Valencia (Spain)

Valencia is a major Mediterranean port city located in eastern Spain, close to the mouth of Tura River.

The city has an art school and a fine arts museum, as well as two gates remain from 14th-century city walls created on Roman foundations. Among other important Valencia's buildings are the Gothic cathedral (13th-15th century) and 15th-century Gothic silk exchange. Don't miss the chance to visit Lonja de la Seda and Peniscola And Castle Of The Papa Luna.

The settlement was founded by the Greeks and later occupied by Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths, Arabs. It flourished for a century and a half as capital of the kingdom under James the Conqueror. The 15th century was the time of artistic achievements, as highly regarded embroideries, sculptures, paintings and ceramics were created. Valencia is best known for the involvement in every war of Spain during the last 200 years. In 1808 it defeated the French, and in 1843 fought to restore the monarchy of Maria Cristina of Naples. During the 1939 Civil War, the Republican forces fled to Valencia after Catalonia's fall.

Port Valencia

The seaport is Europe's 5th busiest and also Spain's largest in the Mediterranean Sea.

• Port's history dates back from 1483, when king Ferdinand II of Aragon (1452-1516) granted permission for building a wooden bridge (named Pont de Fusta). Followed numerous construction projects, but mainly due to Turia River floodings the port remained unsuccessful. With the increase in shipping traffic over the years, in 1679 king Charles II of Spain (1661-1700) granted the port trading privileges with other kingdoms and states. In 1791, king Joseph I (1768-1844, brother of Napoleon Bonaparte) granted the port trading privileges with the Americas. Then Valencia became Spain's 6th maritime province.
• The amount on annually handled cargo shipping volumes is around 55 million tons (cargo) and over 4,2 million (TEU containers).
• The port handles over 7,500 vessels every year. The annual number of handled passengers (ferry and cruise) is around 0,5 million. The port is also a major employer (with over 15,000 employees).
• The port generates over half of the country's GDP.
• In 2017, the port was visited by Silk Road International (SICO), one of China's most important non-governmental organizations promoting commercial, economic and cultural relations with other countries. SICO studied the possibility of opening its Mediterranean headquarters in the city.
• Until November 2017, the port's total (direct) cargo shipping volume with China was 6,48 million tons (3,18% increase over 2016). The container ship cargo volume with China was 532,000 TEUs / containers (4,87% increase).
• As of 2018, the port's traffic with China is 48%, making the country its main commercial partner. Port Valencian currently is linked with 80 Asian ports, the largest of which are Shanghai, Ningbo, Yantian, Qingdao, Xiamen, Tianjin, Hong Kong, Shekou-Shenzhen, Chiwan, Nansha-Guangzhou.

Valencia Port Authority manages a total of 3 seaports - Valencia, plus the satellite ports Sagunto and Gandía. All are on Mediterranean Sea (Spain's eastern coastline), along an 80 km / 50 ml stretch of the coast. The port has a total quay length 12 km ( 7,5 ml) and total storage area 1,2 km2 (0,5 ml2).

• Port Sagunto has around 10% of valencia's total annual cargo shipping traffic capacity and specialises in LNG (liquefied natural gas), as well as iron and steel products. Over 3 million tons of LNG are shipped annually to supply the nearby regasification plant. Around 2/3 of the port's traffic is iron and steel products. The other 1/3 are fertilizers, construction materials, timber.
• Port Gandía has around 1,5% of Valencia's total annual cargo shipping traffic and specialises in forestry products export and import (timber, reels, pulp and paper, furniture).