sports competition - it possesses the spirit of an old-fashioned duel, a defiant response to the throwing down of a gauntlet. The Valencia Street Circuit has a superb set-up; the port of Valencia, and is designed to ensure the safety of drivers, as well as the enjoyment and fun of the fans.

Valencia is famous for its nightlife. There are many lively areas and places to go for all tastes and styles. Valencia is a Mediterranean city, so people go out late and come home late. The main areas for nightlife are: The El Carmen neighbourhood and the old town. ( Here you´ll find an unusual mixture of styles from the most alternative to the most elegant and also where you´ll find of the gay bars and clubs). Plaza Cánovas. (As well as all kinds of restaurants, there are bars for young people and discos for a slightly older clientele). Av. Blasco Ibañez, Plaza Xuquer and Plaza del Cedro ( student area with pubs and bars).

Valencia offers endless shopping options. Each district of the city has one day a week its own outdoor market in which they sell all kinds of items, especially clothes, antiques, flowers and food. In the Rastro sell many items of antique and second hand. In the Plaza Redonda is the best place to buy traditional handicrafts and souvenirs of the city (fans, fabric, lace, pieces of ceramic. Shopping malls that offer everything related to the current fashion, and many other things, for example, decoration, accessories, etc. . But also in leisure (cinemas, bowling alleys, small attractions for children. .

If you fancy some retail therapy just wander through the city and you'll find all that you need - top international fashion houses and the latest local designer outlets, side by side with the big national and international department stores. You can shop till you drop! For those who prefer something more familiar, there a number of large indoor shopping centres in the city.

If you are looking for something special, pay a visit to the city street markets where you will find a variety of articles, from clothes to antiques. These markets, set up on public walkways, are only open in the morning and move from neighbourhood to neighbourhood during the week.

WORK MADE BY: DAVID PAULINO RAMIREZ CRUZ MANUEL LERMA