NEWS SNIPPETS FROM VALENCIA - POPULATION = 4.8 MILLION

Rita Barbera, Mayoress of Valencia, accompanied by Mario Flores, Valencian Government Counsellor of Infrastructures and Transport, visited the Underground Station in Benimamet, where renovations are being carried out on 1.5 kilometres of the line, at a cost of around 66 million euro. The total area affected is 422,931 square metres, and the renovations will free up an area that will become a public park measuring 15,000 square metres.

Valencia Mayoress Rita Barbera presided the Citizen Safety Group meeting along with Antonio Bernabe, Spanish Government Delegate in the Valencian Region.

Rita Barbera, Mayoress of Valencia, signed a collaboration agreement with Angelica Such, Valencia Government Councillor of Tourism, in the Valencia Town Hall. By the terms of the agreement, both parties agree to carry out joint actions to promote tourism in the Valencia area.

Alberto Catala, chairman of Valencia Trade Fairs (at the front in the photo), presented a new organisation chart divided into six groups for the Trade Fairs with a view to improving trade aspects and increasing business.

Ignacio Mateu will head the Habitat and Cevisama Fairs that will serve as umbrella for all the furniture, lighting fixtures, decoration, art, ceramic tiles, and kitchen and bath equipment fairs.

Miguel Bixquert will run the Technical and Equipment Fairs that include Fimma Maderalia, Demogar, Idinova, and Ecofira.

Rafael Cubel will direct Consumer Goods Fairs such Vinoelite, Restalimed, Euroagro, Fimmi, Puericultura, Carnival, Funerals, Jewellery, Sports, and Bakery, among others.

Guillermo Dasi will head the Final Consumer Fairs such as Fiestas and Weddings, Antiquarian, Automobiles, Vintage Vehicles, Nautical, Urban Planning, and Franchise.

Vicente Ibañez will direct the Institutional and Social Advance Fairs such as Tourism, Foinvest, Energy, and Labour.

Finally, Stefan Kokkes will be in charge of managing the Events Centre of Valencia Trade Fairs and attracting foreign business.

All six directors will have sub directors and assistants at their disposal to ensure maximum success in the new enterprise.

Felix Crespo, Town Hall Counsellor of Fiestas and Folklore, presented a music CD for the VI International Religious Music Week, in the Town Hall. Bernardo Adam, musical director of the event, who presided the presentation with Mr. Crespo, said that the disc contains 37 pieces of music from the 2007 week of religious music.

The Valencia County Council and the Town Hall of Llutxent will launch a cultural event to re-enact the route of the Sacred Palls, and a neighbour of Llutxent, a horse from Guardamar del Segura, and a mule from Cordoba, took part in a rehearsal last weekend. On the 23rd February 1239, Christian troops from Teruel, Daroca, and Calatayud, prepared to re-conquer the Castle of Llutxent from the moors. The Chaplain, Mateo Martinez, was about to give the six captains Holy Communion, when a surprise attack obliged him to bury the hosts wrapped in a pall.

The Christians won the skirmish, and when the chaplain and captains unearthed the six hosts, they found them soaked in blood and stuck to the palls, taking this as a sign that the troops would win the battle to reoccupy the castle, which they did, thanks to the Eucharistic Miracle.

Each of the six captains wanted to take the miraculous pall to his own region, and although Daroca won a raffle three times, the final solution was to place the pall on the back of an Arab mule and give it its head.

So on the 24th February 1239, the animal was let loose, and followed by a large number of priests with lighted candles, crossed the province of Teruel, passed through Saragossa towards Daroca - and continued on to Calatayud, where, after travelling for 12 days he arrived at the door of the church of San Marcos, bent his knees - and dropped dead.

Silvia Ordiñaga, Valencian Government directress of Trade and Consumers, accompanied by Rafael Pla, chairman of the Wax Guild in Valencia, and by Jose Beneyto, Mayor of Albaida, visited a candle manufacturing factory in Albaida, where the Mayor revealed a project to located a Wax Museum in the Marquesal Palace. Wax manufacturing is a centuries old craft in Albaida where 70% of all the wax in Spain is produced, and the new museum will contain not only wax candles and figures, but also the tools and process used to make them.

We advise our readers that a fault in the electronic system of the gear shift of Fiat automatic drive cars, causes sudden stoppages that can produce whiplash to the driver. This has been the experience of our editor while driving an automatic Fiat Stilo Abarth. The stoppages are also highly dangerous if they take place when passing out another vehicle, or in heavy traffic.