Comunitat Valenciana
Valencian Community

Flag Coat of arms
Capital	Valencia
Official languages	Valencian and Spanish
Area  – Total  – % of Spain	Ranked 8th  23,255 km²  4. Valencia ( Valencian: València, Valencia Spanish phonology --> is the capital of the Spanish autonomous An official language is a Language that is given a special legal status in a particular Country, State, or other territory Valencian ( valencià) is the historical traditional and official name used in the Valencian Community of Spain to refer to the region's native language Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. Here is a list of the autonomous communities of Spain in order of Area. To help compare Orders of magnitude of different geographical regions  Areas between 10000 km² and 100000 km² are listed here Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of 6%
Population  – Total (2005)  – % of Spain  – Density	Ranked 4th  4,806,908  10. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology The density of a material is defined as its Mass per unit Volume: \rho = \frac{m}{V} Different materials usually have different Here is a list of the autonomous communities and autonomous cities of Spain in order of Population ( 2005) 6%  201. 78/km²
Demonym  – English  – Spanish  – Valencian	Valencian  valenciano/valenciana  valencià/valenciana
Statute of Autonomy	April 10, 2006
Parliamentary representation  – Congress seats  – Senate seats	32  5
President	Francisco Camps (PP)
ISO 3166-2	VC
Generalitat Valenciana

The Valencian Community (Valencian and official:^[1] Comunitat Valenciana; Spanish: Comunidad Valenciana) is an autonomous community located in central to south-eastern Spain. A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a People or the inhabitants of a place English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Valencian ( valencià) is the historical traditional and official name used in the Valencian Community of Spain to refer to the region's native language Events 879 - Louis III becomes King of the Western Franks. 1407 - the lama Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The Cortes Generales ( Spanish for General Courts or Cortes Españolas, Spanish Courts) is the Legislature of Spain. The Spanish Congress of Deputies (Spanish Congreso de los Diputados) is the lower house of the Cortes Generales, Spain 's Legislative branch. The Spanish Senate ( Senado de España in Spanish) is the upper house of Spain 's Parliament, the Cortes Generales. The People's Party ( Spanish: Partido Popular, PP) is the main right Political party in Spain. ISO 3166-2 is an ISO standard which defines Geocodes The section that applies to Spain codes the Provinces of Spain. Valencian ( valencià) is the historical traditional and official name used in the Valencian Community of Spain to refer to the region's native language An autonomous community is a first-level political division of the Kingdom of Spain, established in accordance with the Spanish Constitution. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. It is divided in three provinces, from South to North: Alicante, Valencia, and Castellón. Alicante in Spanish or Alacant (in Valencian) is a province of eastern Spain, in the southern part of the Valencian Valencia ( Spanish: Valencia /ba'lenθja/ Valencian: València /va'łen Castellón ( Spanish) or Castelló ( Valencian / Catalan) is a province in the northern part of the Valencian Community,

It has 518 km of coastline on the Mediterranean and covers 23,259 km² of land with 4. 8 million inhabitants (2005). Its borders largely reflect those of the historic Kingdom of Valencia. The Christian Kingdom of Valencia, located in the Eastern shore of the Iberian Peninsula, was one of the component realms of the Crown of Aragon.

According to the Statute of Autonomy, Valencia is recognized as a nationality. The official languages are Spanish and Valencian (as Catalan is known in this territory). Valencian ( valencià) is the historical traditional and official name used in the Valencian Community of Spain to refer to the region's native language Catalan ˈkætəˌlæn ( català kətəˈla or) is a Romance language, the national and official language of Andorra, and a co-official The capital of the autonomous community is the city of Valencia. Valencia ( Valencian: València, Valencia Spanish phonology --> is the capital of the Spanish autonomous

Contents 1 Names 2 Geography 2.1 Relief 2.2 Climate 2.3 Hydrography 3 History 4 Demographics 5 Economics 6 Languages 7 Politics 7.1 Institutions of government: the Generalitat 7.2 Valencian Symbols 8 Gastronomy 8.1 Drinks 8.2 Desserts 9 Sports 10 Provinces 11 See also 12 External links 13 References

Names

Main article: Names of the Valencian Community

The official name of the autonomous community, Comunitat Valenciana, has seen a variety of renditions in English, including "Valencian Community", "Land of Valencia", "Region of Valencia" or, most commonly, simply "Valencia". The names of the Valencian Community are diverse even though Comunitat Valenciana (in English, "Valencian Community" is the only denomination The Spanish name, Comunidad Valenciana, was co-official under the first Statute of Autonomy of 1982.

Although "Comunitat Valenciana", out of official consideration, is the most widely used name and the one that became officially enshrined, there were two competing names at the time of the forging of the Valencian Statute of Autonomy. Nominally a Statute of Autonomy is a Law hierarchically located under the Constitution of a country and over any other form of legislation (including Organic On the one side País Valencià (Valencian) or País Valenciano (Spanish), was first reported in the 18th century. It can be translated as "Valencian Country", "Land of Valencia", or "Region of Valencia". An example of this use is the so-called Consell pre-autonòmic del País Valencià, the forerunner of the modern Generalitat Valenciana in 1978, and it is also referred to in the preamble to the Statutes of Autonomy. The Generalitat Valenciana is the generic name covering the different self government institutions under which the Spanish Autonomous community of Valencia is politically Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) On the other side, the historical term Kingdom of Valencia (Valencian: Regne de València, Spanish: Reino de Valencia) which is also referred to in the preamble to the Statutes of Autonomy. The Christian Kingdom of Valencia, located in the Eastern shore of the Iberian Peninsula, was one of the component realms of the Crown of Aragon. ^[2]

In all cases, the autonomous Valencian Community should be distinguished

• on the one hand, from the City of Valencia or the Valencia province; and
• on the other hand, from the linguistic community of Valencian speakers. Valencia ( Valencian: València, Valencia Spanish phonology --> is the capital of the Spanish autonomous Valencia ( Spanish: Valencia /ba'lenθja/ Valencian: València /va'łen Valencian ( valencià) is the historical traditional and official name used in the Valencian Community of Spain to refer to the region's native language

