| Valera | |
| Nickname: | La ciudad de las siete colinas (The City of the seven hills) or La novia de Venezuela |
| Pushpin Map: | Venezuela |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | Counties |
| Subdivision Type3: | Demonym |
| Subdivision Name: | Venezuela |
| Subdivision Name1: | Trujillo |
| Subdivision Name2: | Valera Municipality |
| Subdivision Name3: | Valerano/a |
| Area Total Km2: | 226.45 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 3101 |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
| Area Code: | 271 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Total: | 135,215 |
| Population Density Km2: | 597.12 |
| Elevation M: | 650 |
| Coordinates: | 9.3125°N -70.6069°W |
| Blank Name: | Climate |
| Blank Info: | Aw |
Valera is a city in Trujillo State in Venezuela, situated between the rivers Momboy and Motatán. The mayor is José Karkom, who has had that post since 2013.[1] The city is home to Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Colombian and Spanish communities. It is also home to the Universidad Valle del Momboy, a private university, as well as the Instituto Universitario de Tecnología de Trujillo (IUTET). Also, the Universidad Nacional Experimental Simón Rodríguez (UNESR), the Universidad Pedagógica Experimental Libertador (UPEL), among others.
The city is the commercial center of Trujillo state, and a gateway to the Andes region of Venezuela. It has a vibrant business community, as well as a diverse and educated workforce. As the economic and commercial center of Trujillo state, Valera is a leading distribution centre for the agricultural products in Venezuela, in which sugarcane, cacao, coffee, fruit, and grains are cultivated. Flour milling is a principal industry. The area has traditionally supplied about one-fourth of the nation's wheat. Valera has modern commercial buildings, such as: Plaza mall, Arichuna mall, Centro Comercial las Acacias, CC Edivica, CC.Vigen del Carmen, CC Diego Andres, CC Canaima, Ateneo (cultural activity), Hotels, Avenues, Park of Illustrious (Parque de Los Ilustres) and Agricultural Fair Park (Parque Ferial Agropecuario), named for its founders.[2]
Valera has its name from Marcos Valera. The date of its founding is not certain, although several historians agree that it was founded on 25 August 1811. Others say that it was in 1817 on land owned by Doña Mercedes Diaz de Teran and Dr. Gabriel Briceno. The location of Valera is privileged for its commercial and industrial development, because it is a point of intersection between the routes: Mérida - Maracaibo - Caracas - San Cristóbal.
Valera has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification: Aw) with consistent warm temperatures and a moderate amount of precipitation. The period from April to November sees significant amounts of rainfall, while the dry season from December to March sees significantly lower precipitation.
The municipality is composed of six parishes: Juan Ignacio Montilla, la Beatriz, la Puerta, Mendoza Fria, Mercedes Diaz and San Luis.[3]
The city has three daily papers, the Diario de Los Andes, Todo Primicias and the Diario El Tiempo, along with several radio stations, including Angel FM 93.7. Others include Radio Única. Valera also publishes the Magazine Cars Trujillo, its first magazine about cars.
The city has a national airport, Dr. Antonio Nicolás Briceño Airport, with a 2,000-meter runway, which connects the region with the capital Caracas.
The city of Valera has three regional channels:
Also is available Directv and Intercable with an extended grill with more than 50 international channels.
Home of Trujillanos FC (Venezuelan soccer league) a first division soccer club that has its headquarters in the José Alberto Pérez Complex (formerly known as Estadio Luis Loreto Lira).