Valencia is known as the land of 'flowers, light and love' and is the jewel of the Mediterranean. Nestling between the sea and mountains, the vast orange groves of Valencia stretch for miles along the white sandy beaches.

The famous rice fields of La Albufera, Valencia are just 12 kilometres from the centre of town and are separated from the sea by a thin strip of land. The area is full of sand dunes and pine forests and is famous for it's natural park and beautiful freshwater lagoon where you can enjoy romantic boat rides.

La Albufera is also the birthplace of the traditional dish of Spain paella and you can sample this lovely dish at any of the many mouth-watering restaurants in Valencia. There are approximately 1,500 restaurants and tapas bars in Valencia City and also many, many clubs and places to have fun.

The fairytale Old Quarter of Valencia is at the very heart of this magnificent city. The area is very easy to explore on foot and is full of narrow cobbled streets that twist and turn eventually bringing you to the hip and very bohemian area of Barrio del Carmen.

This is one of the best places to come to in Valencia. There's so much to do, it's full of open air terraces and restaurants and bars where you can soak up the intoxicating atmosphere of Valencia.

During the day it's as if time has stood still and you've been transported back in time. There are gothic and baroque treasures such as La Lonja and the beautiful Cathedral of Valencia. Also the magnificent and very beautiful modernist buildings of Mercado Central (Central Market) and Estación del Norte (North Station).

Nightlife is one of the best in Europe and during the hot summer months everything moves to the clubs and discos of the beach area of Cabanyal. Valencia is a university city with a very large student population and the area around Avenida Blasco Ibañez is also a great place to go for late night fun.

The number one attraction in Valencia at the moment is the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències (City of Arts and Sciences). Designed by architect Santiago Calatrava this jaw-dropping attraction is set in the beautiful Jardí del Túria (Turía Gardens) where the old Turía river used to be.

The Turía river was diverted south of the city in 1957 and during the 90s the entire area was completely transformed into the beautiful park it is today.

The park is like a long green ribbon twisting and turning through the city to it's final destination near to the beach area of Valencia. The Jardí del Túria is full of fountains, ponds and sports facilities and is perfect for taking an early morning cycle ride or jog.

At the end of Jardí del Túria is the City of Arts and Sciences which is a stunning state of the art complex full of shimmering glass, steel and concrete. This is where you'll find the Valencia Spain aquarium which is the largest aquarium in Europe.

As Valencia leads the way in cultural initiatives it's not surprising to find that the Arts side of the City is breathtaking. The recently opened Palau de les Arts has the most modern technology and open-air auditoriums for theatre, opera and rock concerts. On top of all this the city has been chosen to host the very prestigious 2007 America's Cup in Valencia. Consequently millions of euros have been injected into making this magical city even more beautiful than it already is.

Carole Alexander
http://www.valencia-tourist-travel-guide.com