THE VALENCIAN PAELLA:

The name Paella comes in the form of calling the pan in Valencian (from the Latin "patella" in Spanish led to "Padilla" in Italy "Padella" and French led to "Poêlle" which refers to a kind of wide frying pan.
So the name paella comes from the name of the pan where is made, but now some people call that pan "Paellera"
Originally the Paella was born in the Albufera of Valencia being a humble dish eaten by peasants growing rice, which was eaten straight from the pan with a wooden spoon. And depending on the season ingredients were improvised. Although the most common ingredients were rice type pump (which was grown in the Albufera), crushed tomatoes, a pinch of saffron, garrofó the bajoqueta, duck, chicken, rabbit and snails (also says that in some areas made ​​him ditch rat meat).
Gradually, the paella was spreading throughout the Valencian Community and was varying ingredients depending on the area, hence there is currently a debate about which is the right recipe.
Currently, the paella has several types:

The most famous is "The maritime"" or "seafood" usually containing fish soup, mussels, crayfish, prawns and other ingredients depending on areas.

The most traditional is the "meat", which currently contains chicken and rabbit, although the ingredients vary according to zones.

There are also a variety that is the "Mixed paella" which usually takes chicken, seafood and red peppers, also there is no standard recipe.

And in recent years it has become fashionable "Vegetables" or "Vegetarian" paella
usually containing artichoke, peppers and cook vegetables to the taste.

Also, because of its reputation within and outside Spain, it has become a national dish and a symbol of Spain within and outside our borders (the last country to join the fever of the paella is China with a new franchise "paella to take away (where one of the few ingredients that respect is rice, as it has bacon and chorizo sausage among others).
I therefore recommend not to eat paella in the first place you find the poster of paella, as they generally are served atrocities, pre-cooked paella (personally I mistrust them), or not very good quality and also recommend to check prices, because from 6 to 15 euros a plate, you can eat a good paella (it's interesting to eat it straight from the pan, these are cooked for at least two people, if you take something smaller it sure is precooked).
In addition to the Paella, Valencia has a wide variety and tradition of different rice dishes in the future I'll recommend.
Normally in Spain, paella is not eaten at night, because it is more indigestible. Only done in festivals (where you will go to bed late).
In the next post, interesting places to eat paella will recommend.

picture of a seafood paella made ​​by Tamerlan and posted on wikipedia