Valencia, Valencia 作者： 来源： 发布时间：2021-03-17
1. Population and Area
Pop: 2,522,38 (metro)
Area: 628.81 km2 (urban)
Elev: 15 masl
Valencia location in Mexico within the community of Valencia
https://goo.gl/maps/YgYotarDnu1admfQ8
2. Natural geography
Nature and weather
Topography
The city of Valencia is located in the center of the Valencian depression, south of the Iberian sector. This plain is the largest plain in the entire Spanish Mediterranean basin, and is located in the center of the Valencian Community. The depression borders the Sierra Calderona to the north, the Serranía del Turia mountains to the northwest, the Sierra de las Cabrillas to the west, the Caroig massif to the southwest and the Serra de Corbera and Mondúver to the south.
Its origin is due, at first, to the sinking process of the Gulf of Valencia, which began about 6 million years ago, and in a second place, to the process of clogging the area due to the sedimentary contribution of the Palancia, Turia and Júcar, as well as the Carraixet and Poyo ravines. This process was accelerated by the low erosive action of the sea, and in recent times by anthropic action, since man has accelerated the process of clogging wetlands through selective landings.
Not all the depression is a perfect plain, since the extremely flat areas closest to the coast are connected with extensive inland foothills, such as Pla de Cuart or Campo de Liria. It should also be noted that the plain is dotted with small hills that break the unit, such as the Cabeçol de El Puig, the Santos de Sueca mountain, the Perenchisa de Torrente mountain range or the Cullera mountain of the Zorras. of the 104-meter municipality is located in Horteta. Thus, the traditional landscapes of this relief unit are the cultivated fields of the orchard and the humid areas, such as the Valencia lagoon and the Rafalell and Vistabella marshes and del Moro.
The river that runs through the city is the Turia. This is a river on the Mediterranean side of the Iberian peninsula, which is born in the San Juan de los montes Universales mill, the municipality of Guadalaviar (Teruel), and after 280 km of travel it empties north of the Valencian beach of Pinedo . Its floods are famous, especially that of October 14, 1957, known as the great flood of Valencia, which with a flow of 3,700 m³ / s flooded a large part of the city of Valencia causing a large amount of material and personal damage.
This fact led to the creation of a project to divert this channel and prevent subsequent floods, as well as seeking to generate new infrastructures for the growth of the city. This project materialized with the construction of a new channel diverting it through the south of the city, known as Plan Sur; said channel is apparently dry, because only flow runs through it during floods, since ordinary flows are used to the irrigation of the plain of Valencia in the intakes of the ditches from the Repartiment weir. The old riverbed that passes through the downtown area has become a leisure-cultural space, the Turia garden.
Throughout history, the water from the Turia has been used to irrigate crop fields, for which a complex irrigation network was developed, the main axis of which is the irrigation ditches of the plain of Valencia. waters of the last flows of the river, downstream of the weir of the Moncada canal. Finally, the runoff and surplus water from the Turia are used for the Oro ditch and the irrigation of Francos and Marjales de Valencia.
The eight ditches are, on the right bank: the ditch of Quart, from this ditch then the ditch of Benàger i Faitanar that also has the category of mother ditch; the Mislata canal, the Favara canal, and the Rovella canal. And on the left bank: the irrigation channel of Tormos; the Mestalla canal; and the irrigation canal of Rascanya.
Flora and fauna
Valencia is located on the thermomediterranean bioclimatic floor, so its climax vegetation is the Mediterranean forest, while the maquia occurs in those areas where the arboreal vegetation has disappeared. Due to the anthropization of the environment, nitrophilic plant species predominate in most of the municipal area, with the exception of those that occur in the environment of coastal wetlands (Albufera and Marjal de Rafalell and Vistabella) and river channels .
The main tree species that can be found in the Mediterranean forest areas that remain in the municipality of Valencia (mainly in the Dehesa del Saler) are the holm oak, the Aleppo pine and the taray, while the shrub species, which are They occur in the undergrowth or in areas of maquia, they are the mastic, the juniper, the kermes oak, the myrtle, the thyme, the gorse, the rosemary, the satureja and the palm heart.
On the other hand, the tree species associated with the riverside forest (Turia riverbed) are willows, alders, poplars or poplars, ash trees, elms and tarays, while the shrub species associated with this type of forest are among others the reeds, the reeds, the cattails, the oleanders and the brambles. Around the humid areas and ditches there are several communities of marsh vegetation, which sink their roots in fresh water or wet mud, such as reeds, cattails, mansiegas and reeds.
