Valencia

Climate

Summer

— Like most European countries, August is a slow month as many of the residents are on vacation. At this time of year Valencia is extremely hot and humid with temperatures averaging between 30-40°C 86—104°F.

Fall

— September and October are more active months and the weather permits beach outings. Sidewalk cafes are still open until around the end of October.

Winter

— Though temperatures are still relatively mild, it's too cold to sunbathe at the beach.

Spring

— A lovely time to visit. The annual "Fallas de San José" (http://www.fallasfromvale...) unofficially marks the beginning of spring. Cafes and restaurants open their terraces and life spills out onto the street once again.

Understand

Valencia was host to the 2007 & 2010 America's Cup (http://www.americascup.com/en/). This fact, along with the construction of the "City of Arts and Science" (http://www.cac.es/) by renowned architect and Valencian Santiago Calatrava have made Valencia a city in transition. Massive construction and transformation over the last 10 years have turned a once little-considered medium city into a meatier and more interesting destination.

Despite being on the Mediterranean Sea, even residents say that "Valencia has always lived with its back to the sea", meaning that the spirit and the core of the city is not necessarily integrated with its beach. The city center and the most visited neighborhoods are not particularly close to the beach.

Valencia was founded by the Romans and was held by the Moors from the 8th to the 13th century with a short interruption by El Cid. In 1609, the Moors who had converted to Catholicism were expelled from the city. During the Spanish civil war in the 1930s, Valencia was the capital of the Republic, which eventually lost to Franco's forces.