Football is undoubtedly famous in Spain and all over Europe; this is one of the most popular games that has been patronized by most of the Spanish people. The streets and plazas around Valencia, you will find children or even adults, playing football. In fact Valencia has the one of the leading football teams in Spain. The Valencia CF or Valencia Club de Futbol, this team has played on the UEFA Cup in 2004-2005. Whenever the football seasons starts, you will see the Valencian people go to team’s home stadium the Mestalla Stadium with 55,000-seat capacity; you will the stadium in Avenida Aragon, you will find the stadium across the bus stop. The stadium is always full when the seasons begin. And if you are around Valencia by that time be sure to experience how it’s like watching a football game with the Valencian people.

Basketball is also one of the famous sports in Valencia; they also have one of the top teams when it comes to basketball, the Pamesa Valencia. The Spanish basketball association is called the Liga Asociacion de Clubs Baloncesto, they won a gold medal in the FIBA 2006 in Japan. You will find the teams play and practice in the Pabellon Municipal Fuente Sant Lluis de Valencia in Avenida Jesus with 9,000-seat capacity.

Valencia with lots of world class golf courses, golfing is also one of the sports that are being played here in Valencia. Some of the famous golfers around the world like Jose Maria Olazabal, Severiano Ballesteros and Sergio Garcia are from Spain. Some of these golf courses that you can find here are famous in Valencia are the El Saler, El Bosque Golf & Country Club, Club de Golf Manises, Club de Golf Gandia, Club de Golf Oliva Nova and many more.

Sailing also is one of the famous sports which you will find in Valencia, with vast coastlines and marinas, certainly sailing is one of them. The 32^nd America’s Cup Valencia was held here in 2007. This is a sailing competition between countries, the 33^rd America’s Cup will still be held in Valencia in the months of May to July 2009. With its mild climate and steady winds, this is an excellent place to be the host of the said event. This was held at the port of the El Grao and El Puerto.

No one can forget the traditional bullfighting in Spain. This kind of sport is part of the Spanish culture. Bull fighting is not that famous in Valencia but this has been given importance in the city since this is part of their culture. Mostly the bullfights are being held in the months of March to October and especially during the Las Fallas, many bullfighters from all over Spain come here to show what they got when it comes to bullfighting.  You can watch one of these bull fights at the Plaza de Toros in Valencia.  

And soon the 2008 European Grand Prix will be held in Valencia, the race track will occupy thirty kilometers at Cheste and the race tracks is designed by the famous German architect Hermann Tilke. The soon anticipated event will be flocked by millions of fans from Valencia and fans from all over the world. Valencia will have its name written on the map again for this F1 racing event.

In Valencia, you can find different kinds of stores with different kinds of things to buy. In the town center, you can find several large malls and department stores like the largest mall in Valencia, the Nuevo Centro which is five minutes away from the bus station. This mall has everything you need, mostly they have the Spanish brands here like Mango and Zara and many more. They usually have bargain sales in the months of July and January. In the El Corte Ingles, this is one of the most popular department stores, this store has been part of the city for sixty years, and they sell mostly everything you need and they also have home decorations, candles, souvenirs, calendars and many more. In El Saler, also a famous mall in Valencia, they have variety of stores which you can shop from and also has some restaurants and movie theaters which you can go to after shopping.  On the streets of the Calle Don Juan de Austria, you will find a strip of shoe stores from international to local brands; they too also have a bargain sale in the months of July and January.

In the famous Mercado Central, you will find different kinds of locally produced vegetables and fruits. You can also find here poultries, fishes, sea foods and many more. This is also the best place to buy for an Iberian ham and locally produced cheese. You can also find here some traditional shops.

Valencia is known for its ceramic production, the town of Paterna and Manises are famous for these locally-made ceramics.  You can buy one of these ceramic decorations in the town of Paterna which is known for the socarrats, these are wall decorations, and the green and purpled decorations. They are also famous for the silk art which is a traditional dress used in the Las Fallas Festivals. In the town of Manises are also for these ceramics, potteries and glasswares. You can also buy some ceramics product found in almost all stores in Valencia. In the Calle de las Cestas, you will also find here some potteries and ceramic products.