Geography

Relief

The inland part of the territory is mountainous, with the highest peaks in the Valencia and Castellón provinces which form part of the Iberian Range. The mountains in the Alicante province are in turn a part of the Subbetic range. The Baetic Cordillera is a mountain system streching from Morocco, through Gibraltar and along the southern and eastern parts of Spain. The Valencian Community administers the tiny Columbretes islands and the coastal Tabarca islet. The Columbretes Islands are a group of small uninhabited Islets of volcanic origin in the Mediterranean Sea, off Oropesa del Mar in the Valencian Tabarca is a Spanish islet located in the Mediterranean Sea close to the town of Santa Pola, in the Alicante province

The most emblematic mountain is the Penyagolosa, in the Alcalatén area. Alcalatén is a comarca in the province of Castellón, Valencian Community, Spain. It is widely thought to be the highest peak with its 1,813 m. , but actually the highest peak is the Calderón (1,839 m. ) located in the Rincón de Ademuz, a Valencian exclave where there are three more peaks over 1,500 m. Rincón de Ademuz ( Valencian: Racó d'Ademuz) is an Exclave of the province of Valencia located between the provinces of Cuenca The most emblematic mountain in the southern part of the territory is the Aitana (1,558 m. ).

The rather thin coastal strip is a very fertile plain mainly free of remarkable mountains except those around the Cabo de la Nao area and the Peñíscola area in the Castellón province. Soil fertility is the characteristic of soil that supports abundant plant life Cap de la Nau, Cabo de la Nao in Spanish literally Cape of the Ship, is a headland Peníscola ( Peñíscola in Castilian) is a Valencian municipality located on the Costa del Azahar along the eastern Mediterranean coast of Typical of this coastal area are wetlands and marshlands such as L'Albufera close to Valencia,El Fondó in Elx, the Marjal near Pego or el Prat in Cabanes, also the former wetlands and salt evaporation ponds in the Santa Pola and Torrevieja area. Albufera is a Lake on the coast of Spain, 7 miles (11 km south of Valencia. Pego is a Spanish Municipality located in the Province of Alicante. Salt evaporation ponds are shallow man-made Ponds designed to produce Salt from Sea water. All of them are key RAMSAR sites which make the Valencian Community of high relevance for both migratory and resident seabirds and waterbirds. The Ramsar Convention is an international Treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of Wetlands i

There are important coastal dunes in the Saler area near the Albufera and in the Guardamar area, both of them were planted with thousands of trees during the 19th century in order to fix the dunes, thus forming now protected areas of remarkable ecologic value. In physical Geography, a dune is a Hill of Sand built by Aeolian processes. Guardamar del Segura is a Municipality of the province of Alicante located at the mouth of the river Segura in southern Valencia (autonomous community

Climate

The Valencian Community has a generally mild climate, heavily influenced by the neighbouring Mediterranean sea. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA, ˈnæsə is an agency of the United States government, responsible for the nation's public space program Still, there are important differences between areas:

• Proper Mediterranean climate. A Mediterranean climate is one that resembles the Climate of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, which includes over half of the area with this climate type world-wide It roughly goes along the coastal plain from the northernmost border through the Benidorm area (cities included here are, amongst others, Castelló de la Plana, Gandia and València). It reaches in various grades the lower inland areas. In this area, winters are cool, summers long, very dry and hot and rains occur mostly during spring and autumn, usually around 600 mm. with a remarkably wetter micro climate in the Marina Alta and La Safor comarques right in the north side of Cabo la Nao, which accumulate an average of up to 1000 mm. A microclimate is a local atmospheric zone where the Climate differs from the surrounding area Marina Alta is a comarca in the province of Alicante, Valencian Community, Spain. Safor is a comarca within the province of Valencia, Spain. The capital is the city of Gandia, but also includes the towns of due to the Orographic lift phenomenon. Orographic lift occurs when an Air mass is forced from a low Elevation to a higher elevation as it moves over rising terrain

• Mediterranean to Continental climate transition zone. Continental climate is a Climate that is characterized by Winter Temperatures cold enough to support a fixed period of Snow cover each Year These are the innermost lands and some of those closer to the sea but at a higher elevation (cities included here are, amongst others, Alcoi, Morella, Requena, Villena). Here winters are cool to cold (a few days of snow are not unusual), summers mild to hot and rains more evenly distributed through the year.

• Mediterranean to Semiarid climate. A Semi-arid climate or steppe climate generally describes climatic regions that receive low annual Rainfall (250-500 mm or 10-20 in It roughly goes along the coastal plain from Vila Joiosa through the southernmost border (cities included here are, amongst others, Alicante, Elx, Orihuela and Torrevieja). Summers are very long, hot to very hot and very dry, winters are cool to mild and its most prominent feature is very scarce precipitation, typically below 300 mm. per year and most likely to happen during spring and autumn. The reasons for this lack of precipitation is mostly the marked Rain shadow effect caused by hills to the west of the Alicante province (and, to a lesser degree, those in the northern part of the province which, in turn, enhance the inverse Orographic lift effect around Cabo de la Nao). For the Australian television series see Rain Shadow (TV series.

Hydrography

There are only two major rivers: the Segura in the Alicante province (whose source is in Andalusia) and the Júcar in the Valencia province (whose source is in Castilla-La Mancha) both are subjected to very intense human regulation for cities, industries and -specially- agricultural consumption. Segura ( Latin Thader, Arabic War-Alabiat, Spanish and Catalan Segura) is a medium-sized Andalusia (Andalucía is an autonomous community of Spain. It is the most populous and the second largest in terms of land area The Júcar is a river on the Iberian Peninsula of Spain. The river runs for approximately 509 km from the Universales Mountains to Cullera Castile-La Mancha ( Spanish "Castilla-La Mancha" is an autonomous community of Spain. The river Turia is the third largest and also has its source in Castilla La Mancha. The River Turia ( Valencian: Riu Túria; Spanish: Río Turia; Latin: Turium, Ancient greek Thyrion Rivers in the area, such as the Vinalopó, are usually short, and have little current (due to agricultural usage, climatic reasons or both) and often completely dry during the summer. The Vinalopó is a small river flowing through the Alicante province, in Spain.