In the dune ranges closest to the sea, the presence of "pioneer species" stands out. Some of these species are typical of mobile dunes, such as the reed or the sea bell, and the others are typical of the fixed dunes, such as the aladierno or the mastic. Finally, some succulent species, such as salty grass or salicornia, occur in the dune malls.
The Valencian territory presents a great biodiversity, which is greater around the Albufera de Valencia, where the La Granja de El Saler Fauna Recovery Center is located.63 Some species of fish present in the municipality of Valencia are the fartet and the samarugo, endemic species of the Valencian Community, as well as the eel, the mullet and the seabass, of special economic importance.
The extraordinary poultry wealth of the Valencian territory can be observed by the great variety of species that exist in the Valencian territory. Various types of ducks can be found in the municipal area, such as the red duck with up to 10,000 specimens, the common spoon with up to 20,000 specimens or the mallard. The colonies of herons are also noteworthy, and the Cattle Egret, the Squacco Heron or the Gray Heron can be highlighted. Finally, the presence of species such as the common tern, the black-footed tern, the common stilt, the gray teal or the seagull is also noteworthy.
Regarding the mammals that can be found in the territory of Valencia, the rodent species stand out, such as the brown rat, the water rat, the field mouse or the Moorish mouse. Although some groups of shrews, foxes and bats can also be found (the cave bat, the tailed bat, etc.).
In the municipality of Valencia there are also some species of amphibians, such as the common midwife toad, the common toad, the runner toad, the pintojo toad, the spurred toad, the speckled toad, the gallipat and the common green frog. as there are also several types of reptiles present, such as lizards and lizards (the Iberian lizard, the ocellated lizard, the Iberian skink, the red-headed lizard and the long-tailed lizard), snakes (the blind shingles, the ladder snake, the horseshoe snake , the bastard snake and the snout viper), geckos (the coastal gecko and the common gecko), and tortoises or galapagos (the European pond turtle and the leprous pond turtle).
Köppen Classification: Tropical and Subtropical Steppe Climate
This climate type occurs primarily on the periphery of the true deserts in low-latitude semiarid steppe regions. It is transitional to the tropical wet-dry climate on the equatorward side and to the mediterranean climate on its poleward margin, with a cooler, wetter winter resulting from the higher latitude and mid-latitude frontal cyclone activity. Annual precipitation totals are greater than in tropical and subtropical desert climates. Yearly variations in amount are not as extreme as in the true deserts but are nevertheless large.
The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "BSk". (Tropical and Subtropical Steppe Climate).
The average temperature for the year in Valencia is 64.0°F (17.8°C). The warmest month, on average, is August with an average temperature of 77.9°F (25.5°C). The coolest month on average is January, with an average temperature of 52.7°F (11.5°C).
The highest recorded temperature in Valencia is 109.0°F (42.8°C), which was recorded in July. The lowest recorded temperature in Valencia is 23.0°F (-5°C), which was recorded in January.
The average amount of precipitation for the year in Valencia is 17.9" (454.7 mm). The month with the most precipitation on average is October with 2.9" (73.7 mm) of precipitation. The month with the least precipitation on average is July with an average of 0.4" (10.2 mm). There are an average of 44.0 days of precipitation, with the most precipitation occurring in April with 5.0 days and the least precipitation occurring in July with 1.0 days.
In terms of liquid precipitation, there are an average of 98.0 days of rain, with the most rain occurring in May with 11.0 days of rain, and the least rain occurring in July with 5.0 days of rain.
http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=48280&cityname=Valencia%2C+Valencia%2C+Spain&units=
Getting there and around
Get there
By plane – Valencia Airport [44] (IATA: VLC) is 9 km from the city center. The bus (Metrobus) to Plaza de Espana departs every 25 minutes and takes about 30-40 minutes (€1.45). The bus stop is a bit hidden, only a small sign in front of the parking lot at the level of the arrivals. Metro [45] goes directly to the town centre and links the Airport to the main train station, Estación del Norte (beside Xàtiva metro stop), running every 8 minutes and taking about 20 minutes. The ticket card (Mobilis card) itself costs €1 for a paper option or €2 for a plastic card, and the fare from Airport (zone D) to Xàtiva metro (Zone A) cost €3.90 as of September 2019 (you can save yourself some money by walking to the next station, Rosas, from where the centre can be reached for €2.10 because it is in zone B).
