Few cities like Valencia are able to so successfully combine the remains of a very distant past, dating from 138 B.C., with some of the most modern and trend-setting buildings of the new millennium. Valencia is all about commerce, culture, cinema, theatre, museums, music, and business. It is a centre for international and vanguard design, and one of the most active European cities in terms of fairs and exhibitions. Due to its geographical location, Valencia has historically been Spain's main access to the Mediterranean, and it has that special charm that port cities have. On top of this, the fine sand and clean water, the wide open sea and the proximity of coastline mountain ranges make the coast of Valencia especially attractive.
 
 
 
Highlights include the beaches and dunes of Canet d'En Berenguer, where the sea front takes on a leisurely and residential feel, the same as in the north of Valencia, where some small holiday towns have been growing (La Pobla de Farnals, Alboraya, and El Puig), which means that some of the coastline which used to be reserved for garden crops can now be enjoyed by everyone. On the other hand, still within the municipal area of Valencia, the La Malvarrosa and Levante beaches offer a great variety of places to eat and enjoy an evening by the seaside. To the south, nature becomes more present in the Saler beach and the L'Albufera national park, where visitors can enjoy the sun in a unique environment. The Cullera, Gandía, and Oliva beaches combine their natural landscapes with many sporting and leisure facilities. At the same time, the interior of the province offers interesting routes such as the one along the Turia river, and charming towns such as Buñol, Requena, or Xátiva.