VALENCIA, in Lonely Planet’s top 10 cities for 2011.

Lonely Planet has included Valencia, the 3rd Spanish city, in the top 10 rank of cities to visit for 2011, in the 5th position.

It's worth to say, the city of Valencia, has focused it's policy to become a top touristic spot since it was chosen to host the 32nd America's Cup sailing race, in 2007. Few years after that, the city also started hosting a F-1 urban race inside the city.

Despite that, Valencia had always been attractive for spanish and european people because it's citizens open behavior, nice weather, good food (paella is an originary dish from Valencia's region) and widely known Fallas (a festival taking place in March, where paper made sculptures are burnt).

A Falla to be burnt on the night of 19th of March. There are about seven hundreds around the city.

Paella. Spainsh typical dish, originary from Valencia's region.

Modern amazing buildings and areas such as the marina (a leisure port), or the "City of Arts & Sciences", combined with it's historical centre, and the old river bed, regenerated in the eighties as a linear park crossing the city, are in a short description, the main characteristics of this sunny mediterranean city in the east of Spain.

Opera palace in the "City of Arts & Sciences"

"Sciences museum in the City of Arts & Sciences"

Veles e Vents building, in the marina area.

I must say, I am proud of writting about Valencia, as I have been living by 10 years over there, and I keep great memories of that city. I will write soon my "personal guide" of Valencia, where I will include my recommendations about places to visit, where to eat (cheap and good), where to go out by night, etcetera, so don't miss it!