Short answers, pulled from the story.
Valencia was founded in 138 BC as a Roman colony named Valentia Edetanorum by Roman soldiers who had fought against the Lusitanian rebel Viriatus during the Third Lusitanian War. The name itself, derived from the Latin word for strength or valour, reflected the Roman practice of granting land to veterans as a form of recognition for their military service.
The population of Valencia reached approximately 20,000 during the Almohad rule, making it one of the most significant cities in the region. The Jewish community thrived, constituting about 7 percent of the total population when the city fell to James I of Aragon in 1238.
The War of the Spanish Succession concluded with the Battle of Almansa on the 25th of April 1707, after which the English army evacuated Valencia and the ancient Charters were abolished. The Nueva Planta decrees replaced the Valencian Charter with the Castilian Charter, marking the end of Valencia's autonomy and the beginning of a new era of centralized control.
The Falles is a five-day festival held from 15 to the 19th of March that has been declared an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO. The festival began in the 18th century as a celebration of Saint Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters, and culminates in La Cremà, the burning of all the Falles on the night of the 19th of March.
The City of Arts and Sciences was designed by renowned structural engineer and architect Santiago Calatrava and architect Félix Candela. This futuristic complex, situated in the former Turia riverbed, comprises multiple monuments including the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, an opera and music palace with four halls and a total area of 100,000 square meters.
The post-Franco era saw the establishment of the Valencian Community as an autonomous entity, with the Statute of Autonomy of 1982 designating Valencia as its capital. The city has since experienced a surge in cultural development, exemplified by exhibitions and performances at iconic institutions such as the Palau de la Música, the Palacio de Congresos, and the City of Arts and Sciences.