VALENCIA, the capital of the above province, in a beautiful plain on the south bank of the Guadalaviar or Turia, 3 miles above its mouth, and 200 E.S.E. of Madrid. It is nearly circular in form, and is enclosed by an ancient wall, 2½ miles in circuit, 30 feet high, and 10 feet broad, flanked by numerous towers, and entered by eight gates. The river, which is here reduced to a scanty stream by irrigation, is crossed by five wide bridges, having from ten to thirteen arches. The streets are for the most part narrow, crooked, and unpaved; but of recent years some broad and handsome streets have been laid out on the site of demolished churches and convents. Most of the houses are tall, flat-roofed, and very gloomy in appearance. The cathedral, built in 1262, on the site of a Roman temple of Diana and of a Moorish mosque, is not at all remarkable for its architecture, as it was originally Gothic, but has been modernized and spoiled by additions in the Corinthian style. The interior, however, is richly ornamented with sculptured marble, stained glass, and gilding; and contains some magnificent paintings by Spanish masters. The isolated belfry of the cathedral, 162 feet high, commands a wide and beautiful view of the town and vicinity. Of the numerous other churches in the town, the greater number are by no means distinguished for taste or beauty, but some contain fine paintings and other works of art. Near the cathedral stands the episcopal palace, which once had a large and valuable library, to a great extent destroyed during the French occupation of the town, and now only partially restored. Besides 14 parish churches, Valencia contains numerous convents, of which some have been suppressed, though many still remain. The university, founded in 1410, and attended by about 1600 students, occupies a large and handsome building, and has a valuable though not very extensive library. The number of professors is about 70, and the university is especially distinguished for the study of medicine. Valencia has also 6 colleges, and a number of inferior academies and schools. A picture-gallery, formed from the collections of the suppressed convents, has been established in one of them, called Carmen. It contains 600 or 700 paintings by Ribaltar and other artists of the Valencian school. Among the public buildings of the town, besides those already mentioned, there are a noble Doric edifice, where the court of justice sits; a large modern custom-house; a theatre; a poor-house; a palace, built by Charles III. for the knights of the order of Montera; and a citadel, built by the Emperor Charles V. to defend the city against the attacks of Barbarossa. Outside the walls there are a botanic garden, a bull-ring, a public promenade called La Gloriata, and a fine avenue leading down to the port of El Grao. The principal manufacture of Valencia is silk; and the town is also celebrated for its coloured tiles, especially blue, called azulejos. Linen and woollen cloth, hats, leather, paper, and glass, are also made here. The town is well supplied with fish, flesh, fruits, and vegetables, and enjoys a mild and agreeable climate. It has some commerce; but this is much impeded by the want of a good harbour, there being only a small roadstead in the river at El Grao, and another outside, which is very much exposed. Corn, rice, silk, saffron, oranges, and almonds, are the chief articles of export; while iron, hardware, timber, linen, and colonial produce, are imported. The town is ancient, having existed in the time of the Romans, under whom it had the rank of a colony. It afterwards fell into the hands of the Goths, from whom it was taken by the Moors in 714 A.D. From the Moorish sway it was rescued in 1094 by the Cid, from whom it is sometimes called Valencia del Cid. The Moors once more got possession of it in 1101, but were compelled finally to relinquish it in 1238. In 1808, the French made
an unsuccessful attempt to capture it; but in 1812 they succeeded, and held it till June 1813. Valencia has several large and populous suburbs. Pop. (1857) 105,435.