When beauty can be found at every one of its corners, along all of its streets, and across the entirety of its skyline, a city can truly be said to among the world's greats. Such is the only conclusion anyone can have after viewing even a mere fragment of Valencia, Spain, as this ancient metropolis of 809,000 is, with its numerous high-steeped churches, heroic fortifications, and grand markets, one of Europe's most stunning. Founded in 138 BC by the Roman Republic as a trading and veteran's colony at the point where the Turia River opens up to the Mediterranean Sea, the city of Valencia has stood as witness to the succession of the classical, Moorish, Medieval, Renaissance, and modern eras. Due to its relative safety as a stronghold of the House of Aragon and Spain's neutrality in the Second World War, the architecture and art left behind by each of these eras has largely been preserved. Today, residents of this 15th most populous city in the European Union can therefore enjoy sights like the Gothic Cathedral-Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady, also known simply as Valencia Cathedral, the imposing Serrano Towers, and the Llotja de la Seda, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as more modern sights like the Mercat de Colom, or Columbus Market, and the Ciutat de las Arts i les Ciences, a contemporary entertainment and cultural complex designed by Santiago Calatrava and Felix Candela. Beyond renowned museums like the Museu de Belles Arts de Valencia, which houses a number of paintings by Goya, Velazquez, and El Greco, Valencia's residents are also treated to cultural treasures throughout the year, with the bright pageantry of Holy Week being of particular note. Graceful, historic, and benefiting from the hospitality, cuisine, and vitality that define Spanish culture, Valencia is rightfully considered one of the finest places in the world to live.