Founded during the Roman Empire in 138 A.D., Valencia is one of Spain's oldest and largest cities. Today, the city of 790,000 people is a vibrant European metropolis and the capital city of the state called Comunidad Valenciana. Valencia lies on the eastern cost of the Iberian Peninsula, directly on the Mediterranean Sea, ensuring warm weather year-round and providing miles of beaches just 15 minutes from downtown. Valencia has both a major train station and an airport, allowing access to the rest of Spain and Europe. Madrid, Barcelona, and Malaga, among other destinations, are each about two hours away by train. Additionally, there are daily ferries to Mallorca, the large island off the coast that is one of Europe's hottest tourist spots.
Valencia has a colorful, interesting history. The most famous event was the recapture of the city by El Cid, a Spanish general in the 11th century. The Poema de Mio Cid, a medieval epic poem, tells of his adventures. Valencia's literary connection doesn't end there. Blasco Ibanez, one of Spain's most famous playwrights, was born and spent his entire life in Valencia, and his house is a major tourist attraction. The city is also home to numerous museums, including the Museo de las Ciencias in an ultra-modern building with interactive exhibits. International House is located in the heart of the historic district of El Carmen. Most students live within a 30-minute bus ride of the school. The Valencian bus system is very efficient, and most major lines come every five minutes. Calle Colon, one of Valencia's main streets, is easily accessible from International House. Many shops are located here, in the tradition of many large European cities. Not far away, CF Valencia, a top European soccer club, has its stadium.
The most important festival in Valencia is Las Fallas, celebrated for a week every March when the streets fill with gigantic paper mache statues that are satires on the problems facing modern society. The last night of the festival, March 19, the statues are lit on fire in symbolic destruction of life's difficulties during the year.
For questions related to studying and living in Valencia, contact the Program Director.