🎄 Christmas in Valencia

This balmy Mediterranean port town, set in a dreamy seaside setting, lives up to the local saying "a piece of heaven fallen to earth." The town's palm-fringed plazas come alive under the warm rays of the southern sun, and its churches sparkle with brightly colored azulejo domes. Valencia has a rich cultural heritage as the former capital of the kingdom of Valencia. The 15th-century Silk Exchange, the 18th-century Marquise Palace, and the Museum of Fine Arts are just a few of the magnificent historic monuments that tell the story of a wealthy merchant and aristocratic past. Valencia has a charming historic center, the Ciutat Vella (Old Town), but it has jumped right into the twenty-first century. Visitors are immersed in a brave new world of artistic and scientific discovery at the sleek Modern Art Institute and the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences. Capital: Valencia International Airport: Valencia Airport (VLC) Population: 835,000 Currency: Euro Time: GMT+1 Driving Side: Right Main Electricity: 230V Official Language: Spanish Religion: Roman Catholic

At this futuristic complex on the outskirts of Valencia, visitors can immerse themselves in a cutting-edge world of arts and sciences. Valencia is a fun place to visit in March, when the Fiesta de San José (Saint Joseph's Feast Day), a lively religious festival and a popular local tradition, transforms the city into a joyful celebration. The Oceanogràfic de Valencia building, part of The City of Arts and Sciences, was designed by architect Félix Candela and houses Europe's largest aquarium. The Mercado Central (Central Market) is a large marketplace built in 1928 directly across from the Lonja. Because of its mishmash of architectural styles, the Catedral de València (Catedral del Santo Cáliz) stands out as one of Spain's most unusual cathedrals.