Oliva offers a variety of themes for a trip: a well-preserved medieval old town, nature trails in the Marjal de Pego-Oliva and beaches with watersports along the coast. If you are looking for hotels in Oliva, you can first consider whether architectural history, landscape or the coast should shape your stay most. Each focus has specific walks and routes, which also differ in their stated duration and type of activity.
Old Town and Architectural History
Three sightseeing routes have been designed for Oliva’s old town. The Castillo de Santa Anna provides a striking historical landmark: it was rebuilt between 1520 and 1546 on the site of an earlier chapel dedicated to Santa Anna. In its comarca, it is considered one of the finest examples of Renaissance military architecture. The castle stands atop the hill overlooking the city of Oliva.
The route through Vila Condal is 1.57 kilometres long, has a low difficulty level and takes 1 hour and 30 minutes. It passes noble houses and reveals remains of a Renaissance palace that belonged to the Señores de Centelles y Riu Sech. The walk through Raval Morisco is 1.38 kilometres long, is also rated as easy and is listed as taking two hours. It winds through steep lanes associated with Oliva’s Arab heritage. To compare the two walks, both their distances and their different stated durations are therefore relevant.
The Museu Arqueològic d'Oliva is housed in a stately building dating from the 15th century. Its exhibition covers the periods from prehistory through Iberian and Roman culture, the Middle Ages and the Islamic era to Oliva in the 16th century. Exhibits include artefacts and tools used in everyday life. Another historical landmark is L’Enginy, the former sugar mill and a symbol of the city.
Wetland and Routes in the Marjal
The Marjal de Pego-Oliva Nature Park is a wetland between the Mostalla, Mediodía and Segaria mountain ranges. Its vegetation is of high ecological value and includes reeds, rushes, cattails, yellow irises, duckweed and extensive underwater meadows. Bird species living there include purple swamphens, little grebes, purple and grey herons, squacco herons, marbled ducks, black-winged stilts and whiskered terns.
The activities also differ clearly between the routes: the red Muntanyeta Verda route is an easy walking trail that takes 1.5 hours and follows the Salinar River. The blue route is a cycling route. It starts at a stone house on the cycle path from Pego to El Verger, reaches the Racons River after 100 metres and follows a turnoff to the rice fields. This provides two different ways to explore the natural area: a walking trail with a stated duration and a cycling route with described waypoints.
Beaches and Watersports
Oliva’s beaches stretch for 8.5 kilometres and have fine golden sand and shallow water. Rabdells Beach has a designated area for kitesurfing. Paddleboarding and windsurfing are also among the watersports offered along Oliva’s coast; the designated kitesurfing area is specifically at Rabdells. Another natural attraction is Font Salada, whose waters maintain a constant temperature all year round.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Alboraya, Benisanó, Xirivella, L'eliana, Polinyà De Xúquer, Riba-Roja De Túria, Segart, Sumacàrcer.
For the main travel overview: Valencia.
