If you love sports, you can’t miss the Region of Valencia. Thanks to its pleasant weather, diverse landscapes and premier entertainment venues, the region is the perfect destination to enjoy outdoor sports and activities. Whether you want to catch a football match, test your mettle in a marathon or spend an afternoon at the race track, Valencia’s storied tradition of sports excellence never disappoints.
A Great Place for Football Fanatics
You may have heard of Barcelona and Madrid, but the Region of Valencia is another popular destination for football fans. The city of Valencia is the proud home of Valencia Club de Fútbol, one of the most successful clubs in Europe.
Valencia CF currently plays in La Liga, the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system. The club hosts their home matches at Mestalla Stadium with a capacity of 52,600 spectators. You can even learn about the stadium’s history on a 45-minute guided tour in Spanish and English.
Levante UD, a Spanish football club founded on 6 September 1909, is also based in Valencia City. The club plays in La Liga, holding home games at the City of Valencia Stadium.
Near Castellón, Villarreal has become a popular team even for UK football fans. Villarreal plays in La Liga as well, holding home games at the Ceramics Stadium with a capacity of 24,890. The club is nicknamed the Yellow Submarine due to its yellow home kit. As a low-profile team compared to Real Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia, who they have challenged for trophies over the last decade, Villarreal has been touted as an example of a small but successful club.
A Paradise for Watersports Lovers
For watersports lovers, the Valencia Region’s 450 km coastline offers ample opportunities for fun on the shore. Almost every town offers some kind of water-based activity.
Major nautical sports centres can be found at the Valencia Marina, Canet d’En Berenguer and Pobla de Farnals. These marinas are among the best in Europe, as demonstrated by their capacity to host prestigious sporting events such as the America’s Cup in Valencia.
Meanwhile, Alicante hosts the departure of the Volvo Ocean Race, the world’s premier offshore race and an exceptional test of sailing prowess.
In the winter, the Brownlee Brothers, British triathletes and Olympic medalists, come to the area of Alicante to train in the winter. The municipality of La Nucía has incredible sports facilities where they train.
There is also the Tabarca to Santa Pola swim, among the World’s top 100 open water swims. The popular medium distance crossing spans 5,900 metres from an offshore island to the mainland. With 1,400 swimmers, the event attracts the highest number of participants in open water events in Spain.
A Haven for Sports Fans
As well as football and watersports, the Region of Valencia is a haven for all sorts of other sports fans. Throughout the years, the region has hosted major international sporting events and entertainment, such as the Formula 1 European Grand Prix, the Global Champions Tour, Moto GP and the Valencia Open.
Other popular sporting events in the Region of Valencia include cycling, tennis, triathlons, running races, equestrian events and golf. And of course, the Pamesa basketball club is always a source of national pride.
Upcoming Running Events
On 11 November, Valencia will host one of the most important running events in Spain: The Trinidad Alfonso EDP Valencia Marathon. The popular athletics phenomenon is held annually in the historic city of Valencia. With a flat circuit and perfect November temperatures averaging between 12–17 degrees, the marathon represents the ideal setting for a long-distance sporting challenge.
On 24 March 2018, the IAAF/Trinidad Alfonso World Half Marathon Championships will be the fastest course ever seen in Valencia. This year, Joyciline Jepkosgei set a new world record as the first woman to reach the finish line with a time of 1:04:51.
On 12 May 2018, Penyagolosa will host the 2018 Trail World Championships. The international trail running event will challenge your limits over impressive landscapes in the mountains of Castellón. Previous editions of this important sporting event took place in Portugal (2016) and Italy (2017).
Immerse yourself in the local culture of the Valencia Region through its sports! Even if you’re not the biggest sports fan, you’ll have a lot of fun getting caught up in the fervour.
For more information, please go to http://comunitatvalenciana.com/
