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'Valencia' is the capital city of Carabobo State, and the third largest city of Venezuela.
The city is an economic hub that contains Venezuela's top industries and manufacturing companies. The population of Valencia reached some 1.2 million in the year 2003, and it is expected to grow dramatically in the years to come. Greater Valencia unofficially incorporates the communities of Naguanagua, San Diego, and other smaller bordering cities. It is thought to be greatly underrated, partially due to its proximity to Caracas (some 180 km away).
The elevation of the city is 520 meters (1,700 ft). Valencia is located in a valley, surrounded by a mountain range called the Coastal Range (''Cordillera de la Costa''). On the eastern outskirts of the city lies Lake Valencia, Venezuela's second largest lake.

Contents

History

Law and government

Current Events

Sites of interest

Art centers

Museums

Parks and points of interest

Transportation

Twinning

External links

History

The city has been an active participant of Venezuela's history. Valencia was founded by Captain Alonso Díaz Moreno on March 25, 1555 — as the locals are proud of reminding visitors, eight years before Caracas. It was the first Spanish settlement in central Venezuela and its official name was ''Nuestra Señora de la Asunción de Nueva Valencia del Rey''.
The infamous conquistador Lope de Aguirre besieged the city in 1561.
In 1677 it was raided by French pirates, who burnt down its City Hall, thus destroying many very important documents about the early settlement of Venezuela. The German scientist Alexander von Humboldt visited the city on his trip through the Americas. He reported that at the time of his visit the city had around 6000 to 7000 inhabitants.
On June 24, 1821 the battle of Carabobo was fought on the outskirts of the city, sealing the independence of Venezuela from imperial Spanish rule.

Law and government

Valencia has one municipality: ''Valencia Municipality'', Venezuelan law specifies that municipal governments have four main functions: executive, legislative, comptroller, and planning. The executive function is managed by the mayor, who is in charge of representing the municipality's administration. The legislative branch is represented by the Municipal Council, composed of seven councillors, charged with the deliberation of new decrees and local laws. The comptroller tasks are managed by the municipal comptroller's office, which oversees accountancy. Finally, planning is represented by the Local Public Planning Council, which manages development projects for the municipality.

Current Events

The main newspaper servicing Valencia is "The Carabobeño" or "Diario El Carabobeño" http://www.el-carabobeno.com/index.aspx . In May of 2007 many universities in Venezuela, including within Valencia, had demonstrations protesting the non-renewal of the broadcast license of Venezuelan Television station, Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV). RCTV has been at odds with Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.

Sites of interest

Art centers

★ ''Ateneo de Valencia''

★ ''Teatro Municipal de Valencia''

Museums

★ ''Casa Páez''

★ ''Casa de los Celis'', settlement of the Museum of Art and History and the Lisandro Alvarado Foundation.

★ Museum of History and Anthropology

★ ''Iturriza Palace'', or ''Quinta Isabela'', Museum of the city (Museo de la Ciudad).

Parks and points of interest

★ ''Negra Hipólita Park'' or ''Fernand Peñalver Park''

★ ''Metropolitan Park (Valencia, Venezuela)|Metropolitan Park'' (''Parque Metropolitano'')

★ ''Valencia Aquarium'' (''Acuario de Valencia'') (ranks as largest aquarium in Latin America)

★ ''Plaza Monumental de Valencia'', second largest bullring in the world.

Transportation

The city is well connected with the rest of the country by a network of highways and roads well maintained by INVIAL.

A modern metro system is being constructed that will connect the city's remote suburbs with the downtown area.

★ Buses are the main means of mass transportation. There are two bus systems: the traditional system and the ''VALBUS''. The traditional system runs a variety of bus types, operated by several companies on normal streets and avenues:

★ 'bus'; large buses.

★ 'buseta'; medium size buses.

★ 'microbus' or 'colectivo'; vans or minivans.

★ The airport, Arturo Michelena International Airport (SVVA), is the nation's third busiest. It is served by all major Venezuelan airlines.

Twinning

Valencia is twinned with:
'Naples', Italy

'Valencia', Spain

'Sibiu', Romania

External links