Valencian Community

The Valencian Community is an autonomous community of Spain. It is the 4th most populous region in Spain, with more than 5 million people. The capital city, Valencia, is the third-largest city in the country and lies along the beautiful Mediterranean coast.

The Valencian Community is found on the east side of the Iberian Peninsula. It shares borders with Catalonia to the north, Aragon and Castilla–La Mancha to the west, and Murcia to the south. To the east lie the Balearic Islands. The area is divided into three provinces: Castellón, Valencia, and Alicante.

The people of Valencia consider themselves a special group with a long history. Their roots go back to the year 1238 when James the Conqueror took control of the area. Over time, Valencia grew very important and became a rich and busy place. Today, both Spanish and Valencian are the official languages spoken there. As of 2024, about 10.9% of all people in Spain live in the Valencian Community.

Etymology

See also: Valencia § Name

The city of Valencia, the capital of the Valencian Community, was founded by the Romans and named Valentia, meaning "strength" or "valour". During the time of Muslim rule, the name changed to بلنسية (Balansiya). Today, the city is called Valencia in Spanish and València in Valencian.

There is some discussion about the name of the region. The official name is "Valencian Community," which is used in government, tourism, and media. Some people prefer "Valencian Country," which highlights the unique identity of the Valencian people. Both names are used, and most people in the area accept the official name today.

History

The Valencian Community has a long and interesting history. Long ago, groups like the Iberians lived in the area. Later, Greeks set up trading towns along the coast. Romans came and built the city of Valentia, which became very important.

Over time, different groups ruled the land, including the Visigoths and Arabs. In the 13th century, the Kingdom of Valencia was created. This was a time of great culture and trade for the region. Sadly, later events brought challenges, including loss of population and changes in government. Today, Valencia has its own government, known as autonomy, which was established in the late 20th century. Recently, in 2024, the central part of the community faced serious flooding.

Geography

The inland part of the Valencian Community is hilly, with some tall mountains in the Valencia and Castellón areas. The highest peak is usually thought to be Penyagolosa, but the real highest point is Calderón, located in a small part of Valencia surrounded by Aragon and Castilla–La Mancha. Another well-known mountain is Aitana in the south.

The coastal area is a flat, fertile plain with some small hills near Cap de la Nau and Peñíscola. This area has important wetlands and marshes, like L'Albufera near Valencia and El Fondo in Elche. These wetlands are important for many birds. There are also coastal dunes near Saler and Guardamar, which were planted with trees long ago to protect them.

In addition to the mainland, the Valencian Community includes small islands like the Columbretes Islands and the islet of Tabarca.

Climate

Valencia enjoys a pleasant climate with mild winters and hot summers, thanks to the nearby Mediterranean Sea. However, the climate changes across different areas:

• The coastal areas and lower inland regions have a typical Mediterranean climate. Winters are mild, summers are long and hot, and rain falls mostly in spring and autumn.
• Inland and higher areas have cooler winters, sometimes with snow, and more even rainfall throughout the year.
• Some southern coastal areas have a hotter, drier climate with very little rain.

Hydrography

The Valencian Community has two major rivers: the Segura, which flows through Alicante, and the Júcar (or Xúquer), which flows through Valencia. Both rivers are important for farming and cities. Other rivers in the area are usually short and often dry in summer.

Demographics

Main article: Valencian people

The Valencian Community is the fourth most populated area in Spain, with over 5 million people. It makes up about 11% of Spain's total population. About half of the people are male, and the other half are female.

Most people live near the coast, where it is busier. Some smaller towns, especially in one part of the region, have very few people living there. The population has grown a lot since the 1960s. Many people living there were born in other countries.

Government

Institutions of government: La Generalitat

After Spain returned to democracy in the late 1970s, regions like the Valencian Community were allowed to form their own governments. In 1982, Valencia became an autonomous community, meaning it could make its own rules and laws.

The government of Valencia, called La Generalitat, has three main parts:

• The Corts Valencianes, which is the local parliament with representatives chosen by the people.
• The President of the Generalitat Valenciana, who leads the government and needs support from the parliament.
• The Council of the Generalitat Valenciana, which helps the President run the government.

The parliament has also created special groups to help with things like culture, language, and checking government spending.

Administrative divisions

Before 1833, Valencia was split into four parts. Since then, it has been divided into three provinces: Alicante, Castellón, and Valencia. Each province has its own main city. The whole community is also split into smaller areas called comarques and many towns and cities called municipalities.

Economy

Valencia has a long, narrow shape that runs mainly north to south. Its terrain has made travel and farming challenging, but the coastal plain has very fertile soil. The area has few natural resources, with marble being the main mineral found in Alicante province.

