The World of Valencias: From Tomatoes and Sofas to Ghost Ships and Australian Guitars

Do you live in Valencia? Or perhaps you are certain that the city's name is unique and one-of-a-kind? Fortunately—or unfortunately—it is not. Unlike country names, which can be similar but cannot be identical, this rule does not apply to cities. This is why there is a Brest in both Belarus and France, and a Valencia in Spain, Venezuela, the USA, furniture shops, and even on Spotify.

La Cotorra explores what and who else in the world carries the name "Valencia".

The Tomato

To be precise, there are two types of tomato. The first "Valencia" variety is a popular mid-season tomato that, surprisingly, hails from France rather than Spain. It produces large orange fruits that are fleshy, juicy, and distinctly sweet, making it a favourite for chefs. It is perfect for salads, Caprese, or tomato carpaccio.

The second "tomato", Valencia, is significantly smaller but shares the same colour and flavour profile—the orange cherry tomato. Both varieties are grown globally in both greenhouses and open fields, frequently appearing on tables in France, Poland, Lithuania, the USA, and Ukraine.

The Novel

Writer Michelle Tea penned an autobiographical novel of the same name. It chronicles the life of the queer community in San Francisco. In 2000, the work received the prestigious Lambda Literary Award.

The novel is highly dynamic, recounting a year in Michelle’s life. Love, drama, heartbreak, societal rejection, and the search for a safe space—all set within the vibrant queer scene. To find out why the novel carries this name, we highly recommend giving it a read.

The Sofa

Usually, "Valencia" sofas are U-shaped, though corner and standard versions exist. This isn't a unique design created by a single person—like the "Chesterfield"—but rather a broad category of models.

Whether in Minsk, Barcelona, or New Hampshire, you will often encounter a "Valencia" in a furniture store. The name is used to evoke associations with Spanish style; consequently, these models are often neo-classical, featuring natural wood or rattan.

The Cities

There is more than one Valenci, even within Spain. For instance, there is Valencia de Alcántara near the Portuguese border, and a small town in the province of León.

Furthermore, Valencias can be found in the Philippines (there are five of them), Ecuador, Trinidad and Tobago, and the USA (two in California, one in Arizona, two in New Mexico, one in Pennsylvania, and one in North Carolina). There is also a Valencia in Venezuela, where, as in Spain, it is the country’s third-largest city.

The Lakes

There are several lakes with this name. One is in Venezuela, spanning the states of Carabobo and Aragua. Another is located in Peru—an oxbow lake formed by the Madre de Dios River near the Bolivian border.

The Sports Clubs

Beyond the Spanish football club "Valencia CF", the name is shared by a team in Malé, the capital of the Maldives. While less famous than their Spanish namesakes, they are Super Cup winners on the islands! There is also a "Valencia" football team in Haiti. Additionally, the name is carried by a Spanish basketball team, two motor-racing teams, and a cycling team.

The Ship

The SS Valencia was built in 1882. Originally a passenger steamer, it survived an attack by the Spanish vessel Reina Mercedes off Cuba in 1897. Later, it served as a troopship during the Spanish-American War in the Philippines. On 22 January 1906, the ship met a tragic end, wrecking off the coast of Vancouver Island. 100 people perished, leading some to call it one of the worst maritime disasters in the "Graveyard of the Pacific".

The Fish

Valencia is a genus of ray-finned fish found only in Southern Europe. Usually no longer than eight centimetres, these freshwater fish live in slow-moving, overgrown waters. They are beautifully coloured with pearlescent and pinkish-orange hues.

The College

Valencia College is located in Orlando, Florida, not Spain. Founded in 1967, it has eight campuses and has been recognised as one of the best community colleges in the United States, receiving the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.

The Orange

Oranges grown in Valencia share the city's name and are its primary symbol. While oranges were once bitter and inedible, centuries of cultivation have made them a staple for juices, sauces, and desserts. La Cotorra has previously published a guide on how to choose the perfect local orange to truly understand why they are so beloved here.

The Hotels

There are dozens of hotels named "Valencia" globally—from the Philippines to Odesa, Ukraine. The Odesa hotel currently boasts a high rating on Booking.com, attracting guests with vital modern amenities like generators, Wi-Fi, and a bomb shelter.

The Names

Thousands of people bear the name or surname "Valencia". Notable figures include Adolfo Valencia (Colombian footballer), Antonio Valencia (Ecuadorian footballer), and Alejandra Valencia (Olympic bronze medallist in archery in 2020 and 2024).

The Guitars

"Valencia" is a well-known guitar brand founded in 1972 in Melbourne, Australia. They became popular for their price-to-quality ratio, particularly among students. Over the last 50 years, the brand has been used by stars such as Kelly Clarkson and Johnny Marr of The Smiths. Today, they are a market leader in Australia and sell in over 80 countries.