Entertainment

Valencia or the Art of Living Well

The high quality of life of the people in Valencia can be explained, in part, by the weather: the almost daily sunshine, the breeze from the Mediterranean Sea and the temperate climate are important factors to bear in mind. To these three basic ingredients you must also add the huge variety of cultural activities available, the excellent food and drink, the scenic beauty of its countryside, the elegance of the city and the enthusiasm for life of its people.

That the people of Valencia know how to enjoy themselves is confirmed in March every year during the celebrations in honour of Saint Joseph. The streets are illuminated with the magnificence of the Fallas, works of art made from wood and cardboard and standing more than ten metres tall that dominate almost every square in the city and that are burnt on the eve of 19th March. The "falleras" and "falleros" dress up luxuriously in traditional Valencian costumes and add more colour and beauty to the streets of this city. In honour of Saint George, who according to legend helped the Christians defeat the Moors, the people of Valencia have the Moros y Cristianos (Moor and Christian) parades. They take to the streets dressed in clothing representative of both cultures and with a great deal of realism and enthusiasm re-enact the battles between the two armies. Although Saint George's day is on the 23rd of April, various towns of the Community of Valencia hold these parades throughout the spring and summer months. The celebrations held in Alcoi and Ontinyent are particularly spectacular. In summer, you can also participate in the Feria de Julio festival, during which you can witness the Battle of the Flowers and important bullfights.

If you have a passion for music then you should visit the Palau de la Música, whose programme includes all type of music, from jazz to classical music and opera. The Roxy Club (for rock) and the Black Note Club (for jazz) are two other venues that have gained a reputation for great live music. Another option is to take in a show during the International Band Competition which takes place every year.

The many cinemas and theatres offer a wide variety of films and plays as well. The Filmoteca shows classic films and series, the ABC Park cinema shows the very latest Hollywood blockbusters, whilst in September the Mostra Valencia—Cinema del Mediterrani film festival gives out prestigious prizes for short and feature films, including national and international movies. And in terms of theatre, you can take in a show at the Teatro Principal, or Espai Moma for more vanguard theatre.

If you enjoy going out at night, Valencia is a city that never sleeps. There are all types of bars, clubs and pubs to choose from: Irish pubs such as the The Black Sheep, Brazilian bars like Capoeira, or for a more authentic Spanish experience try Carmen Sui Generis. An area full of bars can be found around Plaza Xuquer which is frequented by students, whilst the trendy head for the Avenida de Aragon. If you want to dance throughout the night, then there are always lots of discos to choose from in town (Sala Quatre or Caballito de Mar on the beach) or outside town, such as the famous clubs that have survived the crash of the legendary Ruta del Bakalao ('Techno Route' when in the late 80s early 90s there were a series of bars and discos stretching from Madrid to Valencia that people covered in a weekend), such as Chocolate, Puzzle and Spook Factory.

The Community of Valencia offers many other possibilities to enjoy your free time. If you are interested in art there is IVAM for modern art the Museo de Bellas Artes for more traditional art. Perhaps you prefer to spend your time in the open air in contact with nature, in which case we recommend you go for a walk along the Paseo Marítimo to admire the beauty of the Mediterranean on Malvarrosa beach or visit the Albufera Natural Park and lake by boat. You can also discover the Valencian countryside by horse, balloon, bicycle, canoe... the possibilities for having a good time are endless.