A more economical option for using the Valencia Metro is choosing the TuiN Card for 10 Euros (it's a standard option at the ticket machines). This card you can then use for all your metro travel in Valencia. You then only pay €2 to get from the airport to the city center and pay less for all your other metro rides as well.
By train – Many trains come from Madrid (eg: Alaris), Barcelona (eg: Euromed or ARCO), and many other cities. The main train station, Estacion del Norte, is in the center of the city, near the Town Hall. Just to the south is Valencia Joaquin Sorolla. Travel time by train from Barcelona Sants to Valencia Joaquin Sorolla is about 3 hours while from Madrid by AVE (high speed rail) is 1 hour 33 minutes.
The national train company is RENFE. The tickets can be booked online. The cheap tourist class tickets are often sold out, so economical travellers should book their tickets some couple of days in advance.
By bus – There are also many buses coming from almost every big city in Spain and most of the cities in the Valencia region. The main bus station, Estacio de Autobusos, is located roughly north west of the city centre on the other side of the Jardines del Turia, about a 15 minutes walk from the center. Landmarks are Hotel Turia or the Nuevo Centro shopping centre.
Rideshare – Check out Blabla Car's carpooling service for rideshare options. A great option if you don't have a driver's license or want to avoid public transport.
COVID19 – International entry into Spain: partially open
Non-essential travel is open with certain safety requirements. 1.5m social distancing and use of masks are mandatory within Spain.
Some COVID-19 travel conditions may apply in Spain and transport services are subject to change.
Get around
By foot – Aside from going to the beach and the City of Arts and Sciences, exploring the hub of the city requires no public transportation. Much of this city can be done walking, stopping for a coffee or a beer, and then walking more, all very leisurely. It's not necessary to have the mindset of mastering a complex public transportation system. However, for longer trips, see below for some pointers.
By car – Bilbao is difficult to drive in. Hilly one-way streets, and frequent construction projects, make it a nightmare for drivers in parts of the city. Having an automobile map helps a lot; without it allow at least 30min extra to find the right exit from the city. A good idea is to park at the Termibus car park (A-8 Exit 117) and take the tram from San Mamés station to where you want to go.
By bus or train – For metro (subway and tram) and bus (EMT) transport it is possible to buy cards called bonos in kiosks and tobacco shops. These are used for 10 journeys. The cards are contactless and can be topped up and changed to different types once empty. There are a few different cards, so make sure you get the right one for your trip.
The Metro only paper tickets are sold at the metro ticket machines. For a plastic card that includes bus, you will need to buy at tobacconists, authorized kiosks, and Metro stations.
Bonobus is €8.50 to top up on a refillable €2 PVP (plastic) card. Only for bus.
Bonometro which costs €8.60 (June 2018) including €1 for refillable paper ticket for Zone A (not including the airport) and is available at the ticket machines in the underground stations. The metro card journeys are up to 50 minutes for a one zone card including transfers.
Bono Travel is €9 top-up on a €2 PVP card and works on Bus and Metro.
Uber is expanding rapidly across Spain and now offers services in cities across the country. Uber has almost every Spanish city in its network every year, check for availability when you arrive at your destination. Beat, Cabify and Didi are also developing and currently operate in cities including Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Valladolid, Murcia, and Bilbao. Check for availability in the city you are visiting.
These services offer people with smartphones a way to book a cab through a mobile app for a pre-agreed price. Fares are comparable with Sitio type cabs, and sometimes trade at a premium to this when local demand increases.
Bicycle – Renting a bike is an increasingly popular way for visitors to explore this essentially flat city. Since 2010 the city offers public bicycle rentals at over 250 locations around the city (and growing). This service is called Valenbisi. For 14€ you get access to unlimited use of the bikes for 7 days, first half hour is free, then 1€ every 30 minutes extra. You can purchase the ticket at any terminal at the stations.
If you stay longer than two weeks while using the bike system, it might be smart to get the 365-days pass for around 25€. You need a credit card, internet and a metro ticket to get it. You can also let them mail it to your Valencian address, but that takes about 20 days. With the normal paper metro ticket you can online chose to book the Valenbisi on this very metroticket. You only need the ID-Number of the ticket. This will instantly grant you one year without the need of an address or the waiting.