History

The origins of present day Valencia date back to the former Kingdom of Valencia, which came into existence in the 13th century. Biar is a Valencian town located in the ''comarca'' of Alt Vinalopó, in the province of Alicante, Spain. The Christian Kingdom of Valencia, located in the Eastern shore of the Iberian Peninsula, was one of the component realms of the Crown of Aragon. James I of Aragon led Christian conquest and colonization of the existing Islamic taifas with Aragonese and Catalan people in 1208 and founded the Kingdom of Valencia as a third independent country within the Crown of Aragon in 1238. James I the Conqueror ( Catalan: Jaume el Conqueridor, Aragonese: Chaime lo Conqueridor, Spanish: Jaime el Conquistador The Reconquista (a Spanish and Portuguese word for "Reconquest" Arabic: الاسترداد, "Recapturing" was a period For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. A taifa (from طائفة ṭā'ifa, plural طوائف ṭawā'if) in the history of Iberia was an independent Muslim -ruled principality The Crown of Aragon was a permanent union of multiple titles and states in the hands of the King of Aragon.

In 1707, in the context the War of the Spanish Succession, and by means of the Nueva Planta decrees, king Philip V of Spain subordinated the Kingdom of Valencia, and the rest of the counties belonging to the former Crown of Aragon and which had retained some autonomy, to the structure of the Kingdom of Castile and its laws and customs. Year 1707 ( MDCCVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a In the War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714 several European powers combined to stop French succession to the Spanish throne and what would likely have been a resulting The Nueva Planta decrees (Decretos de Nueva Planta were a number of Decrees signed between 1707 and 1716 by Philip V &mdashthe first Bourbon king of Philip V of Spain ( December 19, 1683 - July 9, 1746) born Philippe de France, Fils de France and duc d'Anjou The Crown of Aragon was a permanent union of multiple titles and states in the hands of the King of Aragon. Kingdom of Castile was one of the medieval kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula. As a result of this, the institutions and laws created by the Furs of Valencia were abolished and the usage of the Valencian language in official instances and education was forbidden. Furs of Valencia ( Furs de València, in Valencian) were the laws of the Kingdom of Valencia during most of Middle Ages and Consequently, with the House of Bourbon, a new Kingdom of Spain was formed implementing a more centralized government than the former Habsburg Spain. The House of Bourbon is an important European Royal house, a branch of the Capetian dynasty. Habsburg Spain refers to the history of Spain over the 16th and 17th centuries (1516-1700 when this country was ruled by the Habsburg dynasty (also associated to

The first attempt to gain self-government for Valencia in modern-day Spain was during the 2nd Spanish Republic, in 1936 year, but the Civil War broke out and the autonomist project was suspended. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. The Second Spanish Republic was the system of government in Spain between April 14 1931, when King Alfonso XIII left the country Year 1936 ( MCMXXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Spanish Civil War was a major conflict in Spain that started after an attempted Coup d'état committed by parts of the army against the government of ^[3] In 1977, after Franco's dictatorship, Valencia started to be partially autonomous with the creation of the Consell Pre-autonòmic del País Valencià (Pre-autonomous Council of the Valencian Country),^[4] and in 1982 the self-government was finally extended into a Statute of Autonomy creating several self-government institutions under the Generalitat Valenciana. Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Nominally a Statute of Autonomy is a Law hierarchically located under the Constitution of a country and over any other form of legislation (including Organic The Generalitat Valenciana is the generic name covering the different self government institutions under which the Spanish Autonomous community of Valencia is politically

The Valencian Statutes of Autonomy make clear that the Valencian Community is intended to be the modern conception of self-government of the Valencian Country from the first autonomist movements (autogovern) during Second Spanish Republic, but also joining it to the traditional conception of Valencian identity, as being successor to the historical Kingdom of Valencia (furs). The Second Spanish Republic was the system of government in Spain between April 14 1931, when King Alfonso XIII left the country ^[5] In fact, after a bipartisan reform of the Valencian statute of autonomy in 2006, it records the foral civil law, using the traditional conception of a kingdom, and, on the other hand, it also recognizes Valencia as a nationality, in accordance with the modern conception. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Furs of Valencia ( Furs de València, in Valencian) were the laws of the Kingdom of Valencia during most of Middle Ages and Nationality is a relationship between a Person and their State of Origin, Culture, association Affiliation and/or Loyalty

Demographics

The Valencian population traditionally concentrated in localities with fertile cultivation and growing lowlands by the most important rivers (Júcar, Turia, Segura, Vinalopó), also in harbor cities important to the agricultural trade. Soil fertility is the characteristic of soil that supports abundant plant life The Júcar is a river on the Iberian Peninsula of Spain. The river runs for approximately 509 km from the Universales Mountains to Cullera The River Turia ( Valencian: Riu Túria; Spanish: Río Turia; Latin: Turium, Ancient greek Thyrion Segura ( Latin Thader, Arabic War-Alabiat, Spanish and Catalan Segura) is a medium-sized The Vinalopó is a small river flowing through the Alicante province, in Spain.

The most important population centers used to be, during the Roman times, Sagunt or Dénia; later on in history, Valencia, Alicante, Xàtiva, Orihuela, Elx, Gandia, or Vila-real and, more recently recently, Alzira and Castellón de la Plana. Sagunto ( Valencian Sagunt; Latin Saguntum) formerly Murviedro (Valencian Morvedre) is an ancient city in Eastern Dénia (in Catalan; Spanish: Denia) is the judicial seat of the ''comarca'' of Marina Alta, in the province of Alicante Valencia ( Valencian: València, Valencia Spanish phonology --> is the capital of the Spanish autonomous ||-||} Alicante ( Spanish language) or Alacant ( Valencian) is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Alicante and of the Xàtiva ( Spanish: Játiva in former days is a town of eastern Spain, in the province of Valencia, on the right bank of the river Albaida For the town in the province of Teruel Spain see Orihuela del Tremedal Orihuela in Spanish or Oriola in Valencian Gandia (the official name as in Valencian) with population over 77000 is a city and Municipality in the Valencian Community, Eastern Spain Villarreal, Vila-real in Valencian, is a town in eastern Spain in the province of Castelló, in the Land of Valencia. Castellón de la Plana (in Catalan Castelló de la Plana) is the Capital city of the Province of Castellón, in the Valencian

The population density which is higher in the central and southern regions and minor in the northern and inner ones, is derived from the traditional distribution of people which originated in the orographic characteristics of the Valencian territory and the possibility to obtain irrigated land agriculture. Demographics were also affected by (being perhaps the exception to the mentioned distribution) the great industrial activity and the commerce of agriculturally derived products during the XXth century of noncoastal cities like Alcoi, Elda, Ontinyent, Petrer, Villena, and Vall de Uixó. Alcoy (in Spanish) or Alcoi (in Valencian) is a city and municipality located in the province of Alicante, Spain. Elda is a city located in the province of Alicante, Spain. It has an area of and according to the 2002 census a total population of 55571 inhabitants Ontinyent (in Valencian, Onteniente in Spanish) is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of Vall d'Albaida in the Petrer is a town located in the Comarca of Vinalopó Mitjà, in the province of Alicante, Spain. Villena is a city located in the province of Alicante, Spain.

