A travel website has listed its top reasons for people to visit Valencia in 2008, as the region prepares for what could be its most successful year yet.

While the Valencia football team may be enduring a difficult season in La Liga, the rest of the city is going from strength to strength and continues to offer many attractions for tourists and property buyers from around the world, Easier Travel reports.

Indeed, sport is still one of main reasons to visit Spain’s third-largest city, with a new formula one track set to be launched in Valencia this summer. Similar in style to the famous circuit at Monaco, the new course will see star drivers such as Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso race around the city streets in August.

Major sporting events are also a theme elsewhere in the region, with the port at nearby Alicante due to host the start of the Volvo Ocean Race, a round-the-world sailing competition, in October.

In addition, the region boasts 24 championship golf courses, catering for those who prefer sporting activity of the more sedate variety.

As the home of paella, Valencia also has plenty to offer food-lovers, with several Michelin-starred restaurants found in the region and traditional Spanish cuisine available on every street.

Valencia was recently named as one of Spain’s “property hotspots” for 2008 by Homes Worldwide.

Tags: FORMULA ONE, Valencia