Lights at night and reflective clothes are mandatory, helmet is only recommended. Riding through the pavement is also forbidden and bikeways are not frequent, this can do riding a bike in Valencia not recommended if you're not used to deal with city traffic. Drivers usually are unkind to cyclists.
https://wikitravel.org/en/Valencia
3. GDP
GDP: 57,719.42 M EUR (2018)
4. Industry characteristics
Valencia enjoyed strong economic growth before the economic crisis of 2008, much of it spurred by tourism and the construction industry, with concurrent development and expansion of telecommunications and transport. The city's economy is service-oriented, as nearly 84% of the working population is employed in service sector occupations[citation needed]. However, the city still maintains an important industrial base, with 8.5% of the population employed in this sector. Growth has recently improved in the manufacturing sector, mainly automobile assembly; (The large factory of Ford Motor Company lies in a suburb of the city, Almussafes). Agricultural activities are still carried on in the municipality, even though of relatively minor importance with only 1.9% of the working population and 3,973 ha (9,820 acres) planted mostly in orchards and citrus groves.
Since the onset of the Great Recession (2008), Valencia had experienced a growing unemployment rate, increased government debt, etc. Severe spending cuts had been introduced by the city government.
Port
Valencia's port is the biggest on the Mediterranean western coast, the first of Spain in container traffic as of 2008 and the second of Spain in total traffic, handling 20% of Spain's exports. The main exports are foodstuffs and beverages. Other exports include oranges, furniture, ceramic tiles, fans, textiles and iron products. Valencia's manufacturing sector focuses on metallurgy, chemicals, textiles, shipbuilding and brewing. Small and medium-sized industries are an important part of the local economy, and before the current crisis unemployment was lower than the Spanish average.
Tourism
Starting in the mid-1990s, Valencia, formerly an industrial centre, saw rapid development that expanded its cultural and tourism possibilities, and transformed it into a newly vibrant city. Many local landmarks were restored, including the ancient Towers of the medieval city (Serrans Towers and Quart Towers), and the Saint Miquel dels Reis monastery (Monasterio de San Miguel de los Reyes), which now holds a conservation library. Whole sections of the old city, for example the Carmen Quarter, have been extensively renovated. The Passeig Marítim, a 4 km (2 mi) long palm tree-lined promenade was constructed along the beaches of the north side of the port (Platja de Les Arenes, Platja del Cabanyal and Platja de la Malva-rosa).
The city has numerous convention centres and venues for trade events, among them the Feria Valencia Convention and Exhibition Centre (Institución Ferial de Valencia) and the Palau de Congres (Conference Palace), and several 5-star hotels to accommodate business travelers.
Key project: The five major projects that will arrive in Valencia in 2020
The year 2020 is loaded with new projects for the city of Valencia. New leisure areas, more public space for citizens or the start of the long-awaited new Valencia C.F stadium are some of the novelties that this 2020 brings.
Arena Pavilion
The forecasts point to the construction of the Arena Pavilion starting in the summer of 2020, if this deadline could be met it could be inaugurated in 2023. The new space will have 47,000 square meters including the restaurant areas, terraces and VIP spaces. In addition, it will have a capacity for 15,600 seats and a maximum capacity of 18,600 for concerts. It will also include a public park of 20,000 square meters, more than 1,300 parking spaces both underground and in height.
Town Hall Square
The Plaza del Ayuntamiento will be almost pedestrianized from next March 2020. Only a new shuttle bus line, C1, will have access to this point of the city through a road parallel to the Post Office and the Athenaeum. This project is the result of one of the points established in the Rialto agreement so that Valencians have more public space. In this case, there will be an additional 12,000 square meters for citizens, the cost of which will be around 150,000 euros.
Expansion of the Port of Valencia
The expansion of the Port of Valencia is intended for interoceanic container traffic, for which the Valencia Port Authority's plan is to build an underwater tunnel that would provide north access to the port. Its president assures that this measure would prevent 2,000 trucks from making a detour of 40 kilometers a day and would reduce the consumption of fossil fuels.
New Mestalla
The president of Valencia CF, Anil Murthy, already announced at a General Shareholders' Meeting that "Valencia is closer than ever to inaugurating the new stadium for the 2022-2023 season." So you should start construction in 2020 if you want to arrive on time.
Plaza de la Reina
The remodeling of the Plaza de la Reina that will begin in 2020 will be carried out on a total of 11,875 square meters, of which the parking of two basements represents 8,634. In addition, the redevelopment will go out to public tender for 11,132,394 euros, of which 4,780,391 euros correspond to parking and 6,952,000 euros to the work of the square, and they will have 12 months to carry out the work.
