Valencia, Venezuela

Valencia is the capital city of Carabobo State and the third-largest city in Venezuela. It is an important economic center, home to many of the country's top industries and manufacturing companies.

The city is part of the Valencia-Maracay metropolitan region, which has a population of about 4.5 million people. This makes it the second-largest metropolitan area in Venezuela, just smaller than the region around Caracas. Caracas is located about 172 kilometers (107 miles) east of Valencia.

History

The area around Valencia was home to people as early as 4,000 years ago. These early residents were hunters and gatherers who may have also begun simple farming. By around the year 200 AD, a settlement grew near Lake Valencia.

Valencia was officially founded by a Spanish captain named Alonso Díaz Moreno on March 25, 1555, eight years before Caracas. It was an important early Spanish town in Venezuela. Over time, the city grew and played a role in Venezuela’s fight for independence in 1821. In the 20th century, the city expanded quickly because of oil wealth and industry, attracting many new residents from Europe and other parts of Latin America.

Geography

Valencia is found in a central valley, surrounded by mountains called the Coastal Range. On the eastern side of the city lies Lake Valencia, which is the second-largest lake in Venezuela. To the west and northeast, there are more mountains, and to the south, there are grassy plains called the Llanos.

The city sits at an elevation of 520 metres (1,710 feet) above the ground.

Climate

Valencia has a tropical savanna climate. The city has a wet season from May to November and a dry season from December to April. Because of its location near the sea, Valencia stays quite warm, with an average temperature of 26 °C (79 °F). Temperatures can reach up to 32.6 °C (90.7 °F) and drop down to 18.5 °C (65.3 °F). Winds help cool the city in the afternoons.

Environment

The Cabriales river faces pollution issues. The main waste disposal area for Greater Valencia and Carabobo is located southwest of the city, where waste is burned without special equipment.

Government

The city of Valencia is made up of five areas called municipalities: Valencia, Libertador, Los Guayos, Naguanagua, and San Diego.

In Venezuela, each municipality has four main jobs to do. The mayor handles the executive work, representing the area. The legislative job is done by the Municipal Council, made up of seven councillors for each area, who help make new rules. The comptroller’s office keeps an eye on the money. Lastly, the Local Public Planning Council plans development projects for the area.

Media

The main newspapers in the Valencia area are El Carabobeño and Notitarde. These newspapers have circulations ranging from 75,000 to 92,000 readers.

Valencia also has several TV stations, including Ecovisión (Channel 36 UHF) and DAT TV (Channel 30 UHF). Additionally, the private digital newspaper for Carabobo State is Agencia Carabobeña de Noticias, often called ACN.

Education

Valencia is an important place for learning in Venezuela. The University of Carabobo is one of the biggest public universities and has its main offices in the Valencia Municipality. Many of its buildings are in Naguanagua.

Other schools for higher learning include the Universidad Tecnológica del Centro (UNITEC), Universidad Arturo Michelena (UAM), Universidad José Antonio Páez (UJAP), Universidad Alejandro de Humboldt (UAH), and more.

Sites of interest

Art centers

• Valencia Atheneum: This cultural center hosts concerts and art exhibitions.
• Municipal Theater of Valencia: The main theater in Carabobo, finished in 1895 with French-style architecture.
• Theater Dr. Alfredo Celis Perez Archived): The main amphitheater of the University of Carabobo. A larger events facility called Aula Magna is being built.

Museums

• Páez Mansion: Once owned by José Antonio Páez, a leader in Venezuela's independence wars, this mansion is now a small museum with a historical library. It features paintings of independence scenes.
• Celis Mansion: A colonial house built in 1765, home to the Museum of Art and History and the Lisandro Alvarado Foundation.
• Museum of History and Anthropology: This museum holds important collections from Venezuela's pre-Columbian and colonial past.
• Iturriza Palace or Quinta Isabela: Home to the Museum of the city.
• Museum of Culture: Features different temporary art exhibitions.

Parks and points of interest

• The Plaza Bolívar is famous for its tall column with a statue of Simón Bolívar. The square dates back to colonial times and was renamed after Bolívar in the 1800s.
• Negra Hipólita Park and Fernando Peñalver Park: Large parks with gardens, concert halls, and cultural centers. They also have areas where children can learn about traffic rules and celebrate parties. The parks surround the Cabriales River in the northern part of the city.
• Valencia Metropolitan Park (Parque Metropolitano): A central city park with horses and large bird cages featuring many parrots. It also surrounds the Cabriales River.
• Humboldt Park (Parque Humboldt): Located in the southern part of the city, this park is home to the Museum of Culture and also surrounds the Cabriales River.
• Recreational Southern Park (Parque Recreacional Sur): In the southern part of the city, this park is where the Bull Ring is located and also hosts many concerts and festivals.
• Valencia Aquarium (Acuario de Valencia): Home to trained Amazon river dolphins and many other species. It also has a serpentarium, a terrarium, a small zoo with animals from Venezuela, and play areas for children.
• Plaza Monumental de Valencia: The second largest bullring in the world, located in Valencia's Recreational Southern Park.
• Cerro Casupo Municipal Park: A natural park in the mountains, covering 693 hectares, northwest of the city.

Libraries

The main public library in Valencia is the Manuel Feo La Cruz Public Library, located in the city center and open daily. Other public libraries include the Public Library of the Athenaeum of Valencia and the Morita Carillo Public Library in the San Blas area.

Transportation

Valencia is well connected to the rest of the country by highways and roads.

The city has a modern train system, Metro de Valencia, which began in 2007 with 9 stations. More stations and lines are being planned. Buses are the main way people travel, with two types: the traditional system and the VALBUS. The traditional system includes large buses, medium buses, and small vans.

The city's airport, Arturo Michelena International Airport, is the third busiest in the country. It is used by major Venezuelan airlines, Copa Airlines from Panama, and Sky High Aviation Services from the Dominican Republic.

Sports

Valencia is where the Venezuelan baseball team called the Navegantes del Magallanes plays. The city also has other professional teams, such as Trotamundos de Carabobo for basketball, Carabobo FC for soccer, and Industriales de Valencia for volleyball.

Notable people

Valencia, Venezuela, has been home to many talented people. Some are famous for winning beauty pageants, like Jacqueline Aguilera, Miss World 1995, and Gabriela Isler, Miss Venezuela 2012 and Miss Universe 2013. Others have made their mark in music, art, politics, and sports.

The city also boasts athletes who have played in Major League Baseball, such as Henderson Álvarez and Félix Hernández, as well as successful footballers like Josef Martínez. There are also entertainers, writers, and other notable figures who have contributed to Venezuela's culture and society.

Twinning

Valencia is twinned with many cities around the world. Some of these cities include:

• Naples, Italy
• Valencia, Spain
• Madrid, Spain
• Sibiu, Romania
• Plovdiv, Bulgaria
• Saky, Ukraine
• Salihorsk, Belarus
• Tivat, Montenegro
• Veľký Krtíš, Slovakia
• Yevpatoria, Ukraine
• Ashdod, Israel
• Emden, Germany
• Jermuk, Armenia
• Oulu, Finland
• Portland, United States
• Sokhumi, Georgia
• Vardø, Norway
• Cagliari, Italy
• Catania, Italy
• Forlì, Italy
• Brest, Belarus
• Córdoba, Argentina
• Maracay, Venezuela
• Salt Lake City, United States
• Tatabánya, Hungary
• Wuhan, China
• Xining, China
• Yambol, Bulgaria
• Bessastaðahreppur - Iceland
• Álftanes – Iceland