If you are looking for unique and inexpensive things that you can buy in Valencia, check out its street markets. Their street market also sells antique items. Make sure to ask some locals regarding the street markets so that you will know when they will set up their stores and where it is located. Usually you will only see their stalls in the mornings and they move from one place to another during the rest of the day and on weekdays.  You can also go to the Plaza Redonda, which they have the flea markets every morning of Sundays; you can buy here paintings, books, plants, animals and many more. And on the Lonja de la Seda, you will find stamp collectors gathering together to flaunt their collections and trade and bargain with each other.

Here are some of the famous restaurants which you can find in Valencia, the Mediterranean cuisines; here they serve authentic Mediterranean cuisines and some with Spanish twists to it. The El Timonel restaurant which you will find just blocks away from the bullfighting arena, the Plaza de Toros, they serve here Mediterranean cuisines, their specialty is the dorada a ala sal and the arroz de bogavante. The dorada a la sal is a gilthead sea bream that is coated with salt and the arroz de bogavante, this is a rice dish with prawns and lobsters in it. And the Mediterranean restaurant, the La Lola which you can find in the Subida del Toledano, one of the best dishes that they serve here is the jamon serrano; this is a cured ham and the codfish that is caramelized in saffron and honey. Torrijos also has the finest Mediterranean menu in Valencia; mostly their menu includes fishes from the Mediterranean and never without the rice dishes. They have a variety of wines to choose from. This is located in the Barrio Ruzafa.

Portuguese restaurants are also some of the restaurants which you can go to in Valencia. The Ca’n Bermell, this is one of the famous restaurants in Barrio del Carmen, their specialty here is the duck breasts in Riojo wine and the cod fish with onions and green peppers sauce. La Riua is also a Portuguese restaurant but with a twist of the traditional Valencian cuisines, they served paellas here that are being seasoned with squid ink, they also have spicy sausages, roasted pork and veal and the traditional pulpitos guisados which is a stewed octopus.  

You can find the authentic Mexican restaurant, Los Zopilotes also in Barrio del Carmen, the French restaurant El Bicho Raro, this has the authentic French food and ambience. You can find this in the Conde Montornes which is minutes away from the Plaza la Virgen.  The La Pepica is the most famous traditional Spanish restaurant in Valencia; their menus are all sea foods from their famous paella with lobsters and calamares. This is located in the La Playa de las Arenas in Valencia.

Valencians loves to eat and the restaurants and the tapas bars that you can find in the streets of Valencia are proofs that the Valencians appreciate their cuisines and other countries cuisines.

There are already some numerous tourists who have bought a property in Valencia. There are traditional villas that are overlooking the coastline of Valencia, there are properties that are also Spanish villas and apartments that are within the golf courses and there are also traditional Spanish homes with beautiful views of the mountain ranges, these are just among the properties that you can choose from. Although the costs of the buying a property in Valencia has been expensive but most of the real estate agencies have opened their properties to be that affordable to the those who are interested to buy one. The properties in Valencia are best sellers; this is also an inexpensive city to live in.

Not only that this is a perfect place to buy a property but also a perfect place to stay, with only hours away from the cities of Madrid, Barcelona and other major cities in Spain and also a ferry boat away from the islands of Mallorca and Ibiza. You can find here some historical sites and also with lots of museums. Valencia also is famous of having the best paella in all over Spain and famous for its restaurants and tapas bars.  And going around Valencia is easy, the public transportations especially taxis are not that expensive. This is more than what you ask for a place to stay and live, with its weather, panoramic view and accessibility going to other places, this is a must place to invest and buy a property.

