Valencia, Spain

However, the darkest time of Valentia was when Black Death struck and decimated the city, bringing it to the brink of destruction. Still, after the period of darkness, suffering and death, a new hope reinvigorated the city. Trade with the Republic of Genoa introduced white mulberry and lead to major innovations in techniques of manufacturing silk. Thanks to this, the Valencian Golden Age began, allowing culture, economy, and arts to prosper and develop freely. And all thanks to Genoa and their silk! This is why when visiting, you will find that many of Valencia’s iconic landmarks – such as Silk Exchange, Serranos Towers, or the Micalet – originate from this period of history. After the Golden Age ended, the region was torn apart by years of wars and internal strife. It was, once again, the silk industry that brought Valentia back from its knees in the 18th century. It remained the backbone of the city’s strength until the 20th century when the silk industry finally was allowed to retire and was replaced by large-scale industrialization and mechanization of other products. Still, even today, Valencians remember how important silk was in their history, and celebrate it in the Silk Museum located in the Higher Art College of Silk. However, due to tumultuous events of the 20th century such as both the World Wars and the Spanish Civil War, Valencia suffered greatly. But just like after the epidemic of the Black Death, it rebuilds itself even stronger, and is looking forward to a new Golden Age!