Valencia - the Cradle of Modern Chess?

A special symposium by chess historians and scholars was presented in Valencia during the recently-concluded Karpov-Kasparov reunion chess match (September 21 - 25, 2009). So, while some came to enjoy the chess, others came to listen to historians from all around the globe present papers on how Valencia (may have been) or (was) the cradle of modern chess as we play it today in the West, and some no doubt came to enjoy both! Chessvibes presented an informative article on the topic ("Valencia and the Origins of Modern Chess"), quoting liberally from both ancient and modern sources, including the writings of chess historian Dr. (IM) Ricardo Calvo, who died in September, 2002. From the time we first met online in early 1999 until his untimely death in 2002, Ricardo Calvo was a faithful and provocative mentor to the Goddesschess people. He was an active member in the discussion boards from those early days and he sent us many articles he had written over the years for publication at the - then - fledgling Goddesschess website. You can find them, and articles written on chess in 15th century Spain and related subjects by Carmen Romeo, his widow, at Goddesschess Ch'Essays.