Venue
The 6th Experts in Stone Disease Conference – ESD 2024 - organised jointly with the (AEU) Spanish Urological Association will take place at the Valencia Congress Center:
Av. de les Corts Valencianes, 60, 46015 València, Spain
As Spain’s 3rd largest city, Valencia is a vibrant metropolis on the shores of the Mediterranean. Valencia, natively and officially València, is the capital of the autonomous community of Valencia and the third-most populated municipality in Spain, with 792,492 inhabitants. It is the capital of the province of the same name.
Smaller than Madrid and more laid-back than Barcelona, Valencia — a former Roman settlement, perched above the golden sands of the Mediterranean — is a city that strikes a balance between cultural variety and being truly livable. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Spain’s third-largest city has continued to innovate, connecting once-forgotten neighbourhoods with new metro lines, constructing a state-of-the-art cultural centre and the pedestrianisation of parts of the city centre in a bid to make Valencia one of the greenest cities in Europe. Still, a strong sense of identity — one that’s deeply rooted in over 2,000 years of history — remains here. Age-old recipes, like paella and all i pebre are chalked onto restaurant menus, while craftsmen still use ceramic and silverwork techniques passed down from their Moorish ancestors. This is a Spanish city that has it all — food, architecture, good weather and an unshakeable passion for all things local.
Valencia is the home of paella, Spain’s signature saffron rice dish. The best is prepared in El Saler, a village in Albufera Natural Park where the Moors first cultivated rice in the eighth century. But the city’s culinary genius doesn’t end there; surrounded by its huerta (farmland fed by ancient irrigation canals), Valencia is blessed with some of the freshest produce in Spain. In addition to the city’s rice dishes, don’t miss delicacies like esgarraet (salted cod with roasted red peppers), all i pebre (eels with potatoes, paprika and garlic) and flan de calabaza (pumpkin flan).
There are a host of castles, palaces, monasteries and archaeological sites for visitors to explore, which are within easy reach of Valencia. There are vast stretches of nature to be discovered, too. Albufera Natural Park, home to a freshwater lagoon stretching for nearly 7,000 hectares and a plethora of wild fauna and flora, is around 12 miles from the city and is the biggest of Valencia’s six natural parks. The town of Xàtiva, situated on the banks of the river Albaida, is also less an hour’s drive away, with its highlights including a medieval castle and the Jardin del Beso gardens.
Valencia’s history spans over 2,000 years
Valencia was founded by the Romans in 138 BC. A few centuries later, the Visigoths invaded and the Catholic Church took rains of the city. From 714 to 1238, Valencia was ruled by the Moors, until it fell to the troops of King James I of Aragon and became Christian again.
During the 15th century, Valencia experienced its Golden Age and rose to prominence as one of Europe’s leading cities. In the 18th century, Valencia was the top producer of silk and ceramics in Spain.
Valencia was the capital of Spain for a brief period in 1812, during the Spanish War of Independence, and then again, during the Spanish Civil War, from 1936 to 1937.
Valencia was the World Design Capital in 2022
Valencia has many architectural gems, ranging from the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences to Romanesque-style churches, Gothic defense towers, and stone bridges built centuries before Christopher Columbus sailed to the Americas.
So it’s no surprise the city was designated World Design Capital 2022. Valencia puts design front and center as it pedestrianizes streets and builds an inclusive and sustainable community with policies aimed at enhancing the well-being of all residents.
But that’s not all. Valencia was also named the European Capital of Smart Tourism 2022 and will be the European Green Capital 2024. On top of that, Money.co.uk named Valencia the healthiest city in the world in both 2021 and 2022.
To get to Valencia
Valencia is accessible by air, land and sea. It boasts travel links to many major Spanish and European cities. The airport, situated just 8 kilometres from the centre of Valencia, has regular daily flights to popular domestic and international destinations. The city also has two main railway stations, the Estación del Norte, from which the local train network operates, and Joaquín Sorolla, offering AVE high-speed rail services to Madrid, Cuenca, Seville and Córdoba.
Valencia is home to one of the most important commercial ports in the Mediterranean. The port, which operates passenger services to both the Balearic Islands and Italy, is fast becoming a popular destination for cruise ships, which dock at Poniente Pier, enabling passengers to spend a few hours exploring the city. For those travelling by car, Valencia is equipped with a modern motorway network making it easily accessible from any city on the mainland.
Getting Around
Valencia is a sustainable destination thanks to its excellent public transport network, which connects all neighbourhoods and major tourist areas. Although the city’s size allows you to get almost everywhere on foot or bike, for longer journeys, we recommend the underground, tram or bus. Here is everything you need to know for your travel convenience – at the best price, while reducing emissions!
The city offers 60 bus lines, 5 metro lines and 4 tram lines, as well as 180 metropolitan bus routes and 6 commuter trains to take you wherever you want. There is a connection to the airport, the center, the trendy neighborhoods, the beach, l'Albufera, local towns and all other points of interest.
Quick Facts
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East coast of Spain on the Valencian Coast
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838,000 as of 2023
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East coast of Spain on the Valencian Coast
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355 km (minimum train journey time 1h 50 min)
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348 km (minimum train journey time 3h)
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170 km (minimum train journey time 1h 52 min)