In its policy for integration with its surroundings, the PAV has been working for some years now on initiatives of two kinds.

-          Those aimed at bringing citizens and Valenciaport closer.

o         Art Exhibitions in the Clocktower Building

o         Sports and games events in the Port of Valencia: July Fair, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, the Feast of Saint Christopher, Swim across the Port, Pas Ras …. 

-          Those aimed at allowing a smooth transition, through surrendering port land for citizens’ use, from citizens’ areas to trading areas.

In this sense, one of the most emblematic projects for the city of Valencia, the BALCÓN AL MAR project, is the result of both the peoples’ and the different institutions’ willingness to open up the city to the sea. .

This project involves surrendering land to the City Hall of Valencia which will mean the transformation of the Inner Harbour of the Port of Valencia from being used for port activities to being a place for cultural and leisure activities.

In recent years, important progress has been made to make the Balcón al Mar a reality, for example:

-          The coming into service of the railway bascule bridge to remove trains that used to circulate inside the harbour, so enabling the tracks in this area to be taken up.

-          The joining of the Poniente and Levante docks in order to remove wheeled traffic that currently circulates within the Inner Harbour (under project), or

-          The surrendering of Sheds 2, 4 and 5 for management by the City Hall of Valencia.

Similar actions have been carried out in the Ports of Sagunto and Gandia

With regard to the Port of Sagunto it is worth mentioning the collaboration in the project for the City of Scenic Arts.  This project involves recovering the former iron and steel complex of Altos Hornos del Mediterráneo to convert it into an area where different scenic arts may take place (theatre, musicals, dance …) along with other training and leisure activities.

In an attempt to improve town-port integration, some spaces in the northern part of the Port of Gandia have been redeveloped so that people may have access to them.

Valencia, venue for the 32nd America’s Cup

The naming of Valencia as the venue for the XXXII America’s Cup (2007) means a new and extraordinary boost to Port-City integration as well as an exceptional platform for its international projection.

Several factors have determined the choice of Valencia as the venue:

-          One of the best yacht racing courses in Europe with a guaranteed marine breeze most of the time.

-          Splendid facilities in the Royal Yacht Club in Valencia, the largest in Spain and training place for the Spanish team that took part in the America’s Cup in 1995 and 2000.

-          Excellent maritime infrastructures in the Port of Valencia

-          Optimum hotel offer in the city together with tourist attractions and the cultural wealth of the Valencia Region.

The works which are about to start to get the Port of Valencia ready include the constructions of a canal which will enable fast access for the yachts from the Inner Harbour where the Team Bases will be situated to the racing course which is on the maritime front itself. 

The Inner Harbour will also house the Race Offices, the Press Centre, the America’s Cup Village and the Voluntary Workers Centre. November 5th last the development of the projects: “Building up of a channel communicating inner harbour and open sea and transversals links in the Valencia Port (America’s Cup 2007)” and “Building up of a new estuary in the Valencia Port (America’s Cup 2007)” were assigned.

The Consorcio Valencia 2007 formed by state, regional and municipal administrations is the body responsible for identifying, adopting, executing and coordinating whatever actions and measures may be necessary for the smooth running of the America’s Cup in Valencia.