Valencia / Comunitat Valenciana

[EnLinea Media]

Stereotypically best known for its oranges and paella, this city (Spain's third largest) and province of the same name has both tradition and modernity in spades (cutting-edge architect Santiago de Calatrava is from here). The beach resorts are legion, and the March festival known as the Fallas, featuring enormous papier-mâché figures, is one of the world's great parties. Culturally and linguistically, it's an extension of Catalonia, to the north. More info: www.ComunitatValenciana.com, www.CostaBlancaWorld.com, www.HolaValencia.net, www.TurisValencia.es, http://Valencia.AngoInfo.com, www.Valencia-CityGuide.com, www.Valencia-Tourist-Travel-Guide.com, www.ValenciaTrader.com.

[David Paul Appell]

I just found out that Valencia has become the first city in Spain to jump on the restaurant-week bandwagon. The first "Cuina Oberta" started yesterday and runs through the 21st. 51 upscale restaurants (including a Michelin-starred one called Riff) are offering lunch menus for 18 euros and dinner prix-fixe for 30 euros. Well, keep it in mind for next June! (www.ValenciaCuinaOberta.com)

[EnLinea Media]

This week the blog focused on one of Valencia's most distinctive food products, a soft drink called horchata -- check it out!