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thumb|right|Escut de Valéncia
'''Valéncia''' (en estat espanhòu.

Lo gentilici es '''valencian -a'''.

==Localizacion, geografia e clima==
La vila de Valéncia se tròba sus la còsta mediterranèa de la peninsula Iberica, subre una planura en riba dau riu de Túria, enrodada de montanhetas que passan rarament lei 100&nbsp;m d'altitud. La soleta sèrra importanta a de bòn pròcha de la vila es la Sèrra Calderona, a un trentenat de quilomètres au nòrd-oèst de la vila. La ciutat anciana èra en riba dau riu, a mai d'un quilòmetre de la mar, ont i aviá a passat temps lo Grau de Valéncia, qu'ara es un districte de mai de la vila conegut coma ''Poblats Marítims''. Au sud de Valéncia se tròba lo paratge de l'Albufera de Valéncia, un lac d'aiga doça au costat de la mar, que se noirís d'aqüifèrs nombrós e ont a l'ora d'ara i a un pargue nacionau.

Valéncia possedís un mediterranèu. Se caracteriza per sa doçor, amb una estius son cauds e leis ivèrns fòrça moderats. Durant lei mes ivernaus la temperatura baissa gaire sota 10&nbsp;ºC. Lei precipitacions son discretas e presentan lo minimum estivau mediterranèu classic, amb dos maximums, un a la tardor e un autre a l'acabament de l'ivèrn e au començament de la prima.

thumb|center|Climograma de Valéncia

==Istòria==
thumb|left|Torre de la catedrala de [[Valéncia, nomenada popularament lo Micalet]]
La Ciutat de Valéncia foguèt fondada en roman: aqueu d'aquí repartiguèt de tèrras ai soudats licenciats au ras de la vila nòva. En aquela epòca, e mai batèron moneda pròpria dins la vila, qu'aquò èra una mòstra de l'importància que teniá.

En 75 avC foguèt destrucha dins la guèrra entre Pompèu e Sertòri, e foguèt abandonada durant un cinquantenat d'ans.

Au sègle I, la Ciutat de Valéncia ja aviá recuperat sa populacion e comencèron de construire de grandeis òbras d'infraestructura. Au sègle III comencèt una època novèla de decadéncia, coma dins la rèsta de l'Empèri Roman.

Amb la casuda, la vila foguèt ocupada per lei Visigòts e faguèt partida de divèrs reiaumes peninsulars.
thumb|left|Lei [[taifas en 1031]]
En castelhan. Gaire de temps après sa mòrt, leis almoada.

L'arribada dins la Ciutat de Valéncia dau rei d'Aragon Jaume I, lo 9 d'octòbre de 1238, metèt fin a cinc sègles de cultura musulmana, mai aquela laissèt una emprenta solida dins la vila e dins lo territòri valencian. Après son incorporacion a la Corona d'Aragon, la vila se desvolopèt considerablament. Lo sègle XV foguèt per la ciutat una epòca de desvolopament economic e civic amb la construccion d'espacis publics nòus, coma lei Torres de Serrans (1392), la Llotja de la Seda (1482) o lo Micalet. Valéncia arribèt a èsser una dei vilas pus importantas de la Mediterranèa. La primiera estampariá de la peninsula Iberica se construguèt a Valéncia. La primiera Bíblia estampada en una lenga romanica, lo valencian, s'imprimiguèt a Valéncia vèrs 1478, e es atribuida a Bonifaci Ferrer. En 1502 se fondèt l'Universitat de Valéncia, a partir de l'Estudi General. Lei banquiers valencians prestèron d'argent a la Reina Isabèu de Castelha per lo viatge de Cristòu Colomb en 1492 vèrs America.

