Valencia, the third most populated of Spain's regional capitals, is a modern city, open to the sea; the streets and monuments of its large historical centre tell a remarkable story with the fifteenth century playing a particularly important role. All artistic styles are represented in here, but it is the image of the new city that has attracted travellers in recent years. The City of Arts and Sciences, a leisure and cultural complex that has become a modern icon, bears witness to the city's constant urban renewal and commitment to the future. Valencia is now fully-focused on the Mediterranean. Since the America's Cup in 2007, the area around the commercial port, the old goods warehouses and the beaches and promenades along the sea have been completely renovated.

Location
On the banks of the River Turia, on shores of the Mediterranean, Valencia is equidistant from Madrid (352 km) and Barcelona (349 km) and at a similar distance by sea from the Balearic Islands. For many residents of central Spain, the city of Valencia is the nearest sea port. It is also an important stage on the Mediterranean coastal route from the Pyrenees to the south. Connections to other large cities in the province are good, with Castellon at 65 kilometres and Alicante at 166 kilometres.

Population
810,064 (old town)

Tourist information
There are several tourist offices scattered around the city, in addition to the main office located in the Plaza de la Reina. There are offices at the Plaza del Ayuntamiento (tel. +34 618 18 35 00), the arrivals terminal of Manises airport (tel. +34 961 53 02 29), the railway station Estacion del Norte (Jativa, 24, tel. +34 963 52 85 73) and the Teatro Principal (Poeta Querol, s/n. Tel. +34 963 51 49 07. www.valenciaterraimar.org), en la calle Paz, 48 (Tel. +34 963 98 64 22. www.comunitatvalenciana.com. There are also two seasonal offices: one located at the beach (Pº de Neptuno, 2, open from June to mid October) and the other at the port (Estacion de Acciona. Muelle de Poniente, s/n, tel. +34 963 67 46 06, open only during cruise stops). The offices offer different services for visitors, including Tourist Card sales, hotel and restaurant reservations, museum entry tickets, excursions, city trails, bike hire, dramatised nocturnal visits...