In the last years, concentration in the great capitals and its metropolitan areas has augmented considerably (e. g. Torrent, Mislata, Paterna, Burjasot, San Vicente del Raspeig, etc. Torrent is a city located within the metropolitan area of the city of Valencia. Mislata is a municipality of Arabic origin in the Valencian Community in Spain. Paterna is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of Horta Oest in the Valencian Community, Spain. Burjassot is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of Horta Nord in the Valencian Community, Spain. San Vicente del Raspeig ( Sant Vicent del Raspeig - Valencian) is a municipality located in the Comarca of Alacantí, in the province ) especially in all the coastal cities and towns. Thus, traditionally small populations such as Benidorm or Torrevieja have undergone a considerable population increase (still more remarkable during summertime) due to the seasonal migration of tourists. Benidorm (beniˈðɔɾm] in Valencian in Spanish)  is a Valencian coastal town and municipality located in the comarca of Torrevieja in Spanish or Torrevella in Valencian is a seaside city and Municipality located on the Costa Blanca in the province

Therefore, Valencia's population is nowadays clearly urban and coastal, also influenced by seasonal tourism.

Nuclei with more than 50,000 habs. Valencian Community 4,692,449 hab. Town Valencia Alicante Elx Castellón de la Plana Torrevieja Orihuela Torrent Gandia Benidorm Sagunt Alcoi Elda Paterna Population 796,549 319,380 215,137 167,455 84,348 75,009 72,660 71,429 67,492 61,823 60,931 55,571 54,560

Source: Institut Valencià d'Estadística, 2005. Valencia ( Valencian: València, Valencia Spanish phonology --> is the capital of the Spanish autonomous ||-||} Alicante ( Spanish language) or Alacant ( Valencian) is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Alicante and of the Castellón de la Plana (in Catalan Castelló de la Plana) is the Capital city of the Province of Castellón, in the Valencian Torrevieja in Spanish or Torrevella in Valencian is a seaside city and Municipality located on the Costa Blanca in the province For the town in the province of Teruel Spain see Orihuela del Tremedal Orihuela in Spanish or Oriola in Valencian Torrent is a city located within the metropolitan area of the city of Valencia. Gandia (the official name as in Valencian) with population over 77000 is a city and Municipality in the Valencian Community, Eastern Spain Benidorm (beniˈðɔɾm] in Valencian in Spanish)  is a Valencian coastal town and municipality located in the comarca of Sagunto ( Valencian Sagunt; Latin Saguntum) formerly Murviedro (Valencian Morvedre) is an ancient city in Eastern Alcoy (in Spanish) or Alcoi (in Valencian) is a city and municipality located in the province of Alicante, Spain. Elda is a city located in the province of Alicante, Spain. It has an area of and according to the 2002 census a total population of 55571 inhabitants Paterna is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of Horta Oest in the Valencian Community, Spain.

Economics

The Valencian Community conforms an elongated territory, with a rather steep and irregular orography that has made communications and the exploitation of the soil historically difficult, despite the soil being particularly fertile in the coastal plain. Soil fertility is the characteristic of soil that supports abundant plant life This coastal axis has facilitated connections with Europe, either by sea through the Mediterranean, or by land through Catalonia. Catalonia (Cataluña Catalunya Aranese: Catalonha) is an Autonomous Community in the northeast part of Spain.

The natural resources of the Valencian territory are small with regard to minerals other than the important marble quarrying industry in the Alicante province. Marble is a nonfoliated Metamorphic rock resulting from the Metamorphism of Limestone, composed mostly of Calcite (a crystalline form of

As for hydrological resources (see Geography above) there is a demand of water superior to the supply, making this imbalance especially serious in the Alicante province. In years when drought is particularly severe, the problem is mitigated if necessary, with occasional nocturnal restrictions during Summer and water-bearing subterraneans exploitation. This remains a source of harsh controversy over hydrological resources with neighbouring regions such as Castile-La Mancha and Catalonia. Castile-La Mancha ( Spanish "Castilla-La Mancha" is an autonomous community of Spain. Catalonia (Cataluña Catalunya Aranese: Catalonha) is an Autonomous Community in the northeast part of Spain.

Due to the secondary and tertiary sectors boom by the times of the Spanish miracle during the 1960s, the agricultural sector has seen its relative importance reduced over time (not so the absolute figures), but it remains to be credited -under the form of citrus cultivation for the export market- for the first economic boom by the late 19th century after centuries of slow development, if not decay. Benidorm (beniˈðɔɾm] in Valencian in Spanish)  is a Valencian coastal town and municipality located in the comarca of Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. The Spanish miracle (el milagro español was the name given to a broadly based economic boom in Spain between 1959 and 1973. Citrus is a common term and Genus of Flowering plants in the family Rutaceae, originating in tropical and subtropical southeast regions of Castellón and Valencia provinces still have thousands of hectares of citrus producing groves and it continues to be a major source of income on the countryside. In the Alicante province, citrus is also present but agriculture is more diversified with a higher presence of vegetables, especially in the Vega Baja del Segura area. Alicante in Spanish or Alacant (in Valencian) is a province of eastern Spain, in the southern part of the Valencian The term " vegetable " generally means the edible parts of Plants The definition of the word is traditional rather than Scientific, however Vega Baja del Segura ( Valencian: Baix Segura) is a ''comarca'' in the province of Alicante, Valencian Community,

The high insulation rate and overall stable weather which during the Summer may pose a threat to water supplies either for agricultural or human consumption, conversely allow tourism to be the main economic industry with a very high density of residential housing along the coast occupied by locals, people from inland Spain and from other EU countries (mostly from Britain, Germany, Belgium and Norway) which seasonally boost population (and hydrological demands) in the summertime. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional

In 2002, the Valencian Community generated 10'5% of the Spanish GDP. In human resources, the rate of unemployment was located around 10'5%, being greater among women, and the rate of activity reached 56'8% in 2002. The typical Valencian business is a small and medium company, mainly family-owned and operated, although there are some multinationals.

