History
The city of Valencia has traces of different civilizations,
each of which has left their cultural legacy. Founded by the Romans
in the second century B.C., it was overrun by the visigoths and later
by the arabs. These turned the city into an essential economic and
cultural centre. The arab heritage still remains in agriculture and
traditional craftsmanship, particularly in the irrigation systems
used in the growing of rice and oranges.
First freed by Rodrigo Dì º "El Cid", Valencia wasn't
reconquered until 1.238 by the Aragonese monarch Jaume I, who conferred
it its own legislation. It was a period of changes in the style of
town planning. New christian churches appeared and gothic architecture
was introduced. The centuries XV and XVI are representative of an
economic, political and cultural revival. Valencia became one of the
most powerful cities of the Mediterranean Sea. These centuries saw
the construction of the most important monuments of the city, such
as the Serrano Towers, la Lonja (the old market) and the Miguelete
(the cathedral's belfry). After the Succession War, and after the
victory of the Borbon dynasty in the battle of Almansa, the old city
laws were abolished.
The XVII was a politically tense century and also the great ceremonial
baroque century. Throughout the XVIII century, Valencia took part
in the cultural and economic renaissance of Spain. In the XIX century,
the middle-class was the most favoured social class, offering their
backing to the monarchy and taking advantage of the increase of exports.
At the beginning of the XX century, metallurgy, fabric factories and
electric power plants quickly developed. During the Civil War, Valencia
was for some time, capital of the republican government. Later, there
would be great losses in the floods of 1957. With the restablishment
of the Monarchy, the Comunidad Valenciana obtained the AutonomyEstatute.
Today, Valencia is a city undergoing great transformations, specifically
within the tourist industry. Open to the sea, it is a city that takes
care of a rich historical heritage, never forgetting to look to the
future. It is currently the ideal city for important congresses, exhibitions
and trade fairs.
By night
The city of Valencia is known for its active
and attractive night atmosphere, with a great range of possibilities
which makes visitors feel at ease out in the streets. The mild characteristic
weather invites everybody to stay out in the terraces and open air
bars, many of them open all year.
This city has one of the highest rates of music bars and leisure
zones, up to the point that even people from other Spanish cities
come to spend a night, attracted by the "Ruta del Bacalao",
a road which has lots of discos.
Where to go
Valencia offers you, more than one hundred
of bars, discos and terraces, each one with its own style and
atmosphere. The party scence spans from the sea to the histric
part of the city.
The Barrio del Carmen, the old part of the city, is located behind
the cathedral (Caballeros street), and is particularly famous
for being a meeting place for the most modern bohemian people.
Many of the old houses and palaces have been rebuilt and adapted
as bars or pubs, restaurants... Here, you will also be able to
find quiet cafes and peaceful terracess.
Many of this music bars and pubs have the attraction of including
live music performances (rock, jazz, blues...).
On the other side of the Gran Via Marquis del Turia is Canovas
Square, with a more selected atmosphere and very recommendable
terraces. It's different from the big avenues: Blasco Ibâ°¥z
and Arag򬪠close to the Mestalla football field, where
many pubs play latin music and rhythms.
Maybe the biggest zone that attracts people is Juan Llorens, with
an ever-increasing offer in pubs and bars, usually the best place
to dance with the latest caribbean rhythms. X�, is
another leisure area for the youngest people. Buzz usually starts
on Thursday with the end of the classes in the Universities.
Apart from these zones inside the city, Valencia, as a city on
the coast, offers a more attractive nightlife in summer, when
most of the people go to the bars and pubs located on the beach
zone, along the Neptuno Avenue. With the best views of the sea,
here we have some of the most renowned restaurants and terraces
in Valencia. The diversity is ideal for both locals and tourists,
who can choose among different styles and concepts of fun: rock,
pop, latin rhythms, techno...
The most visited discos are in around the Viveros Gardens, in
Blasco Ibâ°¥z and Primado Reig, stretching out to
the macrodiscotheques of the "Ruta del Bacalao", which
are located in the road that runs along the coast.
Live music lovers, will find bars with their particular style
that offer jam sessions and concerts. Among many other, the most
famous are Black Note Club, La Caverna, El Asesino, El Escondite,
La Flaca, La Balada, Matisse, Max o Slavia, Wah Wah.
When to go out
In general, in the city of Valencia the bars,
cafes and pubs remain open for many hours, due to the fact that
a morning meeting with friends can sometimes take all day and
stretch well past midnight.
People usually go out around 23,00 or 00,00. Some people go
out a bit earlier to have some "tapas" for dinner.
Everything depends, on the season. In winter, the pubs are jammed
on Thursday and Friday, the days when university students go
out. In summer however, it is easier to find nightlife in the
zones next to the beach, where the night breeze helps to bear
the warm atmosphere.
How much is it
Here you have some of the prices that the
tourist my find in his tour around the leisure areas. All prices
are in euros.