The beach is one of the places where the night life in Valencia happens. In the harbor of Valencia, Avenida deNeptuno and Playa de Malvarossa has lots of restaurants and bars where it also has dance patios. The dance patios that the open bars have here are ideal for the hot summer days due to the cool breeze of the air at night. This is where mostly the people start their night before they head to the Barrio del Carmen where it is the popular night spot in Valencia. Also in the Barrio del Carmen at nine o’clock in the evening, most of the restaurants, street cafes and bars that are located here are fully packed. Dinner starts at ten o’clock in the evening in Valencia that is why the restaurants are full by nine in the evening. There are different types of cuisines which you can choose from but mostly they are famous for their tapas and their local specialty drink the Agua de Valencia, which is a mixture of orange juice, wine and vodka. The bars are closed at two in the morning and mostly they head to the clubs after to party until late in the morning.  

The university areas is also one of the best places to spend your night life in Valencia, this is just near the Barrio del Carmen. They have lots of restaurants, bars and clubs, also this area has parks and gardens, and it is a student friendly zone. The crowds here are younger and are mostly students than the crowds that you will see in Barrio del Carmen. The clubs here operates until late in the morning.  This is somewhere on the streets of Alameda, Blasco Ibanez and Avenida de Aragon. There is also this place the Calle Juan Llorens which has the best clubs with different kinds of music being played, from hip hop to jazz to local Spanish music. This place has a mixture of crowds from teenagers to late twenties; this is a nice place to mingle with other people of your age or not. The night life in Valencia is as pulsating as the other Spanish places in Spain. The Spanish people sure do knows how to have a good time and party.

The La Tomatina Festival is held every year during the month of August in the town of Bunol in Valencia. This started in 1945; there have been stories that could have been possibly the origin of this food fight. Some would say that this started when friends were having a food fight amongst each other; some would say that this started when someone threw a tomato over at someone who’s a bad musician during a parade and some would say that this started when the people attacked a councilman, nobody really knows who started it but this has been a unique festival in Valencia. The La Tomatina festival starts eleven in the morning but before they can start the throwing of the tomatoes. There is a greased pole with a ham on top of it, when the ham has been retrieved on the pole; you know that the festival will start. The throwing of the tomatoes will begin when someone will also fire water cannon after the ham has been retrieved. There will be numerous of trucks filled ripe tomatoes. This will take place at the Plaza del Pueblo. There are rules for this festival, the tomatoes must be crushed before it is being thrown at someone and you can’t bring bottles or anything that might aggravate a serious fight. Some would encourage to you to wear goggles and gloves for safety reasons. The throwing of the tomatoes, will last for an hour. This will end when the water cannon will be fired and the throwing will stop. The fire trucks will hose water all over town after.

The Las Fallas Festival, this is a celebration of the patron saint of Valencia, St. Joseph. The celebration for the feast of St. Joseph lasts for a week. This festival is in honor of their patron saint, there are giant statues that are made of cardboards and paper maches that are to be burned on the last day of the one-week celebration. These statues reflect the current political events of the city and it is filled with fireworks, when the night of the statues that is going to be lighted. The streets are packed and the people will be at their balconies just to witness the burning of the statues and before it starts the people will chant, the lights of the plaza will be turned off, guns will be fired and the burning of the statues will start and fireworks will come out of it. There will be one statue to be spared from the burning; this statue will be displayed at the museum. This is the festival as to what many tourists would say that it is louder than the fourth of July.

There have been lots of tourists that would only go to Valencia for these festivals. These festivals are a must see, these are very different from any other festivals in Spain and there are no other festivals in the world that has the same with these. These are proofs that the Valencian people have a unique way of celebrating the fiestas of their patron saints and although there is no religious significance to it especially the La Tomatina but this is their way of celebrating and it is very unique and no other country have this, this is an authentic Valencian festivals and the best way to experience it to join and be with them.

Valencia as well is proud of having a number of Museums that exhibits arts and relics from its memorable past.  Valencia has the best museum worldwide, the Fine Arts Museum or the Museo de Ballas Artes; and it is worth to visit since it quarters the work of art by Ribera and El Greco the two popular artists in Valencia and they are also famous as being the impersonator of the school.  Indeed, countless museums laid in Valencia as the sanctuary of Arts from the past and recent years. 

