Vahania
Vahania | |
|---|---|
Capital City | |
 Clockwise, from top: A skyline in Eastern Vahania, the University of Vahania campus, the National House of Aredoa, skyline of the Financial District, Plaza Libertad, the Grand Opera House on Parras Street. | |
| Country |  Aredoa |
| Founded | 1634 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Marta Zapata (Aredoan Workers' Party) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 5,426,833 |
| 2022 estimate | |
| Time zone | UTC+8 (Aredoan Standard Time) |
| Website | vahania.ad |
Vahania is the capital and largest city of Aredoa. The city has a population of 5,426,833 within its metropolitan area, representing approximately 18% of the total population of Aredoa. Located in the center of Aredoa, Vahania has served as the official capital of Aredoa since the beginning of Costenan rule, first as the seat of power of the colonial regime from 1765 and later as the capital of the Republic of Aredoa from 1879.
Vahania's roots as a city date back to 1604 when the settlement was chosen as the meeting place of the leaders of Aredoa's three provinces, which were not yet unified under a central state. Shortly after, the city began to take shape as it became an autonomous region with citizens native to all three provinces of Aredoa. Over the years, Vahania came to represent the combined interests and cultures of the three provinces and was the site of most interprovincial cooperation, such as the early judicial system and an extensive network of libraries and archives of knowledge. Vahania industrialized rapidly under Spanish rule and was the location where the Treaty of Vahania was agreed to in 1879, ending the War of Independence and marking the birth of the Republic of Aredoa.
Vahania is the seat of all three branches of government and houses a large section of the civil service. The city features several famous landmarks, including the National House of Aredoa, the iconic Grand Opera House, and Plaza Libertad, where the Aredoan flag was first hoisted following the country's independence.
Vahania has a significant sporting history, housing many of Aredoa's most successful sports teams. The city is a thriving hub of tourism, culture, and the arts, hosting a large number of museums, theaters and markets. Vahania also boasts a prestigious higher education system, being home to the University of Vahania, Hamolia College, and the Antonio Parras School of the Arts, which are all highly acclaimed within Aredoa and internationally.