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Valencia, with a population of 750,000, is the capital of the autonomous region of the same name and is Spain’s third largest city. It is situated in the center of the Spanish Mediterranean coast. The city overlooks the spacious Gulf of Valencia and is surrounded at the back by a group of mountains and rolling plains leading to the lands of Aragon and Castile-La Mancha. It sits mainland near the Balearic islands and is also equal distances from the country's two major decision-making centers: Madrid and Barcelona. Valencia is closely identified with the Mediterranean Sea because the culture derives from the old Mare Nostrum which is manifested in its patterns of social behaviour.
Valencia is an open, modern city full of light and color but also within close reach of natures beauty. Valencia attracts visitors eager to experience its many cultural sites indluding its leisure and sport facilities, its beaches, its food and of course, its warm climate and friendly people. Valencia is known as the¨City of Arts and Science¨ making Valencia one of the largest leisure and cultural centers in Europe. We also can´t forget to mention the lively “Fallas” held anually.
In Valencia, there are many museums to visit and monuments to admire. If you want to discover more than just sun and sand, you will find remains of ancient civilizations such as the Phoenicians, Greeks, Iberians, and Romans. Leisure and entertainment activities constitute one of the most exciting and extensive ranges throughout the Mediterranean. Everywhere discos, nightclubs, and pubs provide the perfect scene for enjoying a night out. The calendar of popular fiestas is rich and varied in Valencia. On March 19th, the Fallas dedicated to St. Joseph take over the streets of the capital and over 60 other towns in the province. On this day, huge floats bearing cardboard figures are erected to be burned for four days amid a blaze of fireworks. This is the fiesta that attracts the largest number of spectators and arouses the most interest among visitors in Valencia. They are drawn by the colorfulness of the Passacaglia, the offering to the Virgin of the helpless, and the fireworks display. The Corpus Christi, Fiesta of Moors and Christians, and of course the famous Tomato fiesta, "La Tomatina", are other fiestas of Valencia.
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