One of the largest cities in the entire country of Spain is Valencia. Originally called “Valentia”, the city was given the name “Vigor” during the rule of the emperor Valens. Muslim emperors then took charge of the city, and its name was changed again to “Balansiya”. Over the years, due to changes in sounding, the spelling of this later became “Valencia” as we know it today.

Valencia has history dating back as far as 137 BC. This was when the city was founded by the Roman empire. Since that time, Valencia has been inhabited by many groups of people. These include the Visigoths, the Moors, and the Aragonese. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Valencia, which was previously a town, acquired prominence which meant it became one of Spain’s major cities. During the Spanish civil war, Valencia was actually the capital city of the republic. In 2003, the city was the host destination for the famous yacht race, known as the America’s cup. It was the first ever European city to host the event, and will be once again hosting in 2009.

Valencia is a very vibrant city which means that it is a popular destination for tourists from all over the world. It is lucky enough to boast a vast array of beautiful tourist hotspots. All across the city various beautiful architecture and marvellous buildings, some of which date back as far as the Roman and Arabic times. One of the most famous buildings in Valencia is the Basilica Metropolitana, which dates back to somewhere between the 13th and 15th century. It is of a gothic style, but also incorporates some Romanesque and baroque features. Next to this cathedral is another famous Valencian landmark - the Basilica of the Virgin. This is also of a gothic architectural style. Valencia is actually home to an array of gothic architecture; another is the Late Gothic silk exchange, which has more recently been named as a heritage site by UNESCO.

Valencia is home to a market in the centre of the town, which happens to be one of the largest markets of its type in the entirety of Europe. The City of Arts and Sciences is another landmark of Valencia. This is a huge center which hosts a theatre house, an opera house, restaraunts, a museum, a park, as well as many other things.

The city also has many churches, which deserve to be mentioned. They all boast very beautiful exteriors, and intricately designed details both inside and out. The El Templo is another gothic designed structure. The Saint John church contains beautiful frescoes that should be seen to be appreciated. All around the city are beautiful squares and gardens that help to make Valencia just that little bit more beautiful.

Valencia is lucky to have a large economy, which is mainly fuelled by the massive tourism industry it boasts, alongside its construction sector. Valencia’s sea port is the largest in the whole of the Mediterranean, and it deals with a large portion of all the exports of Spain.