Bustle of tourists and locals fills downtown streets near Plaza de la Reina; Valencia, Spain.

Bustle of tourists and locals fills downtown streets near Plaza de la Reina; Valencia, Spain.

Tapestries and banners hang from balconies along annual parade route of city's patron, La Virgen do los Desamparados, near Plaza de la Virgen; Valencia, Spain.

People walk along quiet downtown side street in the Ciutat Vella (Old City) quarter of Valencia, Spain.

Cars drive on cobblestone streets near Mercado Central in the Ciutat Vella (Old City) quarter of Valencia, Spain.

Businessman on motorscooter waits at stoplight in front of Loewe storefront in the posh Poeta Querol neighborhood of Ciutat Vella (Old City); Valencia, Spain.

Woman on cell phone walks past Loewe storefront in the posh Poeta Querol neighborhood of Ciutat Vella (Old City); Valencia, Spain.

Purses in display window invite customers into Louis Vuitton store in the posh Poeta Querol neighborhood of Ciutat Vella (Old City); Valencia, Spain.

Female streetcleaner sweeps up flowers petals day after annual parade honoring city's patron, La Virgen do los Desamparados, near Plaza de la Virgen; Valencia, Spain

Motorbike couriers talks on building intercom outside old facade in Ciutat Vella (Old City); Valencia, Spain.

Downtown roofs and buildings create collage of colors and patterns in Ciutat Vella (Old City) quarter of Valencia, Spain.

People walk past fountain in Plaza del Ayuntamiento; Valencia, Spain.

Three young women stand at base of monument in the Ciutat Vella (Old City) quarter of Valencia, Spain.

Puente del Real arches behind four women walking along pathway in the old River Turia riverbed, now a city park and greenway stretching several miles through the center of Valencia, Spain.

Bullfight stadium, Plaza de Toros (built 1850-60), boasts 384 exterior arches; Valencia, Spain.

Bullfighter statue wears wreath to honor special anniversary outside Plaza de Toros (built 1850-60); Valencia, Spain.

Bullfighter statue wears wreath to honor special anniversary outside Plaza de Toros (built 1850-60); Valencia, Spain.

Woman passes by colorful sculptures towering at entrance to Instituto Valenciano de Artes Moderna (IVAM), the city's celebrated museum modern art; Valencia, Spain.

Rococo friezes and sculpture adorn exterior of the National Ceramics Museum, aka Palacio del Marques de Dos Aguas, a 16th-century mansion; Valencia, Spain.

Alabaster rococo sculpture designed by Hipolito Rovira and sculpted by Ignacio Vergara adorns entrance to National Ceramics Museum, aka Palacio del Marques de Dos Aguas; Valencia, Spain.

Open-walled Mercado de Colon, built 1914-28 and designed by Francisco de Mora y Berenguer, arches over vast interior space in the Ciutat Vella (Old City) quarter of Valencia, Spain.

Tourists lay hands on bronze model of city's cathedral complex in Plaza de la Reina, Valencia, Spain.

People walk past Door of the Apostles at rear of city's cathedral with Miguelete Tower in distance; Valencia, Spain.

Towering scene of Virgin Mary is created each year from flower petals outside Basilica de la Virgen de los Desamparados on the second Sunday in May to celebrate city's patroness; Valencia, Spain.

Ornate, gothic interior of the Silk (or Merchants') Exchange, Lonja de la Seda, reflects opulence of the silk trade; Valencia, Spain.

Ornate ceiling and pillars dominate the Silk (or Merchants') Exchange, Lonja de la Seda, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; Valencia, Spain.

Torres de Serranos, built 1392-98 and designed by Pere Balaguer, is remnant of old city wall and a prime example of Gothic military architecture; Valencia, Spain.

Torres de Quart, built 1444, designed by Pere Bonfill, is remnant of ancient city wall that once surrounded Valencia, Spain.

Torres de Serranos, built 1392-98 and designed by Pere Balaguer, is remnant of old city wall and a prime example of Gothic military architecture; Valencia, Spain.

Crowd gathers in Plaza de la Virgen to watch 1000-year-old water-rights tribunal hold its weekly Thursday session outside cathedral in Valencia, Spain.

Women at front of crowd in Plaza de la Virgen laugh as they wait for 1000-year-old water-rights tribunal to begin its weekly Thursday session outside cathedral in Valencia, Spain.

Judges await stroke of noon to convene 1000-year-old water tribunal beneath cathedral's Door of the Apostles at its weekly Thursday session; Valencia, Spain.

Bailiff convenes 1000-year-old water tribunal beneath cathedral's Door of the Apostles at weekly Thursday session with a call for plaintiffs; Valencia, Spain.

Lacking plaintiffs at their weekly session outside cathedral's Door of the Apostles, water tribunal judges awkwardly await a swift adjournment; Valencia, Spain.

Older man carries Valencian-language newspaper as he discusses current events with a friend outside cathedral's Door of the Apostles; Valencia, Spain

Front entrance of Las Arenas, the premier five-star hotel of the city seafront, just down the beach from America's Cup Park ; Valencia, Spain.

Reflecting pool and back courtyard of Las Arenas, the premier five-star hotel of the city seafront, overlook Las Arenas beach; Valencia, Spain.

