With 4 millon inhabitants, and a coastline
470 Km. the Valencian Region is formed by
three provinces: Alicante, Castellón
de la Plana and Valencia. Its a region known
for its fruit agriculture, beaches and port.
VALENCIA
'L'Hemisfèric'
at the City of Art and Science 
Tourism office: Pl. Ayuntamiento,
1. Valencia.
Highlights: Third biggest city in
Spain and a major sea port.
Celebrations: 'Las Fallas' March 12th
to 19th. This celebration is known for the
colourful and gigantic sculptures of carton
that will end up burning as bonfires in the
'Nit del Foc' (Night of fire).
Monuments: cathedral, 'El Micalet',
'Real Basílica de Nuetra Señora
de los Desamparados', 'Palacio de la Generalidad',
'Palacio de la Baylía', 'Palacio de
la Scala', 'Baños del Almirante', 'Portal
de Valldigna', 'Torres de Serranos', 'Casa
de les Roques', 'Real Monasterio de la Trinidad',
church of 'San Juan del Hospital', convent
of 'San Jerónimo', church of 'San Nicolás',
'Lonja de Mercaderes', 'Ciudad
de las Artes y las Ciencias'.
Food: the most typical dish is the
'paella valenciana' and all its possible
variants: 'arroz al horno', 'arroz a banda'
(with fish), 'arroz negro' (with squid's ink),
'paella de verdura' (with vegetables), 'amb
fesols i naps', 'All i pebre' or the 'fideúa'
(noodle paella). Non paella-like dishes are:
'sopa coberta', 'olla churra', 'calducho',
'gachamiga' and the 'cachuli', to mention
a few of those you can find more commonly
to the inside of the region. In pastries the
'arnadí' (pumpkin and almond cake),
'buñuelos de calabaza con chocolate'
and sweet softdrinks like the 'horchata' to
be drunk accompanied by 'fartons' a type of
pastry. White wines from 'Alto Turia' and
from the mountains; red ones from the towns
of Requena, Utiel or Campos de Liria, and
white sweet wines like 'moscatel'.
ALICANTE
Tourism office: Explanada de España,
2. Alicante.
Highlights: the Costa Blanca (white
coast) with beaches and resorts like Benidorm,
Torrevieja, Calpe, is one of the most important
tourism enclaves of the Mediterranean.
Celebrations : Bonfires of 'San Juan',
in June.
Monuments: castle of 'Santa Bárbara',
church of 'Santa María', city hall
building, 'Gravina' palace, museum of the
Municipality, 'Casa de la Segurada' and Archaeology
museum.
CASTELLÓN
DE LA PLANA
Tourism office: Pl. Maria Agustina, 5.
The town of Benicassim has one of Spain most
important poo-rock music festivals. Other
interesting locations are Oropesa de Mar,
Peníscola or Castellón city.
Monuments: cathedral of 'Santa María',
City Hall building, "El Fadrí", Bishop's
palace, 'Basílica Mare de Deu de Lledo'.