Some of the changes are: the current area of the spiral will become "a kind of urban forest." Awnings of different heights will be incorporated, integrated into the square, and water diffusers will be installed for the summer heat. 21 project proposals came out of the participatory process of the citizens.
https://7televalencia.com/es/cinco-proyectos-valencia-2020
5. Attractions
Valencia Cathedral
The Metropolitan Cathedral–Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady of Valencia (Spanish: Iglesia Catedral-Basílica Metropolitana de la Asunción de Nuestra Señora de Valencia, Valencian: Església Catedral-Basílica Metropolitana de l'Assumpció de la Mare de Déu de València), alternatively known as Saint Mary's Cathedral or Valencia Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic parish church in Vakencia, Spain.
The cathedral was consecrated in 1238 by the first bishop of Valencia after the Reconquista, Pere d'Albalat, Archbishop of Tarragona, and was dedicated to Saint Mary by order of James I the Conqueror. It was built over the site of the former Visigothic cathedral, which under the Moors had been turned into a mosque. Valencian Gothic is the predominant architectural style of the cathedral, although it also contains Romanesque, French Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical elements.
The cathedral contains numerous 15th-century paintings, some by local artists (such as Jacomart), others by artists from Rome engaged by the Valencian Pope Alexander VI who, when still a cardinal, made the request to elevate the Valencian See to the rank of metropolitan see, a category granted by Pope Innocent VIII in 1492.
City of Arts and Sciences
The City of Arts and Sciences is a cultural and architectural complex in the city of Valencia, Spain. It is the most important modern tourist destination in the city of Valencia and one of the 12 Treasures of Spain.
The Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias complex has become an international flagship and symbol of its commitment to cultural tourism and the dynamic approach of the Comunidad Valenciana to the world. Along almost two kilometres of the old riverbed of the Turia and within the actual city of Valencia, its six major elements aim to bring culture to the people and encourage public participation in a unique architectural environment with free public access to large areas: Hemisfèric (Imax, Planetarium and Laser), the Science Museum, Umbracle (Promenade and Car Park), Oceanogràfic (Aquarium), the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía (Opera House) and the Agora.
The City of Arts and Sciences is situated at the southeast end of the former riverbed of the river Turia, which was drained and rerouted after a catastrophic flood in 1957. The old riverbed was turned into a picturesque sunken park.
Designed by Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela, the project began the first stages of construction in July 1996, and was inaugurated on 16 April 1998 with the opening of L'Hemisfèric. The last major component of the City of Arts and Sciences, Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia, was inaugurated on 9 October 2005, Valencian Community Day. The most recent building in the complex, L'Àgora, was opened in 2009.
https://www.cac.es/en/home/la-ciutat/cacsa-la-empresa/cronologia.html
Plaça del Ajuntament
The largest plaza in Valencia is the Plaça del Ajuntament; it is home to the City Hall (Ajuntament) on its western side and the central post office (Edifici de Correus) on its eastern side, a cinema that shows classic movies, and many restaurants and bars. The plaza is triangular in shape, with a large cement lot at the southern end, normally surrounded by flower vendors. It serves as ground zero during the Les Falles when the fireworks of the Mascletà can be heard every afternoon. There is a large fountain at the northern end.
Valencia, Spain in 4K
https://youtu.be/NmsFT_OdDlU
6. History
Roman colony
Valencia is one of the oldest cities in Spain, founded in the Roman period, c. 138 BC, under the name "Valentia Edetanorum". A few centuries later, with the power vacuum left by the demise of the Roman imperial administration, the Catholic Church assumed the reins of power in the city, coinciding with the first waves of the invading Germanic peoples (Suevi, Vandals and Alans, and later the Visigoths).
Middle ages
The city surrendered to the invading Moors (Berbers and Arabs) about 714 AD, and the cathedral of Saint Vincent was turned into a mosque.
The Castilian nobleman Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, known as El Cid, in command of a combined Christian and Moorish army, besieged the city beginning in 1092. After the siege ended in May 1094, he ruled the city and its surrounding territory as his own fiefdom for five years from 15 June 1094 to July 1099. There is an account of his period, Eloquent Evidence of the Great Calamity, written from a Muslim perspective by a native of the city, Ibn Alqama.
The city remained in the hands of Christian troops until 1102, when the Almoravids retook the city and restored the Muslim religion. Alfonso VI of León and Castile drove them from the city, but was unable to hold it. The Almoravid Mazdali took possession on 5 May 1109, then the Almohads, seized control of it in 1171.
