This article is about the original city in Spain called "Valencia". For other uses of the name, see Valencia (disambiguation).
Valencia (Spanish: Valencia /ba'lenθja/; Valencian: València /və'łεnsjə/) is a medium-sized port city (the third largest city in Spain) and industrial area on the east coast of Spain. It is the capital of the Valencian Community and of province of Valencia. Population of the city of Valencia proper was 791,000 as of 2003 estimates. Population of the urban area was 1,355,000 as of 2000 estimates. Population of the metropolitan area (urban area plus satellite towns) was 1,800,000 as of 2003 estimates. As of 2004, the mayor of Valencia is Rita Barberá Nolla .
Economy
Valencia has enjoyed strong economic growth over the last decade, much of it spurred by tourism and construction. However, this model of development has led to a great deal of building on rural land. Furthermore, the Valencia government's implementation of the LRAU [law regulating urban activity] has been extremely controversial since it involves the expropriation of foreign residents' homes, often without compensation. Critics argue that this legislation (which was theoretically designed to protect rural land) is being misused for large urban and industrial developments. The European Union's Committee of Petitions reported on the issue in 2004, finding that the Valencian government was breaching basic European rights. The ambassadors of EU Member States have protested to the Spanish authorities on behalf of their citizens and the issue may be referred to the European Court of Human Rights. Wide media coverage of the case abroad threatens the local "residential tourism" industry.
Culture
It is famous for the Las Fallas festival in March, for paella valenciana and the new City of Arts and Sciences.
Valencia has a metro system [1] http://www.metrovalencia.com , run by FGV. Valencia has a reasonably successful football club known as Valencia C.F.
The two official languages spoken in the city are Spanish and "Valencian". Althought the predominant language is the Spanish, the local government makes sure it emphasises the use of the local language. For instance, all signs in the Metro are in Valencian, with Spanish translations underneath in smaller type.
History
The city was founded by the Romans in 137 BC on the site of a former Iberian town, by the river Turia. (The river flooded in the 1950s killing many Valencians. The river was re-routed and the dry river bed was converted to a park that runs through the city.)
The city has been occupied by the Visigoths, Moors and the Aragonese. In 1094, Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (El Cid) conquered Valencia (this victory was immortalised in the Lay of the Cid), but the city returned to the Almoravids in 1102. The king James I of Aragon reconquered the city in 1238 and incorporated it to the new formed Kingdom of Valencia , one of the kingdoms forming the Crown of Aragon.
In the 15th and 16th centuries, Valencia was one of the major cities in the Mediterranean. The writer Joanot Martorell, author of Tirant lo Blanch, and the poet Ausias March are famous Valencians of that era.
The first printing press in the Iberian Peninsula was located in Valencia. The first printed Bible in a Romance language, Valencian, was printed in Valencia circa 1478, attributed to Bonifaci Ferrer.
Valencian bankers loaned funds to Queen Isabella for Columbus' trip in 1492.
War of the Germanies 1519–1522.
Expulsion of Moriscos in 1609.
During the War of the Spanish Succession, Valencia sided with Charles of Austria. After the victory of the Bourbons at the Battle of Almansa (April 25, 1707), the city lost its privileges or furs.
After the fall of Madrid in the Spanish Civil War, the capital of the Republic was moved to Valencia. The city suffered from the blockade and siege by Franco's forces. The postwar period was hard for Valencians. During the Franco years, speaking or teaching Valencian was prohibited; using the language at all was subject to criminal penalties.
Valencia was granted Autonomous Statutes in 1982.
The name
The original Latin name of the city was Valentia /wa'lentia/, meaning "Strength", "Vigour". By regular sound changes this has become Valencia /ba'lenθja/ in Spanish and València in Valencian. The latter name is pronounced /va'lensja/ in Valencian.
See International Phonetic Alphabet for the symbols used to represent pronunciation.
External links
- City of Valencia http://www.ayto-valencia.es/
- Valencia Travel Guide at Wikitravel http://wikitravel.org/en/article/Valencia_(City)
- subway metropolitan area http://www.metrovalencia.com/
Last updated: 02-06-2005 21:10:16
