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The independent region of Valencia is comprised of three provinces: Castellón, Valencia and Alicante, and it occupies the central piece of Spain's eastern coastline. Wide fine sand beaches, year round gentle climate, endless sunshine and the fantastic Mediterranean make this a region remarkably popular with tourists. Valencia is a wealthy area, a mix of orchards, rice paddies and vineyards. Some farmland, has given way to industry and Valencia is renowned for its textiles, toys, and footwear. Valencia also has a main airport, and a large railway station.
The Valencia today owes much to the early Moors who occupied the region. They introduced the complicated irrigation systems that insure Valencia's productiveness and also began the farming of oranges and rice that has remained the foundation of the region's agriculture. Today orange groves cover the northern province of Castellón, while pancake-flat rice fields dominate the province of Valencia. To the west, Mountains loom and it is in these higher elevations that wine is produced. It was during Moorish times that a silk industry grew.
Valencia has a well developed culture of its own that can be traced back to prehistoric cave paintings, and to the ancient Iberian civilization that flourished here, and produced such extraordinary sculptural works as the Dama de Elche (Lady of Elche). The Romans left their mark, notably in Sagunto, where a well-preserved Roman theatre still survives. The Arabs bequeathed their castles and their architecture to Valencia, and to this day the mock battles between Moors and Christians are a much-loved festival throughout the region. Valencia's other festivals are equally colourful. Valencians love music and fireworks. When it comes to celebrating the people of this region are joyful and showy, to the point of ostentation (witness the famous Las Fallas festival in the city of Valencia) this may explain why Baroque architecture struck such strong roots in the area.
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