Many Jews lived in Valencia during early Muslim rule, including the accomplished Jewish poet Solomon ibn Gabirol, who spent his last years in the city. Jews continued to live in Valencia throughout the Almoravid and Almohad dynasties, many of them being artisans such as silversmiths, shoemakers, blacksmiths, locksmiths, etc.; a few were rabbinic scholars. When the city fell to James I of Aragon, the Jewish population of the city constituted about 7 percent of the population.
In 1238, King James I of Aragon, with an army composed of Aragonese, Catalans, Navarrese and crusaders from the Order of Calatrava, laid siege to Valencia and on 28 September obtained a surrender. Fifty thousand Moors were forced to leave.
The city endured serious troubles in the mid-14th century, including the decimation of the population by the Black Death of 1348 and subsequent years of epidemics — as well as a series of wars and riots that followed. In 1391, the Jewish quarter was destroyed.
Genoese traders promoted the expansion of the cultivation of white mulberry in the area by the late 14th century, and later introducing innovative silk manufacturing techniques. The city became a centre of production of mulberry and was, at least for a time, a major silk-making centre. The Genoese community in Valencia—merchants, artisans and workers—became, along with Seville, one of the most important in the Iberian Peninsula.
The 15t century was a time of economic expansion, known as the Valencian Golden Age, during which culture and the arts flourished. Concurrent population growth made Valencia the most populous city in the Crown of Aragon. Some of the landmark buildings of the city were built during the Late Middle Ages, including the Serranos Towers (1392), the Silk Exchange (1482), the Micalet, and the Chapel of the Kings of the Convent of Sant Domènec. In painting and sculpture, Flemish and Italian trends had an influence on Valencian artists.
Valencia became a major slave trade centre in the 15th century, second only to Lisbon in the West, prompting a Lisbon–Seville–Valencia axis by the second half of the century, powered by the incipient Portuguese slave trade originating in Western Africa. By the end of the 15th century Valencia was one of the largest European cities, being the most populated city in the Hispanic Monarchy and second to Lisbon in the Iberian Peninsula.
Modern history
Following the death of Ferdinand II in 1516, the nobiliary estate challenged the Crown amid the relative void of power. The nobles earned the rejection from the people of Valencia, and the whole kingdom was plunged into armed revolt—the Revolt of the Brotherhoods—and full blown civil war between 1521 and 1522. Muslims vassals were forced to convert in 1526 at behest of Charles V.
Urban and rural delinquency—linked to phenomena such as vagrancy, gambling, larceny, pimping and false begging—as well as the nobiliary banditry consisting of the revenges and rivalries between the aristocratic families flourished in Valencia during the 16th century.
Also during the 16th century, the North-African piracy targeted the whole coastline of the kingdom of Valencia, forcing the fortification of sites.[37] By the late 1520s, the intensification of the activity of the Barbary corsairs along the conflictive domestic situation and the emergence of the Atlantic Ocean in detriment of the Mediterranean in the global trade networks put an end to the economic splendor of the city. The piracy also paved the way for the ensuing development of Christian piracy, that had Valencia as one of its main bases in the Iberian Mediterranean. The Berber threat—initially with Ottoman support—generated great insecurity on the coast, and it would not be substantially reduced until the 1580s.
The crisis deepened during the 17th century with the expulsion in 1609 of the Moriscos, descendants of the Muslim population that had converted to Christianity. The Spanish government systematically forced Moriscos to leave the kingdom for Muslim North Africa. They were concentrated in the former Crown of Aragon, and in the Kingdom of Valencia specifically, they constituted roughly a third of the total population.[39] The expulsion caused the financial ruin of some of the Valencian nobility and the bankruptcy of the Taula de Canvi financial institution in 1613.
The decline of the city reached its nadir with the War of Spanish Succession (1702–1709), marking the end of the political and legal independence of the Kingdom of Valencia. During the War of the Spanish Succession, Valencia sided with the Habsburg ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, Charles of Austria. King Charles of Austria vowed to protect the laws of the Kingdom of Valencia (Furs), which gained him the sympathy of a wide sector of the Valencian population. On 24 January 1706, Charles Mordaunt, 3rd Earl of Peterborough, 1st Earl of Monmouth, led a handful of English cavalrymen into the city after riding south from Barcelona, captured the nearby fortress at Sagunt, and bluffed the Spanish Bourbon army into withdrawal.
The English held the city for 16 months and defeated several attempts to expel them. After the victory of the Bourbons at the Battle of Almansa on 25 April 1707, the English army evacuated Valencia and Philip V ordered the repeal of the Furs of Valencia as punishment for the kingdom's support of Charles of Austria.[40] By the Nueva Planta decrees (Decretos de Nueva Planta) the ancient Charters of Valencia were abolished and the city was governed by the Castilian Charter, similarly to other places in the Crown of Aragon.