The La Albufera on the other hand is best for nature lovers; in fact it is appointed as the most popular and biggest natural haunt in Valencia.  This natural habitat has been designated by various species of birds that includes herons and flamingos and among others.  The park is situated behind Playa del Saler, the city’s best beach where there are pine groves and dunes growing that protect the park.  Valencia is fortunate of embracing incredible panoramic views, no reason why all year around it has been rushed by tourists. 

Valencia Central Market caters of about 1300 stalls which is scattered within the 8000 square meter.  Travelers or buyers could not resists to buy one goods in Valencia Central Market after roaming around the Mercado since the different aroma coming from the stalls are tempting enough to allure consumers.  Travelers from the other countries will surely get something after visiting the market; they can also have the chance to purchase one of the local foods such as cheese, meats, wine and paella.  There are actually different kinds of markets in Valencia; however the Valencia Central Market dominates from the other markets because of its unique design and cleanliness.  Another season and time to remember when planning to have a market in the Valencia Central Market is during Christmas season, where the stalls display various kinds of Christmas decorations sell in an affordable price.  These facts, made the Mercado Central important to the lives of the folks living in Valencia Spain; because it contributes the enhancement of the Valencia city as one of their tourist’s spots. 

Travelers particularly in Valencia Spain should not miss of visiting the Mercado Central or the Valencia Central Market given that it has many things to offer.  The market does not only displays merely goods particularly foods, but it also displays goods ideal for a souvenir.  It is obviously the truth because most of the foreigners visiting Valencia City opt to hop in Valencia’s Central Market to buy for their needs though some were also chose shopping in some of their prestigious shopping centers.  Though the Central Market in Valencia Spain is design during the past century, the vibrant color it features and the unique design it shows off is one of the reasons why until now the Mercado dominates among the other markets in the city of Valencia.  The design it has is actually a reminder of the Valencia folks before, its design were actually a design of the contemporary style way back on the century were the Mercado Central was established.  However, its design until now captivates the interests of everybody which makes the Central Market alluring to the public as well.  By the way, you can reach the central market easily if you were already in Valencia City.  If you have rented cars with you then going to Valencia’s Central Market is very much easy.  Just make sure you have enough money with you if you were eager to buy something inside the Mercado.  So if you were now in Valencia, then don’t waste your time visit Valencia’s Central Market now or else you will miss half of your life. 

This is where the traditional drink in Valencia can be found, this also houses the Museum of Horchata de Chufa. This is where you can find the famous traditional drink, the horchata de chufa of Valencia, this is also called the drink of gods; this was brought by the Arabs or the Moors when they came to Andalusia Spain. This is a famous refreshment in Spain and it is eaten with a farton, this is a like donut pastry that should be dipped in the horchata when eating. They also have horchata in Mexico but they don’t have the same ingredients. The Mexicans’ horchata are made of rice while the horchata of Valencia is made of Chufa which is a nut that is from Africa although you can use almonds as a substitute of the chufa nut. A legend would say that the King James I discovered the said drink. It was said that when the King James I came to Alboraya Valencia, a girl offered him a milk-like color of a drink, he asked if what it was. The girl said it’s milk but the King said, ‘it’s not milk, its gold.’  The Machistre became known for this famous drink that you actually taste when you get to visit this place. This is also where the chufa nut has been marketed and cultivated for over centuries and traditional methods of farming are still being practiced here.

The Machistre is now a museum. This place has been an important place for the Valencians. There have been cultural activities that were held here and being held and also other agricultural and social activities. There are also other activities being held here such as conventions, meetings and so on.  This is one of the best ways where you can learn of the culture of the Valencians, culture that is four hundred years old and experience it also in a setting of four hundred years old, Machistre and garden and on how the locals give importance to its culture. There are fees when you want to get to take a tour but the fees vary every season. The fees go to the preservation of the museum and the implementation of the services that they have.

There are guided tours that they offer here. You just have to book earlier for that. They will also give you a DVD that will explain the history and the development of the famous drink horchata. This is open from Wednesdays to Sundays only from four in the afternoon to eight in the evening but you have to book it in advance like two to three days before you go there. During autumn and winter be sure to check on their schedules. They have a small shop here where you can buy its locally produce and traditional products.