Indeed, Valencia is the place for you if you fancy crazy fiestas. While Las Fallas is the attraction for pyromaniacs, the Tomato Fight (La Tomatina) is another event where the participants really abandon themselves to wild merrymaking. October 9, the official day of the Community of Valencia, is celebrated by the consumption of massive amounts of marzipan sweets.

Valencia is one of Spain's most dynamic and modern cities. It lies on the Gulf of Valencia on the Mediterranean coast, at about the same distance from Madrid and Barcelona, and opposite the Balearic Islands. Rolling hills and plains stretch behind it. It is the capital of the community of the same name. The half-million city is an industrial center producing ceramic tiles, furniture, textiles, iron, chemicals, oranges and wine. The port is one of the busiest in Spain. The country's oldest trade fair takes place in Valencia, along with a number of other trade shows. Of the handicrafts, pottery, elaborate fans, handmade glass and cork items, and confectionery make the most popular souvenirs.

Not much is left of the city's Medieval fortifications: small segments of the city walls, and a few towers: the Torres de Serranos, and the Torres de Quart. One of the most popular monuments in the old quarter is the 15th-century Gothic building of La Lonja - the one-time silk exchange, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was largely owing to the silk trade that the city flourished in the 15th Century. The Cathedral Diocesan Museum contains two precious Francisco de Goya canvases as well as works by other prominent Spanish masters of the 15th-16th Century. The Cathedral itself is built in the Gothic style with some Romanesque and Baroque elements. Its octagonal bell tower - the Micalet - has become a symbol of the city.

Valencia prides itself on its many and beautiful gardens. The Botanical Gardens display over 3000 species from a variety of climates. The 19th-century Monforte Gardens are a fine example of the Neoclassical style, with marble statues, fountains and ponds. The Royal Nursery Gardens date back to the Arab times, and are adorned by lavish fountains and sculptures. Another garden was built in the old bed of the river Turia after its course was diverted following a disastrous flood in 1957.

Several beaches in the city itself and in its vicinity attract visitors in summer: Levante, Pinea, Saler, Devesa, Perellonet. They are well-tended and offer ample opportunities for water sports. The nightlife is brisk there are many bars, clubs and discotheques on the road to Cullera and in the Calle Juan Llorens where you can dance and have fun till dawn.