Agriculture, especially growing citrus fruits for export, helped Valencia grow in the late 1800s. While farming continues to grow, other industries became more important from the 1960s onward. Today, tourism is a major industry, with many people visiting the coast during the summer.

Valencia contributes to Spain's economy through exports like agricultural products, ceramic tiles, marble, and cars. The city of Valencia has one of Europe's busiest ports because of these exports. In recent years, unemployment has been a challenge, with rates higher than the national average.

Language

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

Spanish is the official language across all of Spain, including the Valencian Community. Along with Spanish, Valencian is also an official language there. The Valencian people consider Valencian their native language, and it is protected by laws and taught in schools.

Valencian is a special language used mainly in the Valencian Community. It is very similar to Catalan, another language spoken in nearby areas. During a difficult time in history from 1939 to 1975, the use of Valencian was limited, but it became official again in 1982. Today, most people in the Valencian Community understand Valencian, and many speak it, though not everyone can write it.

Valencian Sign Language is also used by many people in the community who are deaf, and it is protected by the same laws.

Not all areas of the Valencian Community traditionally speak Valencian. About 20% of the population, around 1 million people, live in areas where Spanish has always been the main language. These areas are mostly inland or in the south. Coastal areas, however, have historically spoken Valencian. In big cities like Valencia and Alicante, Spanish is now more commonly used, even though Valencian was the original language there. Many new residents from other places also speak Spanish.

Most people in the Valencian Community can understand Valencian, thanks to it being used in government offices and schools. However, how much people use Valencian in their daily lives has been decreasing. Only about a third of the population uses it at home. In some regions, like Alcoy–Gandia and Júcar–Turia, over half the people still use Valencian at home. In other areas, such as Alicante and around Valencia city, only about 15% use it at home.

Main article: Valencian language controversy

Although some people debate it, experts say that Valencian and Catalan are really the same language with small differences. They are very easy for each other to understand, almost like different versions of the same language. Both use the same writing rules and share many books and studies. Still, many people in the Valencian Community prefer to call their language Valencian instead of Catalan.

Transport

Air

The Valencian Community has three international airports: Alicante Airport, Valencia Airport, and Castellón–Costa Azahar Airport. Alicante Airport, in the south, is the busiest and mostly used by tourists. Valencia Airport, located in the capital, handles more business travel. The third airport, Castellón–Costa Azahar Airport, opened in 2011 but had its first commercial flight in 2015. It has been called a white elephant because it cost a lot to build and maintain and isn't used as much as expected.

A new terminal at Alicante Airport opened in March 2011, which doubled the airport's capacity to 20 million passengers each year. Valencia Airport is also being expanded to handle more travelers.

Train

The Valencian Community has many train services connecting its main cities to the rest of Spain. Trains like the Euromed go to Catalonia, and AVE trains go to Madrid and other parts of Spain. These trains are run by Renfe, the national rail company.

In December 2010, a high-speed train line between Madrid and Valencia opened. More high-speed lines are planned, such as connecting Valencia to Bilbao through Zaragoza or creating a coast-to-coast high-speed rail corridor.

The region also plans to build a regional high-speed rail along the coast to link major cities like Valencia, Gandia, Dénia, Benidorm, Villajoyosa, Alicante, and Torrevieja.

Commuter rail and metro

Cercanías (Rodalia in Valencian) is the commuter rail service for the main cities and their surrounding areas, operated by Cercanías Renfe.

The Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana (FGV) runs a tram-train line between Alicante, Benidorm, and Dénia. FGV also operates trams and the metro systems in Valencia (Valencia Metro) and Alicante (Alicante Tram). A new guided-trolleybus system opened in 2008 in Castellón de la Plana. Both the Valencia metro and Alicante tram are being extended, with new lines planned for areas like the University of Alicante and Sant Vicent del Raspeig.

Ports

Main article: List of seaports of the Valencian Community

The Valencian Community has several ports for ferry travel and cargo. In Valencia and Alicante, cruise ships visit regularly. The ports of general interest, such as Alicante, Castellón, Valencia, Sagunt, and Gandia, are managed by a public body under the Ministry of Development. There are also ports managed by the Valencian Government, including Altea, Benicarló, Benidorm, and many others along the coast. The Entity of the Transport and Ports Network of the Valencian Community is responsible for developing the region's port network.

