Valencia in a nutshell

All you need to know about the 32nd America's Cup host port plus Thierry Martinez' images from the new host port

- Valencia is located at 39deg 29minN 0deg 18minW on the Mediterranean coast of Spain due west from Palma, due east from Madrid and some 150 miles southwest from Barcelona

- the coast around Valencia has no inlets or mountains and the warm local wind, called the Garbi, from the southwest typically blows at 10-15 knots.

- deep water extends close to the shore so that marks can be laid close to spectators watching from various beaches. It is estimated that up to 1 million spectators could watch the racing from these vantage points.

- there are no obstacles on the sea bed around the course area. Similarly there are no strong currents or tides.

- Valencia's population is 760,000

- Average annual temperature - 18.9degC

- The City of Valencia has formed Valencia 2007 with the regional and Spanish government to administer the Host City duties.

- Valencia is currently Spain's fastest growing tourist destination with over 4 million visitors annually.

- as a region Valencia has nearly 500km of coastline and 38 yacht clubs

- the Royal Nautical Club of Valencia is one of the oldest clubs in Spain. Today it is one of Spain's largest and most modern offering a wide range ot facilities. It has 1,206 berths in its marina. The club's top event is the Queen's Cup held during the first week of July. Every weekend the club holds regattas as well as national competitions usually for cruiser races and 470, Optimist and Snipe dinghies. The yacht club has its own social club, Olympic-sized swimming pool, children's playground, sports center, 0fronton" (pelota played with tennis racquets) and tennis and squash courts. Following the success of their bid the facilities will be extended to include the building of a leisure and shopping complex, 150 extra berths and five new jetties where 120 15m boats can be moored and new dock where 30 50m boats can stay.

- Valencia was the base for Bravo Espana, Spain's 1995 and 2000 challenger.

- the America's Cup village will be based in the Port of Valencia's inner dock. This area is currently the subject of development by the city of Valencia including the conversion of existing buildings and the building of a special 80 x 400m canal from the inner dock to the sea. Winning the bid will speed up this development. Team compounds will be built around the inner docks. 17 lots of 70 x 40m with dockage for two boats will be available. The 3,000sqm two floor high guest centre, situated at the exit of the canal, will be the optimum position from which to observe the preparation and departure of the boats. The owner's club will be a floating building moored in the middle of the inner dock and will feature its own helipad. It will host up to 30 mega-yachts. Another mega yacht area in the inner harbour will accept boats of 40+m LOA. The press centre will be located in the former Port of Valencia maritime terminal, offering a space of 7,000sqm.

- the financial impact of bring the America's Cup to Valencia is estimated to be worth 1,500 million Euros and will create more than 10,000 jobs.

- the race area is off the Paseo Maritimo where there are many restaurants and open air bars and two beaches - La Malvarrossa and El Cabanal. The racing can also be seen from Pinedo and El Saler beaches to the south of the city.

- Valencia is a historic and cultural city with 42 museums, 13 art gallerys, 12 theatres plus 30 gardens and municipal parks

- the Romans founded the city, overthrown respectively in its early history by the Visigoths, Moors and Aragonese. El Cid (Campeador) invaded in the 1094, his exploits resulting in the 1961 Charlton Heston Hollywood epic. Highpoint of Valencia's economy came through trade in the 15th and 16th centuries which came to an abrupt halt when they sided with the losers during the War of Spanish Succession losing their trading concessions

- food. Paella is a speciality, but there are a number of alternatives such as arròs a banda, a rice dish with seafood and arròs negre, black rice with squid. For the more adventurous they also do a paella with noodles instead of rice an example being all i pebre or eels in garlic sauce. In terms of deserts oranges are a speciality, but also worth trying are arnadí, a pie made from sweet potatoes.

- impressive monuments in Valencia include the Oriental-style government building, the late Gothic Silk Exchange (now used for exhibitions), the 14th century Serranos Towers (once part of the city walls, but now containing the maritime museum), the Quart Towers (from the 15th century and also part of the city walls), the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Real Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados

- local attractions include the ancient Roman town of Sagunto (see the ancient theatre and the ruins of the fortress); Almardá beach 25 km from Valencia or Gandia (60km away); a trip through the Sierra Calderona, to see the monasteries of Portacoeli and Sancti Espiritu and the mountain towns of Serra and Náquera; head for the mountains in the Alto Turia district (80km from Valencia where they are woods, ravines that cut through the flood plain),

- Valencia has an international airport which is serviced by British Airways, Iberia, Air France and (of course) Swiss Internationnal Air Lines. BA flights appear to be relatively cheap (typically £100-120)