Ça que la, a causa dei tensions venent de l'union dinastica de la corona d'Aragon amb Castelha, l'esplendor de Valéncia comencèt de mermar vèrs lo sègle XVI amb lo despoblament causat per la primiera expulsion dei moriscs (qu'èran la majoritat de la populacion) per lei Reis Catolics. Lei tensions amb lei reis castelhans cresquèron, en arribant ai ponchs mai sensibles amb la Revòuta dei Germanies (1519–1522), la segonda expulsion dei moriscs de 1609 que reduguèt significativament la populacion e, fin finala, amb la Guèrra de Succession Espanhòla de 1702 a 1709 que signifiquèt la fin de l'independéncia politica e juridica dau Renhe de Valéncia, en derogar Felip V d'Espanha lei Fòrs de Valéncia.

La decadéncia de la vila durèt fins au mitan dau sègle XIX, quand una borgesiá febla impulsèt leugierament lo desvolopament de la vila, e tanben una renaissença leugiera dei tradicions e de la lenga valenciana. Un dei politics dau començament dau sègle XX, un d'aquelei que faguèron enracinar lo republicanisme dins la ciutat, foguèt Vicent Blasco i Ibáñez, qu'universalament es pus conegut coma un dei romanciers valencians pus importants, encara qu'en lenga espanhòla.

Saique degut a aquela tradicion republicana, Valéncia s'alinhèt immediatament amb lo partit republican durant la Franco, de parlar o d'escriure lo valencian foguèt enebit, e mai arribèron a picar lei gents se parlavan dins lei luòcs publics, o arribèron a de penas criminalas.

En 1957, franquistas prepausèron de i far una autoestrada, una opcion que finalament l'escartèron.

Amb l'arribada de la democracia dins l'estat espanhòu, Valéncia se constituiguèt coma la capitala de la Comunitat Valenciana establida en 1982 amb una cèrta autonomia e lo sèti de la Generalitat Valenciana e de totei leis organs de govèrn de la Comunitat. Durant lei primiers 25 ans de democracia, Valéncia a cambiat significativament, en se destacant coma òbras emblematicas lo jardin de Túria (enjardinament dau vièlh liech de Túria) e la nòva Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències, de Santiago Calatrava.

== Populacion ==
200px|thumb|La vila de Valéncia
La vila de Valéncia còmpta en 2006 un totau de  abitants, segon la Comuna, e es lo centre d'un airau metropolitan estendut qu'aconseguís  abitants. Representa 18% de la populacion de la Comunitat Valenciana.

Lòng dau sègle XX la ciutat a multiplicat per tres e mieg sa populacion iniciala, en essent lei periòdes de creissença demografica maxima leis ans 1930-1940 e lo decenni deis ans 1960. Leis ans 1990 son estats un periòde d'estabilitat demografica per efiech de la casuda dei movements migratòris, que foguèron lo factor fondamentau de creissença deis ans anteriors, e per la reduccion de la natalitat. Dempuei lei darriers ans lei fòrts corrents migratòris exteriors son a provocar tornarmai una dinamica demografica positiva.

L'aumentacion progressiva de l'esperança de vida e la reduccion de la feconditat se son rebatudas dins una piramida d'edats que s'estrenh a la basa e s'alarga dins la part superiora, amb un pes creissent dei generacions d'edat avançada. Maugrat aquò, la populacion de la vila contunha d'èsser relativament jove, amb 25% de seis efectius dins la generacion de 15 a 29 ans e 29% dins aquela de 30 a 49 ans.

== Activitats economicas ==
La vila de Valéncia es, fondamentalament, una aira de servicis que son influéncia va delà lei limits dei raras municipalas. Actualament la populacion ocupada dins lo sector dei servicis es 73,2% dau totau, amb un grand pes deis activitats de demanda finala, dau comèrci de detalh e de gròs, dei servicis especializats ais entrepresas e deis activitats professionalas.

Pasmens la ciutat manten una basa industriala importanta, amb un percentatge de populacion activa de 14,2%, formada per d'entrepresas pichonas e mejanas qu'entre elei se destacan lei sectors dau papier e deis arts graficas, de la fusta e dau mòble, dei produchs metallics e de la confeccion.

