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Valencia (autonomous community)

Comunitat Valenciana
Comunidad Valenciana

Capital	Valencia
Official languages	Catalan (Valencian) and Spanish (Castilian)
Area  - total  - % of Spain	Ranked 8th 23 255 km² 4,6%
Population  - Total (2003)  - % of Spain  - Density	Ranked 4th 4 326 708 10,3% 186,05/km²
Demonym  - English  - Valencian  - Spanish	Valencian valencià/valenciana valenciano/valenciana
Statute of Autonomy	July 10, 1982
ISO 3166-2	VC
Parliamentary representation  Congress seats  Senate seats	32 5
President	Francisco Enrique Camps Ortiz (PP)

The autonomous community of Valencia (Catalan: Comunitat Valenciana, Spanish (Castilian): Comunidad Valenciana) is located at the east of Spain. It is historically known as the Kingdom of Valencia (Regne de València in Valencian, Reino de Valencia in Spanish).

Some people call the Valencian Community País Valencià (Valencian Country) though this has never been its official name.

Its languages are Spanish (Castilian) and Valencian (legal denomination of the catalan language).

Major cities and notable towns include:

• Valencia (Valencian València) 780.653, capital of the province of the same name, in the river Turia. Famous festival of the Fallas in March 19.
• Alicante (Valencian Alacant) 316.178, capital of the province of the same name, in the mediterranean coast. Famous for its hard nougat or turrón duro (Valencian torró dur) and Postiguet, Albufereta and San Juan Beaches. The famous festival of the Bonfires of Saint John is in June. The city hall and the Santa Barbara Castle are historical monuments.
• Castellón de la Plana (Valencian Castelló de la Plana) 160.714, capital of the province of the same name.
• Elche (Valencian Elx) 207.163, famous for the wood of palm trees called Palmeral, and for the Mystery Play, which has been declared part of World Heritage by the UNESCO.
• Torrevieja 77.943, in the south, very important touristic centre with a lot of hotels, apartments and touristical houses. With La Mata Beach.
• Orihuela 67.731, in the Segura river, historical city with palaces, churches and the Cathedral, in the "Vega Baja", a very rich kitchen garden with oranges, lemon and other products.
• Benidorm 64.267, a major holiday resort, dubbed Beniyork because of its many skyscrapers — including Spain's tallest, the 52-storey Gran Hotel Bali.
• Elda,54.086 important producer of shoes and wine in the Vinalopo land.
• Jijona (Valencian Xixona), near Alicante, famous for its soft nougat or turrón de Jijona (Valencian torró de Xixona).
• Villarreal (Valencian Vila-real), important producer of ceramics and brick.
• Buñol (Valencian Bunyol) famous for the Tomatina, on the last wednesday of August.

The Comunidad Valenciana includes the provinces of:

• Castellón/Castelló
• Valencia/València
• Alicante/Alacant

Major rivers:

• River Turia (Valencian: Túria)
• Autonomous Communities of Spain ||

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