Valencia holds an ample leisure and cultural offer. The comfortable temperatures encourage the visitor to be outdoors, sampling the delights of the city. The most important festivity is called "Las Fallas". During the week leading up to 19 March, each group of people takes its "ninot" out for a grand parade, and then mounts it, each on its own elaborate firecracker-filled cardboard and papier-mâché artistic monument in a street of the given neighborhood. This whole assembly is a "falla" which are burnt on the night of 19 March. The "ninots" and their "fallas" are developed according to an agreed upon theme that was, and continues to be a satirical jab at anything or anyone unlucky enough to draw the attention of the critical eyes of the fallers.
The city is also internationally famous by its "Mostra de Valencia" which celebrated its 27th edition last October and has become a must in the Mediterranean film. It's also worth mentioning the "International Band Competition City of Valencia", an event which was first held towards the end of the 19th century (1886), and it has now soberly entered the 21st century. Over 2000 musicians gather at the "Palau de la Música de Valencia" concert hall and at the "Plaza de Toros de Valencia" (bullring).
Valencia is also well-known for provinding a huge offer of entertainment at night specially for the young people who can enjoy all sorts of bars and discos for listening to the latest sounds or dancing the night away. There are also lots of theatres, cinemas and quiet cafes.
The city is also venue of important sports events. In addition to the World Indoor Championships in Athletics to be held in 2008, Valencia will host in the Spring of 2007 the 32nd America's Cup, the most ancient sports event worldwide with no less than 152 years of age. The competition traditionally attracts the crème of the sailing world.
With regard to Valencian gastronomy the visitor will find a wide range of meals and desserts; the star of the show is the world famous "Paella", made of rice which is cooked in myriad of ways in addition to other products such as chicken and pulse though there are other traditional dishes like arroz al horno (oven-baked rice), arroz a banda (rice with fish), arroz negro (rice with black squid ink) and la fideuá (made with noodles instead of rice). We should also mention the horchata (a milky drink made from tiger nuts).