L'economia de la vila a tengut durant lei darriers ans una dinamica positiva que se vei rebatuda dins lei chifras dau chaumatge registrat, de la matriculacion de veïculs o dei licéncias de construccion. Son dinamisme coma centre economic e coma luòc de referéncia per d'activitats economicas multiplas se rebat tanben dins la poissança deis institucions clau per lo desvolopament economic coma la Fiera de Valéncia, lo Pòrt Autonòm, la Borsa, lo Palais dei Congrès o lei sieuneis universitats.

{{Spanish city |
official_name=València<br /><small>Valencia</small>|
native_name = València|
spanish_name = Valencia |
image_flag = Flag of the Land of Valencia (2x3 ratio).svg|
image_flag_size = 150 px|
image_coat_of_arms = Escudo_de_Valencia_2.svg‎|
image_coat_of_arms_size = 100px|
image_city_map = Valencia, Spain - location.png|
image_city_map_size = 150px|
image_city_map_caption = |
lat_long = |
time_zone = CET (GMT +1)|
time_zone_summer = CEST (GMT +2)|
image_skyline = |
image_skyline_size = |
founded = 137 BC |
native_language = Valencian|
community = Valencia |
community_link = Valencia (autonomous community)|
province = Valencia|
province_link = Valencia (province)|
comarca = |
comarca_link = |
divisions = 16|
neighborhoods = 70|
mayor = Rita Barberá Nolla|
political_party = PP|
political_party_link = People's Party (Spain)|
area = 134.65|
altitude = 15|
population = 810,064[http://www.ine.es]|
date-population = 2007|
population-ranking = 3rd|
density = 5,916|
date-density = 2006|
website = http://www.valencia.es/|
postal_code = 46000-46080|
area_code = |
}}

'''Valencia''' (autonomous community of Valencia and its province. It is the third largest city in Spain. It forms part of an industrial area on the Costa del Azahar.

The estimated population of the city of Valencia proper was 810,064[http://www.ine.es] as of 2007 official statistics. Population of the metropolitan area (urban area plus satellite towns) was 1,738,690 as of 2007. As of 2007, the mayor of Valencia is Rita Barberá Nolla.

Valencia has a very changeable Mediterranean climate, with warm dry summers, mild humid winters and stormy autumn and springs.<ref>[http://www.oneplanettravel.com/cms/cms/opt/www/pri/contentNavigation/destination.jsp?resource=/opt/contents/place/z_eu/c_es/valencia/destination]Valencian climate, mild.</ref>

== Name ==
The original Latin name of the city was '''' (/wa'lentia/), meaning "Strength", "Vigor", the city being named after Emperor Arabic.

By regular sound changes this has become ''Valencia'' (/ba'lenθja/) in Castilian Spanish and ''València'' (/va'ɫɛnsia/) in Valencian. One possible pronunciation in Valencian /va'lensia/.

== History ==

thumb|230 ppx|Cathedral Tower : the minaret El Micalet
The city of Valencia, originally named ''Valentia'', is in the region known in ancient days as ''Edetania''. The Roman historian Romans in 137 BC on the site of a former Iberian town, by the river Turia.

The city has been occupied by the Aragonese.

The Moors occupied the territory peacefully in 709 A.D. When Islamic culture settled in, Valencia - then Balansiya - prospered thanks to a booming trade in paper, silk, leather, ceramics, glass and silver-work. The architectural legacy from this period is abundant in Valencia and can still be appreciated today in the remains of the old walls, the Baños del Almirante bath house, Portal de Valldigna street and even the Cathedral and the tower, El Micalet, which was the minaret of the old mosque.

After the death of Almanzor and the unrest that followed 'the Cid' conquered Valencia for a short period on Almoravid and the Crown of Aragon.

Catholic sources tell that Saint Vincent Ferrer preached so successfully (sometime between 1390 and 1411), converting thousands of Jews, that he was permitted to employ the synagogue for his newly-founded hospital of San Salvador.

