Valencian Community

The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain which includes the provinces of Valencia (the capital city), Alicante and Castellón. The territory, on the eastern side of the Iberian Peninsula, occupies a long and narrow area that winds between the mountain ranges and the Mediterranean Sea. The coastal plains extend west to the Iberian mountain system, from which the Turia river descends, and to the Betic Cordillera from which the Segura river descends, giving rise to a morphology that characterizes the landscape with the strong contrast between the flat areas and the impervious hinterland. The conformation is hilly only south of the province of Alicante.

The mild climate, the coast full of beaches, the many cultural and naturalistic attractions have made tourism an important sector for the Valencian economy, favoring the creation of modern accommodation facilities and tourist services. On the low and sandy coast lies the Gulf of Valencia to the north, while to the south there are the two promontories of Capo de la Nao and Capo de Palos. Inland, the fertile agricultural lands are often worked by cooperatives and small farms (minifundios). The cultivated land is mainly that of terraces with oranges and rice fields. Paddy fields are widespread and, like citrus fruits, have exceptionally high yields. Other generous crops are those of grapes and almonds, but there are also vegetables, olives and flowers.

In Valencia there is a beautiful historic center: in the Barrio del Carmen, history and modernity are combined, in its different theaters, and in the most popular buildings: the Cathedral of Valencia, the Miguelete or the Torres de Serrano and Quart which were two fortified gates of the medieval walls. The city beaches are those of Malvarrosa and Las Arenas, with fine sand and pleasant sea. The first is located in the fishing district of Cabanyal, while the beach of Las Arenas or Cabanyal is located near the port of Valencia, the fifth busiest in Europe and the busiest in the Mediterranean. But it is not only the city of Valencia, rich in historical architecture and with the famous City of Arts and Sciences, that attracts visitors.

The coast of the province of Valencia has more than one hundred kilometers of beaches, all generally characterized by fine, soft sand and shallow waters. But on this coast there are also several very popular coves and cliffs. In the area, also, the Albufera, a natural park full of fauna and plant biodiversity.

And there is also Alicante, with its historic center and coastal area. A walk should be made to the Explanada, without missing a visit to the MARQ Archaeological Museum, the Castle of Santa Barbara, the Basilica of Santa Maria. In the city, moreover, we can choose from a multitude of beaches such as those of San Juan, Almadraba, La Albufereta, Postiguet, Saladares-Urbanova, the beach of the island of Tabarca or the cove of Cabo de la Huerta.

The coast of the province of Alicante, the Costa Blanca, of 200 kilometers, offers many sandy beaches, rocky coves and crystal clear waters. The itinerary called Gran Ruta Costa Blanca Interior allows you to choose the excursion that best suits your needs among twenty stages, to get to know the hinterland of the area as well. Elche, located in the extreme south of the Valencian Community, where the landscape is made up of large expanses of palm trees, is also a city of historical and environmental importance. The Mysteries of Elx have been declared an Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

In Marina Baixa, Benidorm is a city with kilometer-long urban beaches and so many skyscrapers that it has become the municipality with the most skyscrapers per inhabitant in the world, despite being inhabited by fishermen in the recent past, whose traces can still be found walking through the historic center.

Castellón de la Plana is a city that rises on a fertile plain a few kilometers away from the sea, where the El Grau beach club is located. The Basilica de Santa Maria del Lledó is a pilgrimage destination. The Espacio de Arte Contemporáneo museum is also worth a visit.

The province of Castellón, with several medieval villages, is also characterized by the coast with long sandy beaches and coves surrounded by lush nature, and by the wild flora and birdlife of the Columbretes Islands Natural Park and its Marine Reserve; it is a group of islands of volcanic origin located off the coast of Oropesa del Mar.

The gastronomy of the Community is characterized above all by paella, the original Valencian one, by many other rice-based dishes, such as baked rice, rice in crust and other dishes in which the main Valencian food product is served with meats, fish, shellfish. Terracotta pans are widely used, such as for the all-i-pebre dish, eel stew with paprika and chilli. Esgarraet is prepared with roasted peppers, cod, garlic and oil. The tonyina de sorra is a tuna belly and the espencat is made with roasted vegetables. Also part of the tradition are buñuelos de bacalao, or cod fritters, and cocas, savory or sweet buns.

The enology of the Valencian Community is based on three areas of vineyards: Alicante, Utiel-Requena and Valencia. The finest white wines are Forcayat, Merseguera, Moscatel Romano, Macabeo, Malvasía, Planta Fina. Among the red wines, Monastrell, Bobal, Tempranillo, Garnacha Tinta and Tintorera, Forcallat Tinta stand out.