 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. |