In addition to tourism, the Valencian economy is characterized by a marked exporting dimension, being the second exporting Spanish autonomous community, constituting 12% of the national total. The major exports are agricultural products, ceramic tiles, marble products and cars (Ford has an assembly line in Almussafes) among others, which make the port of Valencia the busiest in Spain. Ford Motor Company is an American Multinational corporation and the world's fourth largest automaker based on Worldwide vehicle sales, following Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.

In 2004, Valencia's GDP was 93. 9% of the European Union average^[6] even though this figure may be affected positively by the important presence of foreign residents either from other regions of Europe or economic immigrants which are not properly represented in the official statistics. Growth rates after 2004 have been significant in overall Spain and additional progress from present figures is going on as of 2007.

Languages

Main articles: Valencian, Catalan language, Spanish language, and Valencian Sign Language

Knowledge of Valencian in
the Valencian Community

Can understand	76%
Can speak	53%
Can read	47%
Can write	25%
Source: Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua (2004). Valencian ( valencià) is the historical traditional and official name used in the Valencian Community of Spain to refer to the region's native language Catalan ˈkætəˌlæn ( català kətəˈla or) is a Romance language, the national and official language of Andorra, and a co-official Valencian Sign Language ( LSCV or LSPV) is a Sign language used by people with hearing impairments in the Valencian Community, Spain The Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua ( AVL) - Valencian Academy of the Language - is an institution created on September 16, 1998 by the Enquesta sobre la situació del valencià.

Valencian and Spanish are the official languages of the Valencian Community. Valencian ( valencià) is the historical traditional and official name used in the Valencian Community of Spain to refer to the region's native language Valencian is the one considered by the Statute of Autonomy as llengua pròpia ("own language" or "language proper" to the territory). It is traditionally spoken in the coastal areas rather than inland, where Spanish tends to be the traditional language, also in those areas incorporated into the provinces of Alicante and Valencia at their creation in 1833 and which did not form part of the historical Kingdom of Valencia. In addition to its autonomous communities, Spain is divided into fifty Provinces. Alicante in Spanish or Alacant (in Valencian) is a province of eastern Spain, in the southern part of the Valencian Valencia ( Spanish: Valencia /ba'lenθja/ Valencian: València /va'łen Year 1833 ( MDCCCXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common The Christian Kingdom of Valencia, located in the Eastern shore of the Iberian Peninsula, was one of the component realms of the Crown of Aragon. The 1984 Law on the "Use and Teaching of Valencian" defines certain municipalities as "predominantly Spanish-speaking", and allows them some few optional exceptions as to official use of Valencian, even though the right to use and to receive education in Valencian is guaranteed by the Statute of Autonomy (Art. The municipalities of Spain (municipios 8111 in total are the basic level of Spanish Local government.  6. 2) anywhere in the Valencian Community.

Even in areas which formed part of the old Kingdom of Valencia, the knowledge and use of Valencian has diminished by immigration from other parts of Spain and the world, also by the lasting effects of the suppression of regional languages since the 18th century (Nueva Planta decrees), and, in recent times, under the Franco dictatorship (1936–75). The Nueva Planta decrees (Decretos de Nueva Planta were a number of Decrees signed between 1707 and 1716 by Philip V &mdashthe first Bourbon king of Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Teódulo Franco y Bahamonde (born December 4, 1892 in Ferrol, died November 20, 1975 in Madrid The knowledge of Valencian in those areas defined as "predominantly Valencian-speaking" by the Generalitat Valenciana (83% can understand, 58% can speak)^[7] is scarcely any higher than in the Valencian Community as a whole (see table). The Generalitat Valenciana is the generic name covering the different self government institutions under which the Spanish Autonomous community of Valencia is politically

Valencian is regulated by the Valencian Academy of the Language (Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua, or AVL), created in 1998. The Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua ( AVL) - Valencian Academy of the Language - is an institution created on September 16, 1998 by the The law that instituted the Academy, originally declared that Valencian was part of the linguistic system that the other Hispanic territories of the former Crown of Aragon—namely Catalonia and the Balearic Islands—recognize as their "own language" or "language proper" to their territories. The Crown of Aragon was a permanent union of multiple titles and states in the hands of the King of Aragon. Catalonia (Cataluña Catalunya Aranese: Catalonha) is an Autonomous Community in the northeast part of Spain. The Balearic Islands ( Catalan and official Illes Balears; Spanish: Islas Baleares) are an Archipelago in the western Mediterranean ^[8] However, in a subsequent official statement, in 2005, the AVL stated that the language spoken in the Valencian Community is the same language that is spoken in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, and that the different varieties constituted a "single language" which refers to the term "linguistic system" used in the previous law. ^[9] The Institute of Catalan Studies (Institut d'Estudis Catalans, IEC), also considers Catalan and Valencian to be the same language. The Institut d'Estudis Catalans (Institute for Catalan Studies or IEC is an academic institution which seeks to undertake research and study into "all elements of Catalan culture Even though phonetic differences are quite noticeable, written standard Valencian differs only slightly from written standard Central Catalan. (See Valencian language for more discussion and examples). Valencian ( valencià) is the historical traditional and official name used in the Valencian Community of Spain to refer to the region's native language There is also a Valencian Sign Language which has been granted a special protection from the Statute of Autonomy for those Valencian Deaf persons. Valencian Sign Language ( LSCV or LSPV) is a Sign language used by people with hearing impairments in the Valencian Community, Spain

Aside from the linguistic criteria, the political parties in the Valencian Community along with the the majority of the citizenry oppose using "Catalan" instead of the traditional name "Valencian". This was particularly noticeable on the occasion of the referendum in 2004 to approve the proposed Constitution of the European Union where the Spanish government at first distributed identical translations in Catalan of the Constitutional Treaty in Catalonia and the Valencian Community in that both used written Standard Valencian. Catalonia (Cataluña Catalunya Aranese: Catalonha) is an Autonomous Community in the northeast part of Spain. ^[10] In adding, the main conservative party, the ruling Popular Party, mostly discusses about the name, not about the unity of Catalan and Valencian dialects, despite a few right-winged politicians adhering to the concept Blaverism, who oppose considering these as the same language. Blaverism ( Valencian: blaverisme. Spanish: blaverismo) is a Political movement in the Valencian Community, Spain Some Spanish government documents contain different versions for Catalonia and Valencia, if there are some differences in lexicon between the two standards. In Linguistics, the lexicon (from Greek Λεξικόν of a language is its Vocabulary, including its words and expressions ^[11]

