Valencia

Industrial city and capital of Carabobo state, northern Venezuela; it is situated on the west bank of the Cabriales River, at an altitude of 478 m/1,569 ft above sea level and 160 km/99 mi west of Caracas, with which it is linked by road, rail, and air; population (1995 est) 1,007,000. It is the country's third-largest city, and the centre of its most developed agricultural region, lying near Lake Valencia. Industries include cars, brewing, food-processing, textiles, leather, sugar, and, like Valencia in Spain, oranges.

Valencia was founded in 1555 and has several colonial buildings, including the cathedral (built 1580), which contains the statue of the Virgen del Socorro; the bullring is the second largest in South America (after Mexico City). There is also an airport and a university, which dates from 1852.