Wine bottles with charming label illustrations sit on display at La Riua restaurant in Ciutat Vella (Old City) quarter of Valencia, Spain.

Woman and girl enjoy outdoor dining at La Horchateria Daniel, a premier dessert cafe specializing in tiger-nut drink and farton pastries; Valencia, Spain.

Girl enjoys lemon ice cream served in actual frozen, lemon-rind cup at La Riua restaurant; Valencia, Spain.

Chefs chat beneath rows of hanging paella pans as they prepare to fry bowls of shrimp and rice at La Pepica restaurant on Las Arenas beach; Valencia, Spain.

Patrons enjoy outdoor dining at cafe on Plaza Rodrigo Botet outside Astoria Palace Hotel in downtown Valencia, Spain.

Patrons enjoy outdoor dining at cafe on Plaza Rodrigo Botet outside Astoria Palace Hotel in downtown Valencia, Spain.

Crowds enjoy sun and sea on Las Arenas beach on the Mediterranean at Valencia, Spain.

Men stand beside fishing poles on Las Arenas beach and watch yachts and sailboats on Mediterranean during America's Cup race; Valencia, Spain.

Teens cavort in choppy waters on Las Arenas beach as sailboats and yachts fill horizon during America's Cup fleet race; Valencia, Spain.

Young couple walks along Las Arenas beach on the Mediterranean at sunset; Valencia, Spain.

Horse-mounted police patrol esplanade on Las Arenas beach on the Mediterranean at Valencia, Spain.

Stylish women strut along esplanade on Las Arenas beach on the Mediterranean at Valencia, Spain.

Orange kite flies over blue Mediterranean waters as kitesurfer walks along beach at sunset on Playa del Saler south of Valencia, Spain.

Swimming pool of Sidi Saler Hotel sits in dark as sun rises over Mediterranean south of Valencia, Spain.

Ships dot horizon as brilliant orange-red sky reflects in Mediterranean Sea at sunrise south of Valencia, Spain.

Handsome sign stands at Hole 8 on the Parador de El Saler Golf Course, an 18-hole seaside course rated among Europe's best; Valencia, Spain.

Man hits ball down 18th fairway at the Parador de El Saler Golf Course, a seaside course rated among Europe's best; Valencia, Spain.

Man prepares to putt on the 18th green at the Parador de El Saler Golf Course, a seaside course rated among Europe's best; Valencia, Spain.

Romantic couple picnics at end of boat dock on an evening in May at Lake Albufera near Valencia, Spain.

Former rice farmer and amateur poet Jaime Ferrer Marco stands amid newly sprouting rice fields of the Albufera region; El Palmar, Spain.

Former rice farmer and amateur poet Jaime Ferrer Marco recites poetry for admiring American girl Soley Hyman; El Palmar, Spain.

Customers admire delicate ceramic sculptures at posh Lladro store on the ritzy Calle Poeta Querol strip; Valencia, Spain.

Delicate ceramic sculpture of Valencian women in local costume awaits buyers at posh Lladro store on the ritzy Calle Poeta Querol strip; Valencia, Spain.

Delicate ceramic sculpture of boy riding fawn awaits buyers at posh Lladro store on the ritzy Calle Poeta Querol strip; Valencia, Spain.

Delicate ceramic sculpture of woman swimming sits on display at Lladro museum at company's headquarters in Valencia, Spain.

Blue and gold highlights are characteristic of Manises figurines, a local ceramic brand and style unique to Valencia, Spain.

Espolin brocade, on sale in store window, is an expensive hand-loomed silk featuring flowery designs intertwined with silver and gold thread and used specifically for annual Fallas dresses; Valencia, Spain.

Reflecting pool at City of Arts and Sciences frames L'Hemisferic (planeterium, laserium and Imax theater patterned after giant human eye) and Palau de les Arts opera hall, both designed by Santiago Calatrava; Valencia, Spain.

Kids play by reflecting pool at City of Arts and Sciences across from L'Hemisferic (planeterium, laserium, Imax patterned after a giant human eye) and Palau de les Arts opera hall, both designed by Santiago Calatrava; Valencia, Spain

Reflecting pool frames the Palau de les Arts opera hall, designed by Santiago Calatrava, at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain.

Erector-set-like walls of the L'Umbracle form a covered walkway at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain.

Palm trees tower beneath open arches of the L'Umbracle, a covered walkway designed by Santiago Calatrava at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain.

Main building of the L'Oceanografic, designed by Felix Candela, is crown jewel of Europe's largest oceanographic park at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain.

Tourists walk in awe through the underground tunnel aquarium at the L'Oceanografic, Europe's largest oceanographic park, at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain.

Tourists walk in awe through the underground tunnel aquarium at the L'Oceanografic, Europe's largest oceanographic park, at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain.

Tourist marvels at colorful species in the coral reef aquarium at the L'Oceanografic, Europe's largest oceanographic park, at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain.

Angelfish swim in the coral reef aquarium at the L'Oceanografic, Europe's largest oceanographic park, at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain.

Trainers and dolphins wave to crowd during show at the L'Oceanografic, Europe's largest oceanographic park, at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain.

Little girl holding dolphin stuffed animal toy admires seal in arctic aquarium at the L'Oceanografic, Europe's largest oceanographic park, at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, Spain.