The city of Valencia traces of different civilizations, which have left their cultural legacy. Founded by the Romans in the second century B.C., it was overrun by the visigoths and later by the arabs. These turned the city into an essential economic and cultural centre. The arab heritage still remains in agriculture and traditional craftsmanship, particularly in the irrigation systems and the growing of rice and oranges.

First freed by Rodrigo Díaz "El Cid", Valencia wouldn't be reconquered until 1.238 by the Aragonese monarch Jaume I, who conferred it its own legislation. It was a period of changes in the style of town planning. New christian churches appeared and gothic architecture was introduced. The centuries XV and XVI are representative of an economic, political and cultural revival. Valencia became one of the most powerful cities of the Mediterranean Sea. To these centuries correspond the most important monuments of the city, such as the Serrano Towers, la Lonja (the old market) or the Miguelete (the cathedral's belfry). After the Succession War, and after the victory of the Borbon dinasty in the battle of Almansa, the old city laws were abolished.

At the beginning of the XX century, metallurgy, fabric factories and electric power plants quickly developed. During the Civil War, Valencia was for some time capital of the republican government. Later, there would be great losses in the floods of 1957. With the restablishment of the Monarchy, the Comunidad Valenciana obtains the Autonomy Estatute.
Today, Valencia is a city in a growing process of  transformations with great buildings and tourist perspectives. Open to the sea, it is a city that takes care of a rich historical heritage, but never forgetting to look at the future. It is currently the ideal city for important congresses, exhibitions and trade fairs.