Public services

Education

Main article: Education in Spain

In the Valencian Community, education is free and required for children from six to sixteen years old. The system includes different stages:

• From three to six years: Preparatory School (Infantil or Preescolar)
• From six to twelve years: Primary School (Primaria)
• From twelve to sixteen years: Compulsory Secondary School (Secundaria)
• From sixteen to eighteen years: Post-Secondary School (Bachillerato)

Children aged three to five can choose to attend pre-school, which is free but not required. After finishing secondary school, students can take exams to enter university or vocational studies. The Valencian Community has many respected universities, including the University of Valencia, founded in 1499. Today, the Polytechnic University of Valencia is known for its technology programs and connections with top universities around the world.

Media

Main articles: Ràdio Televisió Valenciana and Valencian Media Corporation

The Valencian Community had a public broadcaster called Ràdio Televisió Valenciana (RTVV) until it closed in 2013. Before closing, RTVV faced financial problems and controversies. In 2016, a new public media company was created called the Valencian Media Corporation. In 2018, it launched a new TV channel named À Punt, providing media in the Valencian language. Today, many places in Spain have public broadcasters, but the Valencian Community was the only one without one for a time, even though it is the fourth most populated area in Spain.

Culture

Gastronomy

Main article: Valencian cuisine

Valencian food is very rich and has many tasty dishes. One of the most famous dishes is paella, which is made with rice and many different ingredients. Other rice dishes, like arròs a banda, are also popular.

You can also find pasta dishes such as fideuà, which uses noodles, fish, and shellfish. The warm climate of the area helps grow lots of vegetables and fruits, especially oranges.

A popular drink is Horchata, made from a special kind of seed, and it is often enjoyed with fartons, sweet pastries. Other drinks include a coffee liqueur from Alcoy, mistela from certain areas, and agua de Valencia, a fun cocktail made with orange juice, sparkling wine, vodka, and gin.

Many sweet treats in Valencia come from old traditions, like turrón, a soft candy made in Xixona and enjoyed during Christmas.

Valencian symbols

Valencia has special symbols that represent its culture. The official anthem is called the Hymn of the Regional Exhibition of 1909, and it includes an old song from the city of Valencia. The emblem shows designs from old kings, and the official flag is called the Royal Senyera.

Valencians also love music and dance, especially the Muixeranga, where people build tall human towers. This tradition is kept alive during a festival in Algemesí and has been named an important part of world culture by UNESCO. Traditional music often uses a small drum called tabalet and a flute called dolçaina. People also wear special clothes, like espardenyes (sandals) and beautiful fallera dresses during celebrations.

Celebrations

• Falles of Valencia – 15–19 March
• Fogueres de Sant Joan of Alicante – 19–24 June
• Misteri of Elche – 14 and 15 August
• Muixeranga: Algemesí – 7 and 8 September
• Moros i Cristians: Alcoy – 22–24 April
• Tomatina of Buñol – last Wednesday in August
• Magdalena of Castellón – third Saturday of Lent

Valencian Community Day

Main article: Dia de la Comunitat Valenciana

• 9 October: (9 d'Octubre or 9 de Octubre) Official day of the Valencian Community and public holiday in the entire autonomous community. This day remembers when James I entered the city of Valencia in 1238.

Fallas

• Fallas (also known as Las Fallas) is a traditional festival celebrated in Valencia, Spain, held annually from March 15 to March 19 in honor of Saint Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters. The festival is known for its elaborate sculptures, vibrant street parties, music, and fireworks.

Sports

The Valencian Community has many exciting sports. One traditional sport is Valencian pilota, which has been played since the 1500s. People play it on streets or special courts, and it can be played by teams or individuals. Spectators can sit very close to the action during games.

Association football is very popular, with many teams in towns and villages. Four teams play in the top Spanish league, La Liga: Valencia CF, Villarreal CF, Levante UD, and Elche CF.

There is also professional basketball with Valencia Basket in the top league. Motorcycle races are popular too, with the Circuit of Valencia hosting big races. Every February, there is a famous cycling race called the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana. Other traditional games include pigeon sport and Petanca.

Image gallery

• Dénia
• Alcoy
• Alicante
• Altea
• Alzira
• Ares del Maestrat
• Finestrat
• Rock of Ifac in Calp
• Altamira Palace, Elche
• Elche palm grove
• Elda
• Gandia
• La Vall d'Uixó
• Onda
• Ontinyent
• Paterna
• Peñíscola
• Sant Mateu
• Sagunt
• Sueca
• Torrent
• Torrevieja
• Orihuela, Vega Baja del Segura comarca
• Villena
• Xàtiva
• Muixeranga human tower at La Mare de Déu de la Salut Festival of Algemesí
• Valencian espardenya
• Valencian women with traditional dress and hair
• A historical Valencian men costume the Xaraguell
• Tabaleter with typical Valencian drums