A piece of heaven fallen to the earth - this is how Valencia has been described since time immemorial. Indeed, the preconditions for this are fulfilled: an extremely mild and dry climate, a humming old town, surmounted by the colourful azulejo domes of many churches, and an exciting nightlife; in addition to that the surrounding fertile Huerta de Valencia and the Mediterranean coast. The old town of Spain's third-largest city and the capital of the autonomous region of Valencia lies on the right bank of the Rio Turia, the Guadalaviar (white river) of the Arabs. However, the river is now reduced to a trickle, because the riverbed has been converted linto the Jardines de Turia, which enclose the city centre in the north and the east. Lemons, oranges, wine, raisins, oil and rice from the Huerta are loaded at Valencia's harbour El Grao; various industries, such as the car industry, metalworking and shipyards as well as chemical und textile factories are located in this area.