Leisure
Walking - see below
Golf - An 18 hole Severiano Ballesteros course Oliva Nova is just south of Oliva, about 20 mins away. There is also a golf course in Gandia
Scuba diving and bikes can be hired locally. Horseriding is available near Ondara. Sea and river fishing are also available
Walking- We can supply many self-guided walking trails as there are many pathways in the Valencia area and one we recommend is in the Vall de Gallinera. The Moors occupied this area for 600 years and were expelled in 1609. The Vall de Gallinera became deserted and the Duke de Gandía who owned the land, brought from Majorca 150 families to repopulate the valley.The Valley is made up of small towns most of them beginning with Beni-(which means son of) The scenery is beautiful, with ruined hermitages, quaint old houses and cool streams and picnic areas.
Fiestas-
The most popular fiesta is La Fallas which are held locally in Gandia and Valencia and other nearby towns. La Fallas are held the second week in March and festivities last a whole week. Massive papier mache, wood and wax charicatures are built by the townsfolk during the year and painted: A Fallas Queen has already been elected and there is fierce competition for the best entry. The figures are then burnt on the night of the feast of St. Joseph. These figures, called "ninots" by the Valencians, allude to events and personalities of the day. The ninots, half satirical, half symbolical, are created in a style somewhere between comic strips and Walt Disney cartoons. For one week the Valencians are both spectators and participants in a spectacle which goes beyond the walls of the great theatre which these cities become. The tourist influx and the international projection of the Fallas grows every year. Click onto the official la Fallas site or watch Gandia or Valencia's spectacular la Fallas
Moors & Christians - This festival commemorates the battles, combats and fights between Moors (or Muslims) and Christians between the 8th century through to the 15th century. The festivals represent the capture of the city by the Moors and the subsequent Christian reconquest. The people that take part in the festival are usually enlisted in filaes or comparsas (companies that represent the Christian or Moor legions), and for several days, they parade with bombastic costumes loosely inspired by Medieval fashion. Christians wear fur, metallic helmets, and armour, fire loud arquebuses, and ride horses. In contrast, Moors wear ancient Arab costumes, carry scimitars, and ride real camels or elephants. The festival develops among shots of gunpowder, medieval music and fireworks. It ends with the Christians winning a simulated battle around a castle. The most famous is in Alcoi where a castle is built in the middle of the square but Oliva is an excellent battle with thr Moors dramatically battling it out on the sea shore. Denia and other towns nearby also their own battles but the Tourist information offices will let you have a list of participating towns. Watch a video
Bullrunning is held in various towns - Denia and Javea are the nearest where this event can be seen.
Bullfighting - the nearest bullring is in Ondara. It was built in 1901 but rebuilt in 1957 after being destroyed in the Civil War. Usually there are posters outside when the next bullfight is due.
Rastros
Rastros in Spain are really Car Boot Sales. If you are stuck for something to do on Saturday or Sunday, these 3 rastros are the largest and best in the area.
Jalon - Saturday morning
Vergel - Saturday morning (at the entrance to the Safari Park)
Pedreguer - Sunday morning
Formula 1 Racing comes to Valencia for the next 7 years commencing 2008. The track mirrors that of Monaco where part of the circuit follows the line of the sea and the harbour. Watch a video
The 33rd Americas Cup will again be played out in Valencia - up to date information will be uploaded onto the official web site soon but initially click onto the Americas Cup blog for more information
The Moto GP Grand Prix Valencia is held every year at the Ricardo Tormo Stadium.
ON-LINE ENGLISH SPEAKING NEWSPAPERS
Find out whats happening in the area
Local Radio covering the Gandia area
Install onto your pc http://www.coastfmlive.com for good music and whats happening in the area around the Costa del Azahar and the Costa Blanca.
Eating Out
Eating out- The Viva Espana Restaurant is on the N332 between Oliva & Gandia where you can celebrate your holiday - the meals are reasonable (we recommend Paella) and there is an authentic floorshow at weekends. Call in and make a booking.
Most towns offer a Menu del Dia (lunch time only) 3/4 courses and a drink for anything up to 15€. There are a number of Chinese Restaurants in Gandia, one on the main paseo offers a buffet for 8€ plus drinks.
If you would like to dine locally there is "Bar Palma" just round the corner from Casa Ana and a 15 minute stroll brings you to "Aventura" where Moma makes delicious home made food. We recommend the huge square pizza - they are delicious.
Paella usually has to be ordered the day before. Fidua is a dish which is almost exactly like paella except rice is substituted with pasta. Fidua originated (so they say) in Gandia when some fishermen went out to sea and forgot the rice. So being adaptable they used pasta or angel hair instead - and so Fidua was born ! Each town has their own version of a paella and they will assure you that theirs is the most authentic. Whatever version you choose - enjoy !
Oli Ba Ba on Oliva Beach is a favourite for pizza and has a fantastic view of the sea.
Guests who have visited us before have left ideas of where to eat too.
Further reading about Spain and its People
Winter in Madrid by C J Sansom
The Shadow of the Wind: A Novel by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
The Angel's Game also by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (released June 2009)
Iberia Vols 1 & 2 by James A Michener
Shooting Caterpillars in Spain: Two Innocents Abroad in Andalucia
By Alex Browning
Untouched by Time (A Biography of an Andalusian Village)
by Albert Rowe (A story about a couple settling into Andalusian life in the 60s)
Or I’ll Dress you in Mourning (The Extraordinary story of El Cordobes)
By Larry Collins & Dominique Lapierre
The New Spaniards by John Hooper
by Derek Lambert
Ghosts of Spain: Travels Through Spain and Its Silent Past by Giles Tremlett
It's Not About the Tapas By Polly Evans
Simple Etiquette in Spain ("Simple etiquette" series)
By Victoria McGuiness
As I walked out one Midsummer Morning by Laurie Lee
A moment of War by Laurie Lee
Spanish Lessons: How One Family Found Their Place in the Sun
A Shadow of Treason
A Whisper of Freedom
A Valley of Betrayal - all by by Tricia Goyer
Spain: The Root and the Flower: An Interpretation of Spain and the Spanish People -John A Crow
Andalus - Guerra & Sacred Sierra - all 3 books by Jason Webster
Valencia Oranges
Oranges from Palma de Gandia are sent to England via train on the Eddie Stobart train. "Valencia" is a variety or orange and may not necessarily come from Valencia!!
The Rice Fields of Albufera - Anyone for a Curry?
As you drive down the short stretch of dual carriageway that joins Valencia to the beaches at El Saler during late May or early June you soon become aware of what looks like a vast, vivid green cricket pitch badly in need of a trim. These are the rice paddies of the Albufera, one of the largest in Spain and part of an area that was, in Roman times, the most productive agricultural region in the whole of the then known world. The smell at this time of year is definitely "rice pudding".