Masalavés: Portal, Springs and Routes through the Flat Surrounding Area

Masalavés combines a clearly recognisable history with springs, flat surroundings, regional cuisine and a metro line to València. You can discover these different facets at specific places: the portal and church represent the historical heritage, the Ullals Springs and cultivated fields the landscape, while local dishes and festivals add to the character of the municipality.

History made visible at the portal

At the time of the Christian conquest, Masalavés was an alquería that King James I gave to Pedro del Milá in 1247. The Portal de Massalavés was created from the tower of an Arab alquería. After the Christian conquest, it was expanded to create a fortress. During the restoration, the original building materials were made visible. Those interested in historical developments can therefore encounter a sequence here of construction, expansion and restoration.

Church, washhouse and local cuisine

The parish church of San Miguel Arcángel and Santa María Magdalena stands in a pleasant square next to the restored Portal de Massalavés. It is a Renaissance building from the 16th century. The fully restored public washhouse is also part of the townscape and is considered a symbol of what life in Massalavés was like a few decades ago. In culinary terms, l’arròs amb fesols i naps is one of the outstanding dishes of Massalavés’s local cuisine.

Ullals Springs and flat surroundings

The Ullals Springs are located in Benimodo, in the vicinity of the town centre of Massalavés. The Ullals are springs from which the Verde River originates; it is a tributary of the Júcar. The surroundings of Massalavés are flat and feature a changing pattern of cultivated fields. The area can be explored on foot or by bicycle. The Ullals Springs in the vicinity of Masalavés can likewise be visited on foot or by bicycle. This offers an interest in the landscape that is closely connected with the town’s specific links to water and agriculture.

Festivals and connection to València

The patron-saint festivals honouring the Santísimo Cristo de Masalavés are celebrated in honour of the municipality’s patron saint. During the Romería del Crist de Massalavés, held as part of the 2025 patron-saint festivals, the route led from Parc José María Ordeig in Massalavés to Alberic. A metro line connects Massalavés with València. If you would like to combine local history and landscape with a stay in which the city also plays a role, this connection is one of the relevant considerations when planning your trip.

Accommodation and travel planning in Masalavés

You can choose accommodation in Masalavés according to your personal interests. If your focus is on architectural history, the portal and Renaissance church take centre stage; if you are more interested in the landscape, the Ullals Springs and the flat surroundings suggest a different way of planning your day. The metro line to València adds the question of whether you would like to include the town and the city in the same travel itinerary.

For further orientation, you can also find Villar Del Arzobispo, Los Cojos, Barrio Arroyo, Requena, Ademuz, Vallés, Sinarcas and Utiel.

For the broader travel overview: Valencia.