Politics

Institutions of government: the Generalitat

In recognition of Valencia as a historical nationality of Spain, and in accordance to the second article of the Spanish constitution which grants autonomy to the "nationalities and regions" that comprise the Spanish nation, Valencia was granted self-government and constituted itself as an autonomous community in 1982, with the promulgation of its first Statute of Autonomy, the basic organic law. The Constitution of Spain is regarded as the culmination of the Spanish transition to democracy. An autonomous community is a first-level political division of the Kingdom of Spain, established in accordance with the Spanish Constitution. Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Nominally a Statute of Autonomy is a Law hierarchically located under the Constitution of a country and over any other form of legislation (including Organic A new Statute of Autonomy was promulgated in 2006. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The government of the Valencian Community (statutorily referred to only as Comunitat Valenciana, both in Spanish and Valencian)^[12] is represented by the Generalitat Valenciana (statutorily referred to simply as La Generalitat) constituted by three institutions:^[13]

• the Valencian Courts (Corts Valencianes), the legislature, which is to be integrated by a minimum of ninety-two representatives (diputats) elected through universal suffrage by proportional representation for a four-year period;
• the President of the Generalitat elected by the Courts from which s/he must obtain the vote of confidence;
• the Council of the Generalitat Valenciana (Consell), a collegiate institution with executive powers, integrated by the President him/herself and the cabinet members appointed by him/her. The Generalitat Valenciana is the generic name covering the different self government institutions under which the Spanish Autonomous community of Valencia is politically A legislature is a type of representative Deliberative assembly with the power to create amend and change Laws The law created by a legislature is called Legislation Universal suffrage (also universal adult suffrage, general suffrage or common suffrage) consists of the extension of the right to vote to Proportional representation (sometimes referred to as full representation or PR is a category of electoral formula aiming at a close match between the percentage of votes

The Generalitat can also be integrated by the institutions that the Valencian Courts create. The Courts have approved the creation of the Síndic de Greuges (the Ombudsman), the Sindicatura de Comptes (Public Audit Office), the Valencian Council of Culture, the Valencian Academy of the Language, the Juridic and Consultative Council and the Social and Economic Committee. An ombudsman ( English plural conventionally ombudsmen) is an official usually (but not always appointed by the government or by parliament who is charged with

Valencian Symbols

The flag of the Valencian Community is the traditional Valencian crowned Senyera, composed of four red bars on a yellow background, crowned with a blue strip next to the spear. The Senyera (roughly meaning "signal flag" in Catalan) is a Vexillological symbol based on the Coat of arms of the Crown of Aragon The official Anthem is the Hymn of the Regional Exhibition of 1909, in whose composition the old hymn of the City of Valencia of the XVI century is included. The emblem of the Valencian Generalitat includes the seal of King Peter IV of Aragon, representative of the historical Kingdom of Valencia, whose shield is inclined towards the right, or, four bars Gules. Peter IV (also known as Pedro or Pere 5 September 1319, Balaguer – 5 January 1387) called the Ceremonious ( el Ceremonioso The Christian Kingdom of Valencia, located in the Eastern shore of the Iberian Peninsula, was one of the component realms of the Crown of Aragon.

The official flag, also known as Senyera Coronada or Crowned Senyera is the same as Valencia's City flag, which, in turn, is a historical derivation of the Senyera, the heraldic symbol of the Crown of Aragon, also used today with few variations in all the former Kingdoms and Counties which were a part of this crown. The Senyera (roughly meaning "signal flag" in Catalan) is a Vexillological symbol based on the Coat of arms of the Crown of Aragon The Crown of Aragon was a permanent union of multiple titles and states in the hands of the King of Aragon. There are also a number of Valencian private and civil entities such as trade unions,^[14] cultural associations,^[15] or political parties^[16] which simply use the Senyera as Valencian flag.

Other symbols are used at different levels by the Valencian society, like the heraldic animals of rat-penat (a bat) and drac alat (a winged dragon which was the emblem of James I), or the music of the Muixeranga, among others. The Muixeranga (mujʃeˈɾaŋɡa or approximately "moo-ee-sheh-rang-gah" is the collective name given to the performance of ancient Street dances and

Gastronomy

The Valencian gastronomy is of great variety, although their more international dishes are rice based, like the worldwide known Valencian paella. Paella (pa'eʎa is an internationally famous dish consisting of White rice, Meat, Seafood, Beans and Vegetables (depending on Paella (pa'eʎa is an internationally famous dish consisting of White rice, Meat, Seafood, Beans and Vegetables (depending on The rice is a basic ingredient in many of the typical dishes, like the "arròs (rice) a banda", the "arròs a la pedra", "arròs negre", "arròs amb costra", "arròs caldós", among many.

The Valencian Mediterranean climate favors the cultivation of citrus fruits and vegetables, with the cultivation of the orange being perhaps of highest importance as one of the typical fruits of Valencian agriculture. An orange —specifically the sweet orange —is the Citrus fruit Citrus sinensis ( syn Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture

Drinks

The horchata, whose traditional nucleus of elaboration is Alboraia, is a typical drink, accompanied with "fartons". Horchata or orxata is the name for several kinds of vegetable beverages made of ground Almonds Sesame seeds, Rice, Barley or Alboraia (in Valencian; in Spanish, Alboraya) is a town and municipality of the province of Valencia, Spain. Also traditional is the production of coffee liquor (typical of Alcoi), and mistela (in Marina Baixa and la Hoya de Buñol). Alcoy (in Spanish) or Alcoi (in Valencian) is a city and municipality located in the province of Alicante, Spain. Marina Baixa is a comarca in the Valencian Community, Spain. It is bordered by the comarques of Comtat on the northwest Hoya de Buñol ( Valencian: Foia de Bunyol) is a comarca in the province of Valencia, Valencian Community, Spain

Desserts

The great majority of desserts have their origin in Arabic times and play and important part in the local festive activities. ||-||} Alicante ( Spanish language) or Alacant ( Valencian) is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Alicante and of the Some, nowadays are internationally famous. Xixona is the place of traditional manufacture of turrón (a soft nougat) dessert consumed during Christmas in Spain and the rest of the Hispanic world. Jijona (in Spanish) or Xixona (in Valencian) is a town and Municipality in the Land of Valencia on the eastern coast of Turrón ( Spanish) torró ( Catalan) or torrone ( Italian) is a Nougat confection typically made of Honey, sugar In Xàtiva, the "Arnadí", a dessert elaborated with pumpkin is made. Xàtiva ( Spanish: Játiva in former days is a town of eastern Spain, in the province of Valencia, on the right bank of the river Albaida In Orihuela and its region the "almojábenas", and in Alcoi the "peladillas" (sugared almonds) are produced. For the town in the province of Teruel Spain see Orihuela del Tremedal Orihuela in Spanish or Oriola in Valencian Alcoy (in Spanish) or Alcoi (in Valencian) is a city and municipality located in the province of Alicante, Spain.