In the 15th and 16th centuries, Valencia was one of the major cities in the Mediterranean. The writer Joanot Martorell, author of ''Tirant lo Blanch'', and the poet Ausias March are famous Valencians of that era.

The first printing press in the Iberian Peninsula was located in Valencia. The first printed Bible in a Romance language, Valencian, was printed in Valencia circa 1478, attributed to Bonifaci Ferrer. See Spread of the printing press.

Valencian bankers loaned funds to Queen Isabella for Columbus' trip in 1492.
thumb|A narrow street of the Old Medieval City.

''Revolta de les Germanies'' ("brotherhoods") 1519–1522.

Expulsion of ''Moriscos'' in 1609.

During the War of the Spanish Succession, Valencia sided with Charles of Austria. 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, capturing the nearby fortress at Sagunto, and bluffing the Spanish Bourbon army into withdrawal.

The English held the city for 16 months and defeated several attempts to expel them. English soldiers advanced as far as Requena on the road to Madrid.

After the victory of the Bourbons at the Battle of Almansa (25 April 1707), the English army evacuated Valencia and the city subsequently lost its privileges or ''furs''.

During the Peninsular War Valencia was besieged by the French under Marshal Suchet from Christmas day 1811, until it fell on January 8 the next year.

The last victim of the Spanish inquisition, a local schoolteacher called Cayetano Ripoll, was executed in Valencia in July 1826 accused being a deist and freemason.

During the Valencian was prohibited (in a significant reversal it is now compulsory for every child studying in Valencia).

=== Modern history ===
In 1957 the city suffered a severe flood by the Turia River, with  in some streets. One consequence of this was that a decision was made to drain and reroute the river and it now passes around the Western and southern suburbs of the city. A plan to turn the drained area into a motorway was dropped in favour of a picturesque  park which bisects the city.

Valencia was granted Autonomous Statutes in 1982.

Valencia was selected in 2003 to host the historic America's Cup matches took place in summer 2007. Following a successful tournament, the city will host the event again in 2009. 

On subway accident in which over 40 people died. The investigation is still ongoing.

On 9 July 2006, during Mass at Valencia's Cathedral, Our Lady of the Forsaken Basilica, Pope Benedict XVI used, at the World Day of Families, the ''Santo Caliz'', a 1st-century Middle-Eastern artifact believed by many to be the Holy Grail.  It was supposedly brought to that church by Emperor Valerian in the 3rd century, after having been brought from Jerusalem by St. Peter to Rome.  The ''Santo Caliz'' ("Holy Chalice") is a simple, small stone cup.  Its base was added in medieval times and consists of fine gold, alabaster, and gem stones<ref>[http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0603899.htm About the Santo Caliz (Holy Chalice)]</ref>.

On 3 July 2007, ''Alinghi'' defeats ''Team New Zealand'', and successfully defends the America's Cup. 22 days after, on 25 July 2007, the leaders of the Alinghi syndicate, holder of the America's Cup, officially announced Valencia would be the host city for the 33rd America's Cup, to be carried out on June 2009.<ref>[http://www.americascup.com/en/33rd/news_5.php Announcement of the election as host city for 33rd America's Cup]</ref>

== Architecture ==

The ancient winding streets of the Barrio del Carmen contain buildings dating to Roman and Arabic times. The Cathedral, built between the 13th and 15th century, is primarily of Gothic style but contains elements of Baroque and Romanesque architecture. Beside the Cathedral is the Gothic Basilica of the Virgin (Basílica De La Virgen De Los Desamparados). The 15th century ''Serrano'' and ''Quart'' towers are part of what was once the wall surrounding the city.

modernist Central Market (''Mercado Central'') is one of the largest in Europe. The main railway station ''Estación Del Norte'' is built in art deco style.

