The Valencian Community is a region of Spain located in the eastern part of the Iberian Peninsula and it includes the islands of Columbretes, Tabarca, other smaller islands and islets near the coast.
It borders with Catalonia and Aragon in the north, with Castile-La Mancha and Aragon in the west and with the Region of Murcia in the south.
The Valencian Community has more than 500 km of coastline overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and a mild climate with hot, dry summers and not too cold winters that favour the growth and spread of a Mediterranean area vegetation: pines, orange, rosemary, mastic, elm, poplar and many other species.
The region has several protected natural areas which, due to their ecological, educational, cultural or aesthetic value, deserve to be preserved.
The natural parks in the province of Alicante are: Carrascal de la Font Roja, El Hondo, Lagunas de la Mata y Torrevieja, Macizo de Montgó, Marjal de Pego-Oliva, Peñón de Ifach, Salinas de Santa Pola, Sierra de Mariola and Sierra Helada.
The natural parks in the province of Castellón de la Plana are: Desierto de las Palmas, Prat de Cabanes-Torreblanca, Sierra Calderona, Sierra de Espadán, Sierra de Irta, Tenencia de Benifasar and Peñagolosa.
The natural parks in the province of Valencia are: La Albufera, Marjal de Pego-Oliva, Sierra Calderona, Sierra de Mariola, Hoces del Cabriel, Parque Natural de Chera-Sot de Chera, Parque Natural del Turia and Parque Natural de la Puebla de San Miguel.
Then there are also other protected places such as nature reserves, wetlands and micro flora reserves.
As for the history, the first traces of human settlements date back to the Palaeolithic, and you can observe in some caves such as those of Parpalló and Malladetes and the cave of Cocina.
Evidence of later periods can be found in the archaeological sites and in the many museums of the region where pieces of great historical importance are exhibited.
The art stands out in architecture for the Valencian Gothic style with the Lonja de la Seda in Valencia, and for the Valencian modernism such as the Sanctuary of Santa Maria Magdalena in Novelda in the province of Alicante.
The works of art of local, national and international artists can be admired in the Valencian Institute of Modern Art, in the Valencian Museum of Enlightenment and Modernity, in the Museum of Fine Arts of Valencia, in the Museum of Fine Arts of Castellón, in the Popular Museum of Contemporary Art of Castellón, in the Museum of La Asegurada and in the Museum of Fine Arts of Gravina, Alicante.
Also painters such as Juan de Juanes, José de Ribera, Francisco Ribalta, or Joaquín Sorolla are internationally famous.
In the region there are intangible and intangible assets that are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site: Lonja de la Seda; the rock art of the Mediterranean coast; the natural landscape of Elche called Palmeral; the Mystery of Elche, a dramatic theatrical performance, sung, about the Virgin; the Valencia Water Court; and the feasts of Our Lady of Health of Algemesí.
One aspect of the daily life of the Valencians is the Catholic religion which, with its traditional patronal festivals, constitutes a great tourist attraction during the celebrations in honor of Our Lady of the Abandoned and of San Vicente Ferrer.
Other festivals of tourist interest are:
- the feasts of Muslims and Christians in various cities of the region;
- the celebrations of bous al carrer (bulls in the street);
- the Vinaroz carnival;
- the Falles in honour of St. Joseph;
- Easter Holy Week (Semana Santa);
- the Tomatina of Buñol;
- the harvest festival of Requena and Utiel;
- on October 9, San Dionisio and the feast of the Valencian Community.
In the region, the tradition of bullfighting shows such as Bous al carrer, bullfights and the entry of bulls and horses of Segorbe remains intact.
And finally, gastronomy is another distinctive feature of the Valencian Community, favoured by the Mediterranean climate that allows the cultivation of vegetables and cereals with which exceptional traditional dishes are prepared such as paella, fideuá, nougat, marzipan and a very popular drink the horchata, like an orgeat without almond and with a tubercle called “chufa”.
To learn more about the Valencian Community, read more about some of its cities:
- ALICANTE: surrounded by an impressive natural landscape with Mount Benacantil, on which the Castle of Santa Barbara is located; Mount Tossal, on which the San Fernando Castle is located; and the beaches of its coastline. READ MORE ABOUT ALICANTE
- CASTELLÓN DE LA PLANA: “small plain castle”, a modern city of the Valencian Community which extends over a flat area and is four km from the Mediterranean coast. READ MORE ABOUT CASTELLÓN DE LA PLANA
- VALENCIA: a modern metropolis made up of skyscrapers and buildings that break the traditional architectural rules, whose primitive appearance dates back to the first centuries BC, when it was just a luxury ceramic trade route, around which the first community of Iberian peoples settled. READ MORE ABOUT VALENCIA