Sports

The autochthonous Valencian sport is the Valencian pilota, which features a professional Valencian Pilota Squad for international matches with related ball games all around the world. Pilota Valenciana or Valencian pilota ( pilota means ball in Valencian) is a traditional handball Sport played in the Valencian Pilota Valenciana or Valencian pilota ( pilota means ball in Valencian) is a traditional handball Sport played in the Valencian The Valencian Pilota Squad are the Valencian pilota professional or amateur players chosen to take part in the Handball International Championships representing A ball game is a Game played with a Ball. Someone who plays a ball game is known as a ballplayer. This sport has many variants, that may be played at the streets or at special courtfields like the trinquet. Valencian trinquet (or simply trinquet) is the court used in the Valencian Community for two different modalities of Valencian pilota: the Escala It may also be played by teams or on individual challenges. An amazing trait of this sport is that spectators may sit very close or even in the middle of the court. Even while the match is ongoing bookmakers take bets for reds or blues, since these are the colours players must wear, red being the colour of the strongest team or player. A bookmaker, bookie or turf accountant, is an organization or a person that takes bets and pays winnings depending upon results and depending on the nature The Valencian pilota can be traced to the XV century, but it was abandoned during modern times, this decadence is being fought back with TV broadcasts, new built colleges have courtfields and a new professional players firm, ValNet. ValNet is the company gathering all Valencian pilota professional players

Another relevant game is the pigeon sport, with an autochthonous dove race being trained, the gavatxut valencià. There are at least four main types of competitive pigeon sport: Pigeon racing Tumbling Highflying Tippler

Petanca and its variant Calitx are traditional sports as well, especially in towns or among older people. Pétanque (petɑ̃ːk in French is a form of Boules where the goal is while standing with the feet together in a small circle to throw metal balls as close as possible

Motorcycle races are very popular, as the Circuit de Valencia race track and its hosted Valencian Community Grand Prix prove. Motorcycle sport is a broad field that encompasses all Sporting aspects of Motorcycling. The Circuit de Valencia (officially named " Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo " is a Motorsport Race track located in Cheste The Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix is a motorcycling event held in Spain that is part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season

Football is the most known sport. Football is the word given to a number of similar Team sports all of which involve (to varying degrees kicking a Ball with the foot in an attempt to score a There are many teams in every town or village, but only three of them are playing now in La Liga, the Spanish Premiership: Levante UD, Valencia CF and Villarreal CF. La Liga 2006-07 season the 76th since its establishment started on August 27, 2006 and finished on June 17, 2007. The Primera División of the es Liga de Fútbol Profesional ( Professional Football League) commonly known as La Liga or Levante Unión Deportiva ( ''Spanish'') also known as Llevant Unió Esportiva ( ''Valencian'') is a Spanish football club based in Valencia Club de Fútbol (also known as Valencia or Los Che) is a Spanish professional football club based in Valencia Villarreal Club de Fútbol, usually abbreviated to Villarreal, is a Spanish Primera División football club based in Villarreal There are many big teams elsewhere, such as CD Alcoyano, CD Castellón, Elche CF or Hércules CF. Club Deportivo Alcoyano is a football team based in Alcoi in the autonomous community of Valencia. Club Deportivo Castellón is a Spanish football team formed in 1922 and based in Castellón de la Plana. Elche CF is a Spanish football team formed in 1923 and based in Elche. Hércules Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football team formed in 1922 and based in Alicante.

Professional Basketball is represented by one team, Valencia BC in the top league, the ACB. Basketball is a team Sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a ball through a 10 feet (3 m Trophies Copa del Rey de Baloncesto:1998 1 ULEB Cup:2002/03 1 The ACB ( Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto) is the premier professional Basketball league in Spain. Also, Ros Casares Valencia is a female basketball team, which is the current champion of the Spanish Women's League and finalist of the Euroleague Women. The EuroLeague Women (officially FIBA EuroLeague Women) is the highest professional Basketball league in Europe for women’s clubs

Regarding female professional sports, Valencian Handball rules the Spanish Honor division league with more than half of the teams, such as Astroc Sagunt, Orsan Elda Prestigio and Cementos La Union Ribaroja. Handball (also known as team handball, European handball, or Olympic handball) is a Team sport in which two teams of seven players each (six

Provinces

Traditionally the land is divided into comarques, and in 1883 was, along with the rest of Spain, divided into provinces. A comarca (meaning Shire or County, Spanish and Portuguese plural comarcas, Catalan plural Year 1883 ( MDCCCLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. In addition to its autonomous communities, Spain is divided into fifty Provinces. There are 32 comarques, and three provinces: Castellón/Castelló, Valencia/València, and Alicante/Alacant (names in Spanish/Valencian). In Spain traditionally and historically some Autonomous communities are also divided into comarcas (singular comarca) Castellón ( Spanish) or Castelló ( Valencian / Catalan) is a province in the northern part of the Valencian Community, Valencia ( Spanish: Valencia /ba'lenθja/ Valencian: València /va'łen Alicante in Spanish or Alacant (in Valencian) is a province of eastern Spain, in the southern part of the Valencian ^[17]

