Oliva between the Old Town, beaches and nature

Oliva combines urban history, coastline and the Marjal de Pego-Oliva Nature Park.

Medieval Old Town and a multifaceted history

Oliva preserves a very well-preserved medieval Old Town; three tourist walking tours have been designed for this purpose. One of them leads through the Vila Condal. The 1.57-kilometre route has a low level of difficulty and takes 1 hour and 30 minutes. It passes noble residences and reveals the remains of a Renaissance palace that belonged to the Señores de Centelles y Riu Sech.

Another walking tour runs through the Raval Morisco. The route is 1.38 kilometres long, also has a low level of difficulty and takes 2 hours. Along the way, steep lanes lead through an area associated with Oliva's Arab heritage. The Castillo de Santa Anna was rebuilt between 1520 and 1546 on the site of an earlier Santa Anna chapel. In its comarca, it is considered one of the finest examples of Renaissance military architecture and stands on the summit of the hill that dominates the city of Oliva.

The Museu Arqueològic d'Oliva is located in a stately building from the 15th century. It displays exhibits and tools for everyday use dating from prehistory through Iberian and Roman culture, the Middle Ages and the Islamic period to Oliva in the 16th century. L’Enginy is a former sugar mill and a landmark of the city of Oliva.

Wetland, wildlife and coastline

The Marjal de Pego-Oliva Nature Park is a wetland between the Mostalla, Mediodía and Segaria mountain ranges. Its vegetation has high ecological value and includes reeds, rushes, cattails, yellow irises, duckweed and extensive underwater meadows, among other species. The Marjal de Pego-Oliva is also home to purple swamphens, little grebes, purple and grey herons, squacco herons, marbled ducks, black-winged stilts and whiskered terns.

Oliva's beaches stretch for 8.5 km and have fine golden sand and shallow water. Paddleboarding and windsurfing are among the activities offered on Oliva's coast. Rabdells Beach has a specially designated area for kitesurfing. The waters of Font Salada maintain a constant temperature throughout the year.

Routes for nature and day trips

The Camino natural de La Safor runs from Oliva to Gandia. In the Marjal de Pego-Oliva, the red Muntanyeta Verda route follows the Salinar River as an easy hiking trail lasting 1.5 hours. The blue route is a cycling route in the Marjal de Pego-Oliva. It begins at a stone house on the cycle path from Pego to El Verger; after 100 metres, it reaches the Racons River and continues via a turn-off to the rice fields.

Consider Oliva as your personal travel base

If you are looking for a hotel in Oliva, you can decide as a starting point whether your stay should focus more on the Old Town, beaches, nature trails or regional excursions. For days by the sea, the adapted bathing service was available at Playa de Pau Pi beach on Plaza de Europa and at Playa de Aigua Morta beach on Calle Jacomart. During the high season, the accessible bathing service at Oliva's beaches included adapted door-to-door transport and assistance; transport and assistance could be reserved 24 hours in advance.

To the higher-level travel overview: Valencia.

More about the destination

Relevant information for planning your trip:

Oliva - Valencia - Comunidad Valenciana.