Valencia, situated on the Mediterranean Sea overlooking the homonymous gulf, is the third largest city in Spain and the administrative centre of the Valencia community. A working city, Valencia has a very happening nightlife and fantastic well equipped beaches. The tourists visiting in the summer will find all sorts of tourist facilities on the beach and will be able to practice water sports as well as golf, tennis and cycling. The nightlife doesn’t get going until quite late, usually somewhere around 1 am. The best time to visit Valencia is in March during “Las Fallas” (the fires), celebrations in honour of St. Joseph that last 5 days and include non stop firecrackers, flowers, parties and people cooking paella on the streets. Taking part to the celebrations is a fascinating and overwhelming experience especially on the last day when the satirical paper mache statues on every street corner are set alight and burn away surrounded by the cheering crowds. The home of paella, Valencia offers many places where to eat this typical Spanish dish.
Valencia also has one of the oldest markets in Europe with 25000 square feet of shopping ground; there you’ll find everything from Serrano ham to live eels.