Valencia is one of the most important cities of Spain and that can be clearly made out as it is also the 3rd largest city of Spain. The supposed population of Valencia, according to the census of 2007, was 810,064. The original name of Valencia was Valentia, which was derived from Latin. The meaning of the word Valentia is strength and vigor. The city was named after its Emperor, Valens. During the period, when the Muslims used to rule Spain, Valencia was known as Balansiya in Arabic.
Valencia is located in the region known as Edetania. According to Roman history, Junius Brutus transferred his soldiers there because they had fought under him. Later the city of Valencia became a Roman military colony. However, later it was destroyed and destructed by Pompey but afterwards it was rebuilt. The city of Valencia in 137 BC was founded by the mighty Romans on a popular site of town which was formerly Iberian.
After all this, the city was occupied by the Moors, Visigoths and the Aragonese, amongst them the Moors peacefully occupied the territory in 709 A.D. One of the most prosperous periods in that time was when the Islamic culture settled in the city of Valencia, known as Balansiya at that time.
By the 15th and the 16th century, the city of Valencia was one of the most important cities of the Mediterranean. In that period Valencia gave birth to famous personalities like Joanot Martorell, who wrote Tirant lo Blanch, and the famous poet, Ausias March. This is not it; the very first printing press in the peninsula was built in Valencia. The old history of Valencia can be traced back to the period of the Spanish civil War. As regards the modern history of the city, Valencia received Autonomous statutes in 1982.
Valencia is a known place for tourists as it has been the gateway of Spain to the Mediterranean and because of this there is a special charm that has been attached to it. The Valencian coast has crystal water and very fine sand which makes it a place to be. There are a number of outstanding beaches and sandy dunes out where the coastline becomes residential and luxurious. The beaches of Levante and La Malvarrosa has a lot to offer when comes to dining; there are a large number of places out there where you can dine quietly by the sea.
Valencia is a heaven for those who appreciate art and literature. When you walk through the Valencian lanes and streets, you can clearly feel the beats of the ancient centuries thudding under the pavement and on the walls. The remains of the Romans which were founded by the mighty Junius Brutus can still make you feel that you were there. Coming down to the ladies’ taste and shopping, the narrow streets of Valencia are full of shops with windows which exhibit almost everything from arts and crafts made by hand to the latest of fashion. However, to experience everything of such sort, one has to be here in Valencia.
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