Week in News: Why Americans Are Moving to Valencia — and It’s Not the World’s Best Burger

Bon dia! Valencia is in the international spotlight this week — for quality of life, culture, and burgers. Yes, Valencia is now officially home to the best burger in the world. Jack Black certified.

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Politics

An increasing number of Americans are moving to Valencia, fleeing the Trump administration, reports Politico. Valencia has eclipsed Barcelona and Madrid as the top destination for residency in Spain, particularly for families with young children. Most strikingly, several people interviewed for the article asked not to be identified, citing fears of serious repercussions back in the United States.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has unveiled a new plan for regional financing, writes Valencia Plaza, which improves Valencia’s position — though not to the extent many had hoped. The plan renegotiates Spain’s long-standing system for allocating funds to its autonomous communities, explains Cadena SER. Catalonia emerged as the biggest beneficiary, receiving 182% more funding than the least-funded region, Extremadura, reports El Mundo.

Valencian citizen Ernesto Gorbe was among five Venezuelan-Spanish prisoners released earlier this week, reports El País, as part of a negotiated exchange. His family says he was detained in 2024 and used as a political pawn. He has now returned home to Valencia.

Bullfighter Fran Rivera is being sued over remarks that appeared to encourage Donald Trump to repeat military aggression against Venezuela — this time targeting political leaders in Spain — writes Las Provincias.

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Economy

Valencian farmers are voicing strong opposition to the Mercosur trade agreement, reports Valencia Plaza. The deal would allow cheaper imports of products such as rice and oranges, raising concerns that local farmers will be forced to compete with goods produced under lower environmental and safety standards.

Unemployment in the Valencian Community fell by more than 8% last year, reports Valencia Plaza. The positive local news was tempered by national figures showing a sharp rise in poverty across Spain, which jumped by 19% last year, writes El Mundo.

The long-awaited Volkswagen battery gigafactory in Sagunto is nearing completion, with some 700 engineers from Korea and other Asian countries arriving to install final components, reports Levante-EMV. The factory is due to open in September and is expected to become a major economic engine for the region.

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City and Community

Valencia Extra maps out the major changes expected in the urban landscape this year, starting with plans to revamp Plaza del Ayuntamiento.

Valencia is now facing a chronic housing crisis, with limited new construction and prices soaring past €4,000 per square meter, writes Valencia Plaza. The lack of space has pushed storage prices so high that renting a storage unit is now more expensive than parking a car, reports Levante-EMV.

Tax deductions for energy-efficient home renovations will continue in 2025, reports Las Provincias, offering homeowners up to €3,000 in savings. Meanwhile, Valencia Plaza profiles a new hybrid wood-and-steel building designed to improve sustainability in the city.

Valencia will have to return €4 million in transport subsidies to the national government after failing to implement a low-emissions zone on time, reports Valencia Plaza. The EU funds were conditional on reducing vehicle pollution, but political disagreements prevented the plan from moving forward.

Plans have also been unveiled for 1,500 hectares of floodable green parkland surrounding l’Horta Sud, creating a protective environmental ring around the metropolitan area, writes Valencia Extra.

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Crime and Policing

A minor traffic accident between neighbors in Náquera led to the unexpected discovery of a large-scale marijuana growing operation in a residential area, reports ABC. While cannabis associations are legal in Spain, production and distribution are tightly regulated. Police recently arrested the president and treasurer of one such association in Dénia for selling marijuana and hashish “indiscriminately,” reports ABC.

Police have ruled the death of the ex-husband of the mayor of Almassora an accident, reports Las Provincias. His body was found in a rubbish container near the town square, but security footage reportedly shows him acting erratically and climbing into the bin on his own. Investigators are now examining whether he was fatally injured during garbage collection.

A wave of cable thefts temporarily plunged parts of Cabanyal, Malvarrosa, and Benimaclet into darkness, writes Las Provincias. Police have increased patrols after thieves were seen stripping copper wiring from streetlights.

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Culture

The New York Times has named “Sorolla’s Spain” one of its top travel destinations for the year, highlighting the return of several of Joaquín Sorolla’s masterpieces to his birthplace, Valencia. However, it remains unclear whether the planned Sorolla Museum in the former post office building will be ready in time, reports El País.

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will visit the Centre del Carme this Wednesday to view an exhibition on Valencia’s evolving urban history, reports Las Provincias.

Ever wondered how the lights are changed in Santiago Calatrava’s spectacular — if notoriously inaccessible — Palau de les Arts? With professional mountaineers, hundreds of meters of rope, and a lot of nerve, reports Levante-EMV.

And finally, news many locals already know: Valencia officially has the best burger in the world — at least according to Jack Black. On a YouTube episode of the British podcast Jolly, the Hollywood actor crowned “The Singular,” a 60-day dry-aged Galician beef burger with a demi-brioche bun and secret sauce, created by Valencia-based chain Hundred.

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That’s all for this week’s news update. Weekend Highlights will be out on Thursday.
Have a great week!