The Valencian economy recovered during the 18th century with the rising manufacture of woven silk and ceramic tiles. The silk industry boomed during this century, with the city replacing Toledo as the main silk-manufacturing centre in Spain. The Palau de Justícia is an example of the affluence manifested in the most prosperous times of Bourbon rule (1758–1802) during the rule of Charles III. The 18th century was the age of the Enlightenment in Europe, and its humanistic ideals influenced such men as Gregory Maians and Pérez Bayer in Valencia, who maintained correspondence with the leading French and German thinkers of the time.
The 19th century began with Spain embroiled in wars with France, Portugal, and England—but the War of Independence most affected the Valencian territories and the capital city. The repercussions of the French Revolution were still felt when Napoleon's armies invaded the Iberian Peninsula. The Valencian people rose up in arms against them on 23 May 1808, inspired by leaders such as Vicent Doménech el Palleter.
The mutineers seized the Citadel, a Supreme Junta government took over, and on 26–28 June, Napoleon's Marshal Moncey attacked the city with a column of 9,000 French imperial troops in the First Battle of Valencia. He failed to take the city in two assaults and retreated to Madrid. Marshal Suchet began a long siege of the city in October 1811, and after intense bombardment forced it to surrender on 8 January 1812. After the capitulation, the French instituted reforms in Valencia, which became the capital of Spain when the Bonapartist pretender to the throne, José I (Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon's elder brother), moved the Court there in the middle of 1812. The disaster of the Battle of Vitoria on 21 June 1813 obliged Suchet to quit Valencia, and the French troops withdrew in July.
Ferdinand VII became king after the victorious end of the Peninsular War, which freed Spain from Napoleonic domination. When he returned on 24 March 1814 from exile in France, the Cortes requested that he respect the liberal Constitution of 1812, which seriously limited royal powers. Ferdinand refused and went to Valencia instead of Madrid. Here, on 17 April, General Elio invited the King to reclaim his absolute rights and put his troops at the King's disposition. The king abolished the Constitution of 1812 and dissolved the two chambers of the Spanish Parliament on 10 May. Thus began six years (1814–1820) of absolutist rule, but the constitution was reinstated during the Trienio Liberal, a period of three years of liberal government in Spain from 1820 to 1823.
On the death of King Ferdinand VII in 1833, Baldomero Espartero became one of the most ardent defenders of the hereditary rights of the king's daughter, the future Isabella II. During the regency of Maria Cristina, Espartero ruled Spain for two years as its 18th Prime Minister from 16 September 1840 to 21 May 1841. City life in Valencia carried on in a revolutionary climate, with frequent clashes between liberals and republicans.
The reign of Isabella II as an adult (1843–1868) was a period of relative stability and growth for Valencia. During the second half of the 19th century the bourgeoisie encouraged the development of the city and its environs; land-owners were enriched by the introduction of the orange crop and the expansion of vineyards and other crops,. This economic boom corresponded with a revival of local traditions and of the Valencian language, which had been ruthlessly suppressed from the time of Philip V.
Works to demolish the walls of the old city started on 20 February 1865. The demolition works of the citadel ended after the 1868 Glorious Revolution.
Following the introduction of the universal manhood suffrage in the late 19th century, the political landscape in Valencia—until then consisting of the bipartisanship characteristic of the early Restoration period—experienced a change, leading to a growth of republican forces, gathered around the emerging figure of Vicente Blasco Ibáñez. Not unlike the equally republican lerrouxism, the Populist blasquism came to mobilize the Valencian masses by promoting anticlericalism. Meanwhile, in reaction, the right-wing coalesced around several initiatives such as the Catholic League or the re-formulation of the Valencian Carlism and the Valencianism did similarly with organizations such as Valencia Nova or the Unió Valencianista.
In the early 20th century Valencia was an industrialised city. The silk industry had disappeared, but there was a large production of hides and skins, wood, metals and foodstuffs, this last with substantial exports, particularly of wine and citrus. Small businesses predominated, but with the rapid mechanisation of industry larger companies were being formed. The best expression of this dynamic was in the regional exhibitions, including that of 1909 held next to the pedestrian avenue L'Albereda (Paseo de la Alameda), which depicted the progress of agriculture and industry. Among the most architecturally successful buildings of the era were those designed in the Art Nouveau style, such as the North Station (Estació del Nord) and the Central and Columbus markets.