Transport:
-
Bus 1,00
-
Taxi 3,75 approx
Party:
-
Ticket for pubs (most of them are free)
-
Disco entry ticket 6 - 9 - 12
-
Spirits 4 - 5
-
Beer (pub) 2,00 - 3,00
-
Soda (pub) 2,00
This prices are approximate, and they will probably vary
in case the bars or pubs offer some kind of live show. Here,
the prices may increase or there may be a symbolic price in
an entry ticket.
Fallas
(March
from 15th to 19th)
It is doubtless, the most popular holiday that
takes place in the city and in any town of the province Valencia.
In Fallas, the city is visited, year after year, by tourists that
come from all over the World
It is in this special week that Valencia honours the things which
best define it: light, colour, fire and gunpowder. It is a spectacle
for every Valenciano and visitor alike, from the daily "masclet�
a controlled and progressive explosion of millions of crackers taking
place daily from 1st March, in the City Hall Square or the fireworks,
which reach their peak of beauty in the Nit del Foc, Valenciano for,Night
of Fire.
A total of seven hundred Fallas, wood and cardboard monuments, are
erected in many of the streets on March 15th , and so will remain
until the moment of being turned into ashes in the Nit del Foc.
Fallas are, enormous works of art designed in cardboard and wood which
compete in majesty, wit and beauty, satirizing political, cultural
or social events. It is a very popular festivity and all valencians
take pride in sharing the explosion of colour, noise and the smell
of powder with any visitors. The music that fills the popular marches,
the stunning fires and the beautiful colours of traditional garments
create an unforgettable experience for everyone.
During the festival of Fallas, bullfights are customary, and many
people go to the bullfighting ring to enjoy this traditional event.
Holly week
(HOLY
WEEK) in Valencia
The coastal areas, deserve most attention during
this period, so much so that it is ofetn reffered to as Sailor's
Holy Week. In Holy week, there are lots of colourful religious marches
where you can see many curious garments. On Resurrection Sunday and
Monday, it is typical to spend a day in the countryside, eating the
Easter sausage and a type of baked cake known as "mona".
Night of Saint
John
(June the 23rd)
Also commonly known as the "Night of the
Witches", this festivity is a night of rituals and good wishes
where the traditions demands to wet one's feet at the seashore
if you want to see you wishes fulfilled. People throng the beaches,
meeting around lots of bonfires to perform the complete ritual, jumping
on them, and having dinner and drinks by the seashore. The party animals
amongst you will probably see the sunrise over the Mediterranean.
July's Fair
(throughout July)
The month of July consists of lots of open air
shows next to Alameda Avenue and the Viveros Gardens. Music concerts
of all styles and important music bands meeting during this summer
month. Bullfightings are also typical, together with a "Battle
of Flowers" where, honouring its name, the city is filled
with flowers during this special event.
Tomatina
(last
wednesday of August)
The sunny Mediterranean city of Valencia is
world-renowned for its tasty and succulent oranges. And just thirty
miles away is Bu𮪬 another town just as famous for its
produce. But its notoriety comes from the locals' habit of wearing
the produce as well as tasting it! Every year, Bu𮪠hosts
La Tomatina, the world's largest fruit fight. Situated only 30
kilometers inland from the Mediterranean Sea, and well-connected
by motorway and rail to Madrid and Valencia, this charming town
erupts into a fiery blaze of tomato-hurling on the last Wednesday
of every August.
The "batalla" takes place, on Wednesday, during a week-long
celebration filled with on-going festivities and with even greater
anticipation for the monstrous tomato battle that serves as the
culmination of the week's events.
Without question the biggest tomato fight in the world, La Tomatina
started with a good laugh. During the forties, in Bu𮪧s
main town square, a number of friends started a tomato fight for
unknown reasons. It's unclear whether the initial volley was aimed
at city officials or simply pedestrians unlucky enough to be in
the line of fire. Soon enough, however, with their rowdy hooliganism
drawing passers-by into the fray, everyone was having a great
time. They had so much fun, in fact, that from that day forward,
the fiesta has been celebrated annually and has grown ever bigger
each year.
In an effort to draw more tourism (and therefore more targets)
into the small town of Bu𮪬 La Tomatina has blossomed
into a full-blown fiesta that coincides with the festival for
the town's patron saint. For a week leading up to the epic battle,
the 20,000-strong town of Buñol is filled with parades,
fireworks, food and street parties. The night before La Tomatina,
the narrow streets beneath the town's imposing Medieval bell
tower are filled with tomatoes, in a much more palatable form
than they will be the next day! Cauldrons of delicious paella
cooking, over the traditional wood-burning fires, line the Concurso
des Paellas, near the Plaza del Pueblo, site of the imminent
skirmishes. Wine and food flow around the small town until the
wee hours. After all, who can do battle thirsty and on an empty
stomach?
Be warned, a blow from a tomato can be painful!
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History