• València (Spanish Valencia), population 796,549, capital of the province of the same name, on the river Turia. Valencia ( Valencian: València, Valencia Spanish phonology --> is the capital of the Spanish autonomous Famous festival of the Fallas on March 19. The Falles (in Valencian) are a Valencian traditional celebration in praise of Saint Joseph in Valencia Spain. Events 1279 - A Mongolian victory in the Battle of Yamen ends the Song Dynasty in China.
• Alicante (Valencian Alacant), population 319,380, capital of the province of the same name, in the Mediterranean coast. ||-||} Alicante ( Spanish language) or Alacant ( Valencian) is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Alicante and of the Famous for its hard nougat or turrón duro (Valencian torró dur) and Postiguet, Albufereta and San Joan Beaches. Nougat (pronounced /ˈnuːˌɡət/; /ˡnuːgɑː/) is a term used to describe a variety of similar Confectioneries made with Sugar or Honey The famous festival of the Bonfires of Saint John is in June. Bonfires of Saint John (Hogueras de San Juan is a popular festival celebrated in June from the 19th to the 24th in Spain. Its city hall and the Santa Barbara Castle are historic monuments.
• Elx (Spanish Elche), population 215,137, famous for the wood of the palm tree called Palmeral, and for the Misteri d'Elx, two-day festival of singing and street drama that acts out the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, declared by UNESCO as part of all humankind's oral heritage.
• Castelló de la Plana (Spanish Castellón de la Plana), population 167,455, capital of the province of Castellón. Castellón de la Plana (in Catalan Castelló de la Plana) is the Capital city of the Province of Castellón, in the Valencian Castellón ( Spanish) or Castelló ( Valencian / Catalan) is a province in the northern part of the Valencian Community,
• Torrevieja (Valencian Torrevella), population 84,348, in the south, important tourist center with many hotels, apartments and tourist accommodations; includes La Mata Beach. Torrevieja in Spanish or Torrevella in Valencian is a seaside city and Municipality located on the Costa Blanca in the province
• Gandia (Spanish Gandía), population 77,943, is another important tourist center, situated on the Costa del Azahar. Gandia (the official name as in Valencian) with population over 77000 is a city and Municipality in the Valencian Community, Eastern Spain Costa del Azahar ( Spanish for Orange Blossom Coast) or Costa dels Tarongers ( Catalan for Orange tree Coast) is the name for the coast
• Orihuela (Valencian Oriola), population 75,009, on the Segura River, historic city with palaces, churches and the Cathedral, on the "Vega Baja" (Valencian Baix Segura), a highly productive area for farm products such as oranges, lemons and the like. For the town in the province of Teruel Spain see Orihuela del Tremedal Orihuela in Spanish or Oriola in Valencian
• Benidorm, population 67,492, a major holiday resort, dubbed Beniyork because of its many skyscrapers, including Spain's tallest, the 52-story Gran Hotel Bali. Benidorm (beniˈðɔɾm] in Valencian in Spanish)  is a Valencian coastal town and municipality located in the comarca of A skyscraper is a tall continuously habitable Building. There is no official definition or a precise cutoff height above which a building may clearly be classified as a skyscraper Gran Hotel Bali is a 4-star Hotel located in Benidorm, province of Alicante, Spain.
• Alcoi (Spanish Alcoy), population 60,590, an important industrial area for textile products, with characteristical XIXth century modernist buildings and with the most well known Moors and Christians festivities. Alcoy (in Spanish) or Alcoi (in Valencian) is a city and municipality located in the province of Alicante, Spain. Moros y Cristianos (in Spanish) or Moros i Cristians (in Valencian) literally means Moors and Christians, and
• Monóvar, (Valencian Monòver), historic city with a lot of monuments of the baroque period and with an important Holy Week and local festivities. Monóvar/Monòver ( Valencian: Monòver; Spanish: Monóvar) is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of Vinalopó Holy Week ( Latin: Hebdomada Sancta or Maior Hebdomada, "Greater Week" in Christianity is the last week before Easter.
• Elda, population 55,571, important production center for shoes and wine in the Vinalopo area. Elda is a city located in the province of Alicante, Spain. It has an area of and according to the 2002 census a total population of 55571 inhabitants
• Xixona (Spanish Jijona), population 7,494, near Alicante, famous for its soft nougat or torró de Xixona (Spanish turrón de Jijona). Jijona (in Spanish) or Xixona (in Valencian) is a town and Municipality in the Land of Valencia on the eastern coast of
• Villena, population 34. Villena is a city located in the province of Alicante, Spain. 000, important production of shoes and wine, with many historical and monumental visits. Also, fiestas of "Moros y Cristianos", one of the most important in the Community
• Vila-real (Spanish Villarreal), population 46,696, important producer of ceramics and brick. Villarreal, Vila-real in Valencian, is a town in eastern Spain in the province of Castelló, in the Land of Valencia.
• Buñol (Valencian Bunyol), population 9,404, famous for the tomatina, a town-wide tomato fight held the last Wednesday of August. Buñol (Catalan/ Valencian: Bunyol) is a town and Municipality in the Province of Valencia, Spain. La Tomatina is a Food fight Festival held on the last Wednesday of August each year in the town of Buñol in the Valencia region of Spain
• Ibi, population 23,059, a toy production center. Ibi is a town located in the Comarca of Alcoià, in the province of Alicante, Spain.

Major rivers:

• Turia River (Valencian Túria)
• Júcar River (Valencian Xúquer)
• Segura River

See also

• Nationalities in Spain
• List of seaports of the Valencian Community

External links

• http://www.avl.gva.es/ Language Valencian Academy
• http://www.comunitatvalenciana.com Official tourism webpage. The River Turia ( Valencian: Riu Túria; Spanish: Río Turia; Latin: Turium, Ancient greek Thyrion The Júcar is a river on the Iberian Peninsula of Spain. The river runs for approximately 509 km from the Universales Mountains to Cullera Segura ( Latin Thader, Arabic War-Alabiat, Spanish and Catalan Segura) is a medium-sized Historically, the modern country of Spain was formed by the accretion of several independent Iberian realms ( Asturias, León, Galicia Alicante (province Ports Port of la Isla Tabarca Altea Port of Altea Port "La Galera"
• Valencia on Wikitravel
• Valencia in Catalan Encyclopaedia
• Travelturisme. Guide for professional tourism in the Region of Valencia with tourism news
• subway metropolitan area
• Valencia information in English
• Valencia search engine
• Comprehensive Guide to Valencia - the capital of Community
• Datos y cifras de los municipios de la provincia de Alicante. Unidad de Documentación de la Diputación de Alicante (Spanish)
• Web de la Diputación Provincial de Alicante (Spanish)
• Comparsa Saudites d'Ontinyent (English) (Valencian) (Spanish)

References

Coordinates: 39°30′N 0°45′W / 39.5, -0.75

A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system.

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