World War I (1914–1918) greatly affected the Valencian economy, causing the collapse of its citrus exports. The Second Spanish Republic (1931–1939) opened the way for democratic participation and the increased politicisation of citizens, especially in response to the rise of Conservative Front power in 1933. The inevitable march to civil war and the combat in Madrid resulted in the removal of the capital of the Republic to Valencia.
After the continuous unsuccessful Francoist offensive on besieged Madrid during the Spanish Civil War, Valencia temporarily became the capital of Republican Spain on 6 November 1936. It hosted the government until 31 October 1937.
The city was heavily bombarded by air and sea, mainly by the fascist Italian airforce, as well as the Francoist airforce with German Nazi support. By the end of the war the city had survived 442 bombardments, leaving 2,831 dead and 847 wounded, although it is estimated that the death toll was higher. The Republican government moved to Barcelona on 31 October of that year. On 30 March 1939, Valencia surrendered and the Nationalist troops entered the city. The postwar years were a time of hardship for Valencians. During Franco's regime speaking or teaching Valencian was prohibited; in a significant reversal it is now compulsory for every schoolchild in Valencia.
The dictatorship of Franco forbade political parties and began a harsh ideological and cultural repression countenanced and sometimes led by the Catholic Church. Franco's regime also executed some of the main Valencian intellectuals, like Juan Peset, rector of University of Valencia. Large groups of them, including Josep Renau and Max Aub went into exile.
In 1943 Franco decreed the exclusivity of Valencia and Barcelona for the celebration of international fairs in Spain. These two cities would hold the monopoly on international fairs for more than three decades, until its abolishment in 1979 by the government of Adolfo Suárez.
In October 1957, the 1957 Valencia flood, a major flood of the Turia river, left 81 casualties and notable property damage. The disaster led to the remodelling of the city and the creation of a new river bed for the Turia, with the old one becoming one of the city's "green lungs".
The economy began to recover in the early 1960s, and the city experienced explosive population growth through immigration spurred by the jobs created with the implementation of major urban projects and infrastructure improvements. With the advent of democracy in Spain, the ancient kingdom of Valencia was established as a new autonomous entity, the Valencian Community, the Statute of Autonomy of 1982 designating Valencia as its capital.
Valencia has since then experienced a surge in its cultural development, exemplified by exhibitions and performances at such iconic institutions as the Palau de la Música, the Palacio de Congresos, the Metro, the City of Arts and Sciences (Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències), the Valencian Museum of Enlightenment and Modernity (Museo Valenciano de la Ilustracion y la Modernidad), and the Institute of Modern Art (Institut Valencià d'Art Modern). The various productions of Santiago Calatrava, a renowned structural engineer, architect, and sculptor and of the architect Félix Candela have contributed to Valencia's international reputation. These public works and the ongoing rehabilitation of the Old City (Ciutat Vella) have helped improve the city's livability and tourism is continually increasing.
Recent developments
On 3 July 2006, a major mass transit disaster, the Valencia Metro derailment, left 43 dead and 47 wounded. Days later, on 9 July, the World Day of Families, during Mass at Valencia's Cathedral, Our Lady of the Forsaken Basilica, Pope Benedict XVI used the Sant Calze, a 1st-century Middle-Eastern artifact that some Catholics believe is the Holy Grail.
Valencia was selected in 2003 to host the historic America's Cup yacht race, the first European city ever to do so. The America's Cup matches took place from April to July 2007. On 3 July 2007, Alinghi defeated Team New Zealand to retain the America's Cup. Twenty-two days later, on 25 July 2007, the leaders of the Alinghi syndicate, holder of the America's Cup, officially announced that Valencia would be the host city for the 33rd America's Cup, held in June 2009.
The results of the Valencia municipal elections from 1991 to 2011 delivered a 24-year uninterrupted rule (1991–2015) by the People's Party (PP) and Mayor Rita Barberá, who was invested to office thanks to the support from the Valencian Union. Barberá's rule was ousted by left-leaning forces after the 2015 municipal election with Joan Ribó (Compromís) becoming the new mayor.
7. Contact Information
City Mayor: Joan Ribó i Canut
Phone number: +34 963 525 478
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joanribo
Twitter: https://twitter.com/joanribo
E-mail: parlaambjoanribo@valencia.es
Website: https://www.valencia.es
Govt. Office Address: Plaça de l'Ajuntament, 1, 46002, València, Valencia, Spain