CupInfo: Valencia, Host City for 2007


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Lisbon/Cascais, Portugal   |   Marseilles, France  |   Naples, Italy

Palma de Mallorca, Spain
   |    Valencia, Spain
 

Situated on the east coast of the Iberian Peninsula, Valencia (near center of image) is the capital of the Valencia Autonomous Region, as well as a major port in Spain.  With an estimated 800,000 people, this historic and picturesque city is the third largest city in Spain.
Dock area in Valencia harbor

(Photo Credit)

 

View Valencia images from the galleries of photographer Thierry Martinez.
 

La Peinta Bridge.  Santiago Calatrava, Designer.  Photograph by Jaunvi Carrasco.

photo: © Juanvi Carrasco

Valencia, Spain
Site of the 32nd Defense of the America's Cup in 2007

The third largest city in Spain, this vibrant Mediterranean destination has over 1,700 restaurants, 42 museums, 13 art galleries, 17 cinemas, 12 theaters, and 30 gardens or municipal parks. The architecture ranges from ancient Roman works to Santiago Calatrava's cutting edge City of Arts and Sciences.

Beyond her storied history off the water, Valencia has America’s Cup experience, too. Real Club Náutico de Valencia (founded in 1903) along with the Monte Real Club de Yates, challenged in the 1999 Louis Vuitton Cup on Bravo España.

His Majesty King Juan Carlos, the King of Spain, is an avid sailor, racing in prestigious regattas including the recent Queen’s Cup and the Admiral’s Cup.  Not that royal interest guaranteed special consideration for Valencia, but the support of the monarch was seen as a significant asset in their bid to host the America's Cup.

 

 

   
   

Strengths:

   
Sailing Conditions:   Valencia has regular moderate to strong winds owing to a daily sea breeze especially in late spring through October.  The warm climate (recorded maximum of 107 degrees F / 42 degrees C) at the coast rising to highlands inshore promotes updraft & resulting wind.  Tidal range is moderate with a 1.5 knot current sweeping south along the coast. 
Team Infrastructure:   The Balcon al Mar basin has extensive area for the team bases and Cup Village
Support Infrastructure:   Many cultural and social resources for team families and visitors
     

 

General Information:
 
       
Population:   764,000 (Valencia)
40.5 million (Spain)
City of Arts and Sciences (Museum).  Photographer: Juanvi Carrasco

photo: © Juanvi Carrasco

 

Official Language:   Spanish / "Valenciano"
Currency:   Euro
 

Cost comparison:
mineral water (1 liter):
1 Euro
beer (1 bottle):
.90 Euro
Three-course meal with wine/beer:

 

Business Competitive Index:

  Spain Rank: 25th  (about the BCI)
     

Productivity:

 

GDP per capita, Spain Rank: 22nd

     

 

   

photo: © Juanvi Carrasco

Travel Information:

   
Main Airport:   Manises Airport is 8.5 km / 20 minutes north of the city center.  Airport code : VLC

Transportation services are excellent with flights to & from: Amsterdam, Basle, Brussels, Lisbon, London, Milan, Paris, Zurich (some destinations via Madrid and Barcelona Airports).

Iberia, LÍNEAS AÉREAS DE ESPAÑA  http://www.iberia.es
British Airways http://www.britishairways.com
Portugalia http://www.pga.pt
Swiss International Airlines http://www.swiss.com
 

Rail Service:   Passenger and freight services are available via the Norte Train Station (Renfe)  http://www.renfe.es  Travel time: Madrid (3.5 hours), Barcelona (3.5 hours)
     
Time Zone:   GMT + 1 hour in winter, GMT +2  in summer (last Sunday in March - last Sunday in September)

Dining is delayed versus the much of Europe: breakfast in late continental style, lunch from 13:00 – 15:00, and leisurely  dinners from 20:00 – 22:00. Most business is conducted from 10:00 – 13:30 & 16:30 - 20:00 though large concerns may remain open all day.

Electricity:   220-240 V AC, 50 Hz

 

 

Titaguas, Valencia, Spain.  Photographer: Jaunvi Carrasco

photo: © Juanvi Carrasco

Brief History:

Valencia was founded in 138 BC under the rule of the Romans.  The city was later conquered by the "Visigodos" in 413 and then by the Moors in 714, who were themselves in turn displaced for years by the Spanish hero El Cid.  In 1238 James I of Aragon's reconquest brought a degree of self-determination for the Kingdom of Valencia.  By the 15th century under Ferdinand and Isabella, Valencia was one of the leading economies of the Mediterranean, combining a strong trade base with a vigorous artistic realm.  Today, she still honors her historic past while pursuing the future with ultra-modern infrastructure, commerce, and culture.

Home to extensive excellent beaches, nestled in a rich garden plateau extending to burnt red  highlands, the province of Valencia long ago embraced tourism as an industry.

 

 

More information:

Official Valencia America's Cup Venue Website

Navy Port Guide - Valencia

CIA Factbook - Spain

Guide to Valencia Travel - Don Quijote

Guide to Valencia Travel - Holiday

Real Club Náutico de Valencia

Webcams in Valencia and surroundings

Photographs on this page used with the permission of
 Nature Images by
 Juanvi Carrasco
 at
 http://www.naturimagen.com/

 

 


About the photograph from space above:
Valencia, Spain June 1996   © STS078-732-007
  Situated on the east coast of the Iberian Peninsula, Valencia (near center of image) is the capital of the Valencia Autonomous Region, as well as a major port in Spain.  With an estimated 800,000 people, this historic and picturesque city is the third largest city in Spain.

A modern marine facility that includes a variety of docks and piers that handle even containerized cargo is visible as light-colored structures that jut into the blue waters of the Gulf of Valencia along the eastern edge of the city.  The extensive dark area south of the city is a marshy depression that parallels the coast.  A lake (very dark area) is barely identifiable near the northern end of the depression.  The light colored, linear features are either railroad right of ways or highways. 

Climatically, this region falls within the Mediterranean climate which features hot summers and cold, damp winters.

Photo Credit: Earth Sciences and Image Analysis, NASA-Johnson Space Center. 30 Jun. 2003.
Astronaut Photography of Earth - Display Record.

 

     
 

*Business Competitive Index is a measure of strength and opportunity in the business environment.   The BCI is compiled by the World Economic Forum as part of their Global Competitiveness Survey.  A simple explanation would mention that it is related to a country's GDP per capita, but, as might be expected where economists are at work, the analysis is much more complicated than simply that one ratio.  See their website for more information.

 

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