 Valencian Community
The Valencian Community is made up of three provinces:
- Castellon
- Valencia
- Alicante
 This
Mediterranean region, located in the East of Spain, is
famous for its magnificent orange groves, Breath taking
country sides and the beauty of its long beaches. There
has been a harmonious blending of Mediterranean traditions
here while the centuries of Moorish presence have resulted
in a profound Hispano-Moorish heritage.
Valencia is the capital of the region.
It is world famous for its unique fiesta of Saint Joseph,
known as "Las Fallas", when enormous papier-mache
sculptures are set ablaze. The city has a priceless Gothic-style
architectural heritage, including the Lonja and El Miguelete,
the cathedral bell tower.
The Valencian Coast lies alongside the
capital, and a short distance away are two enormous beaches.
It also includes other tourist centres such as Cullera,
Gandia and Oliva.
La Costa Azahar (Orange-blossom Coast)
stretches to the North of Valencia alongside the province
of Castellon. Its most important tourist centres are Vinaroz,
Benicarlo, Peñiscola, Alcoceber, Oropesa and Benicasim.
Of special interest in the zone are:
Castellon, with its Santa Maria cathedral
and the impressive ashlar-stone façade of the City
Hall Building.
Peñiscola, a village located on
a high promontory that is dominated by a medieval castle,
within the walls of which are houses and streets creatively
positioned to take advantage of the scarce, irregular terrain.
Oropesa, which preserves the so-called
Tower of the King, built in the 16th Century.
The Desierto de Las Palmas Carmelite Convent, located
inland on the same latitude as Benicasim.
Alicante, the capital of the province
of the same name, is the second most important city in
the Community of Valencia. Located south of Valencia, the
city has two large beaches and is dominated by the great
Moorish castle of Santa Barbara, with its marvelous view
of the entire date-tree-dotted city.
La Costa Blanca, which runs alongside
the region of Alicante, is one of the most popular tourist
zones in Spain thanks to its excellent installations and
magnificent, large, fine-sand beaches.
Benidorm is one of the most important
tourist cities in Spain. It has two splendid, well maintained
beaches, an excellent hotel infrastructure and a nightlife
full of attractions.
Other important tourist centres of the Costa Blanca are
Denia, Javea, Moraira, Calpe, Santa Pola, Guardamar de
Segura, Torrevieja and Campoamor.
Of special interest in this zone is the Rock of Ifach
in Calpe, an enormous rocky spur jutting out into the sea.
It is one of the most impressive natural formations on
the Mediterranean coastline. |