World-renowned (and city-born) architect Santiago Calatrava produced the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences (''Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències''), which contains an opera house/performing arts centre, a science museum, an IMAX cinema/planetarium, an oceanographic park and other structures such as a long covered walkway and restaurants. Calatrava is also responsible for the bridge named after him in the center of the city. The Music Palace (''Palau De La Música'') is another good example of modern architecture in Valencia.

left|thumb|200px|The Cathedral of Valencia
The cathedral was called in the early days of the Reconquista Iglesia Mayor, then Seo (from Latin ''sedes'', i.e. (archiepiscopal) see), and in virtue of the papal concession of 16 October, 1866, it is called the Basilica metropolitana. It is situated in the centre of the ancient Roman city where some believe the temple of Diana stood. In Gothic times, it seems to have been dedicated to the most Holy Saviour; the Cid dedicated it to the Blessed Virgin; King Jaime the Conqueror did likewise, leaving in the main chapel the image of the Blessed Virgin which he carried with him and which is believed to be the one which is now preserved in the sacristy. The Moorish mosque, which had been converted into a Christian church by the conqueror, appeared unworthy of the title of the cathedral of Valencia, and in 1262 Bishop Andrés de Albalat laid the cornerstone of the new Gothic building, with three naves; these reach only to the choir of the present building. Bishop Vidal de Blanes built the magnificent chapter hall, and Jaime de Aragón added the tower, called "Miguelete" because it was blessed on St. Michael's day in 1418, which is about  high and finished at the top with a belfry.

In the fifteenth century the dome was added and the naves extended back of the choir, uniting the building to the tower and forming a main entrance. Archbishop Luis Alfonso de los Cameros began the building of the main chapel in 1674; the walls were decorated with marbles and bronzes in the over-ornate style of that decadent period. At the beginning of the eighteenth century the German Conrad Rudolphus built the façade of the main entrance. The other two doors lead into the transept; one, that of the Apostles in pure pointed Gothic, dates from the fourteenth century, the other is that of the Paláu. The additions made to the back of the cathedral detract from its height. The eighteenth century-restoration rounded the pointed arches, covered the Gothic columns with Corinthian pillars, and redecorated the walls. The dome has no lantern, its plain ceiling being pierced by two large side windows. There are four chapels on either side, besides that at the end and those that open into the choir, the transept, and the presbyterium. It contains many paintings by eminent artists. A magnificent silver reredos, which was behind the altar, was carried away in the war of 1808, and converted into coin to meet the expenses of the campaign. Behind the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament is a beautiful little Renaissance chapel built by Calixtus III. Beside the cathedral is the chapel dedicated to the "Virgen de los desamparados".

In 1409, a hospital was founded and placed under the patronage of Santa María de los Inocentes; to this was attached a confraternity devoted to recovering the bodies of the unfriended dead in the city and within a radius of three miles (5 km) around it. At the end of the fifteenth century this confraternity separated from the hospital, and continued its work under the name of "Cofradia para el ámparo de los desamparados". King right|thumb|260px|The Hemispheric at the [[Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències (Ciudad de las Arts y las Ciencias) by Santiago Calatrava, Valencia, Spain]]

Among the parish churches those deserving special mention are: Saints John (Baptist and Evangelist), rebuilt in 1368, whose dome, decorated by Palonino, contains some of the best frescoes of Spain; El Templo 'the Temple', the ancient church of the Charles III; the former convent of the Dominicans, at present the headquarters of the "capital general", the cloister of which has a beautiful Gothic wing and the chapter room, large columns imitating palm trees; the Colegio del Corpus Christi, which is devoted to the exclusive worship of the Blessed Sacrament, and in which perpetual adoration is carried on; the Jesuit college, which was destroyed (1868) by the revolutionary Committee, but rebuilt on the same site; the Colegio de San Juan (also of the Society), the former college of the nobles, now a provincial institute for secondary instruction.

== Squares and gardens ==
left|thumb|230px|Town Hall
The largest square is the ''Las Fallas.

The ''Plaça de la Verge'' contains the Basilica of the Virgin and the Turia fountain, and is a popular spot for locals and tourists. Around the corner is the Plaça de la Reina, with the Cathedral, orange trees, and many bars and restaurants.