The present Mayor is Jorge Mendes, elected by the Social Democratic Party (PSD).

Administratively, the municipality is divided into 11 civil parishes (freguesias):[3] Valença is a walled town located on the left bank of Minho River, approximately 25 km from the Atlantic Ocean.

Linked to the wall rises the new quarter, where buildings such as social facilities, schools, the stadium and sports centre, the health care centre, the municipal market and the municipal swimming pools are located.

Also inside the fortified walls a Roman milestone marks the XLII mile of the road connecting Braga to Tui.

Today the town is peacefully invaded by the Spanish that visit it for commercial and touristic purposes.