Founded by the Romans,...
by fga
Founded by the Romans, Valencia has been the home of many cultures over its history: Romans, Visigoths, Moors and the Aragonese all made the city an important cultural and financial centre.
In the year 1094, Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, called El Cid Campeador, conquered Valencia on behalf of the Christians, but the city later fell to the Almoravids in 1102. Following the Moorish domination, it was in 1238 that James I of Aragon finally reconquered the city, and founded the Kingdom of Valencia, with its characteristic legislative privileges (Furs).
During the 15th and 16th centuries, Valencia became one of the major economic powers on the Mediterranean seaboard. It was the time of the Valencian siglo de oro (Golden Age), which was characterized by splendour in the arts at the hands of Joanot Martorell (author of Tirant lo Blanc, the first modern European novel), Ausias March, Roig de Corella, Isabel de Villena, Jordi de Sant Jordi and Jaume Roig, among others.
During the War of Spanish Succession, Valencia sided with archduke Charles of Austria, and after the victory of the Bourbons at the Battle of Almansa (April 1707), Phillip V abolished the local privileges, or fueros. In 1874, Alfonso XII was proclaimed constitutional king at Sagunto, north of Valencia.
When democracy was restored, the Land of Valencia was given its present Autonomous Statutes in 1982. The history of the city, now the capital of the Land of Valencia, is both rich and varied, providing a patrimony that has converted it into one of the major cities in Spain on both cultural and economic levels.
Parking
by jetlagged83
Valencia is a very flat city which has a big advantage for double parking.
This is very common to do but then you have to be cautious about three things: leave the gear in neutral, handbrake off and some free space. If you forget this, some irritated person will hold a nice little car horn concert in A(ngry) major for you.
It works very simple. When one of the cars blocked in by you are leaving, he'll just push your car enough away to get out.
This would mostly be for the 'hardcore' parkers who don't mind to get their car bumped or scrached and pushed around. Otherwise it's always best to use a parking lot or garage. Malls like El Corte Ingles (Beniferri), El Saler and Mediamarkt have their own garages. Some of them charge for parking. It's worth it. The car is parked better and kept cool. :)
Getting something it the kiosk at the corner?
It's very commonl to find a car jolted up on the sidewalk on the corner (or sidewalk in general) with the emergency lights blinking (read: the four blinking yellow parking lights at each corner of the car).
These lights are by the way, as in many countries, used when you run into traffic that for some reason has queued up and are standing still; to alert the car coming up behind that "HEY! not much speed going on over here.. You'd better slow down".
Flower offer
by DanielF
One of the most emotional acts during the falles is the flower offer to the Mare de Deu dels Desamparats (Our Lady of the Unsheltered), dubbed the little humped-back for having her head in a slightly oblique angle that stands for her care for the unsheltered people.
Many people in Valencia have a fervent devotion for her and, during falles, they consider it an honour to parade through the city in order to bring flowers for the Virgin. A mammoth carcass of the virgin is displayed in front of her basilica and a group of specialised men will dress it up with the flower bunches that the fallers deliver them, usually with tears in their eyes.
Here is the main beach at Moraira
by rachel_sun
Here is the main beach at Moraira.There is a small snack bar on it and it stretches for about a mile and it very pretty.All along the costal road from Calpe to Denia,there are restuarants that are very easy to pull over and have lunch/tea/drink in.
Spanish omlette is very tasty
by rachel_sun
North costa blanca has not got night clubs,but deightful restaurants and bars,some lively which stay open til early hours of the morning.I enjoyed Spanish omlette at the Algas bar in Moraira .This bar is good for nightlife.They play a great selection of music and you can just chill out with the beautiful views. Most people go out for a meal and then find a bar to enjoy the rest of the evening. Good restuarants are easy to find,just look for ones that have lots of people in them.
Classification: People Watching , Family Spot , Adult Spot , Shopping , Wine Tasting , Eating and Drinking , Dancing , Live Music , Place to Meet New People , Photography , Site Seeing
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Fishing boats in L'Albufera
Dolphin show
the world famous LLADRO logo
