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The old medieval town is a must to wander around and has old, narrow streets that have a number of impressive Palaces and the former Cathedral – Collegiate Basilica. There is a steep walk up to the very impressive castle which runs along the ridge above the town – a road train goes up to the castle in the summer and you can also drive up to the castle. The town was the original home to the Borgia family and the birthplace of 2 Popes (Callixtus III & Alexander VI).
Below the old town is a busy newer area with many individual shops, cafes, restaurants and parks.
In the area below the old and new towns, separated by the railway line, are a range of shopping malls and supermarkets.
This is the nearest beach – the area has lots of cafes/restaurants and is made up of mostly apartment blocks but the beach is beautiful – there are miles of golden sands. If you go to the south end of the town there is plenty of parking and the beach is backed by sand dunes.
Simat is also the home of the beautiful Santa Maria Monastery that is open to the public. It is no longer used as a religious building but does hold musical events on some weekend evenings. The original church has a fantastic painted ceiling. Entry is free.
if you want a steep climb rewarded with great views and impressive ruins then make your way through the orange groves to the south east of Simat and find the start of the path up the castle.
Gandia is the nearest city on the coast south of the villa. It is a sprawling city but has a number of excellent sandy beaches. The old town is very interesting and home to the 15th century Los Borja Ducal Palace. Inland to the west is Monastery of Sant Jeroni de Cotalba with its Moorish cloisters.
Valencia is the capital of the region and the third largest city in Spain. Its main historical industry was the manufacture of silk. It is a beautiful city – the old town with its superb cathedral and the Museum of Silk as well as the covered market are a must to visit. The river was diverted to the south and the original river bed is now a vast parkland area that leads to the iconic new structures in the UNESCO world heritage site designed by architect Santiago Calatrava.
This has the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences and contains an opera house/performing arts centre, a science museum, an IMAX cinema/planetarium, an oceanographic park and other structures such as a long covered walkway and restaurants.
The lagoon and park are situated along the coast between Simat and Valencia. It was originally a saltwater lagoon but has eventually become a freshwater lagoon. The lagoon and its environment are used for the cultivation of rice in paddy fields, and for hunting and fishing.
The area is very popular with cyclists. The Spaniards are very respectful of cyclists, the roads are quiet and well paved. Cycling through miles of orange groves and also up into the mountains is a must for keen cyclists. The area inland from Calpe (an hour plus drive south) is where the professional cycle team have their training camps. The hills / mountains around the valley are cris-crossed with mountain bike trails – bikes can be hired in Xativa or Tavernes.
There also numerous walking trails in the hills and mountains surrounding the valley with some great views of the surrounding area and the Mediterranean. The villages in the area all have map boards and most of the trails are signposted and well marked.
There are 2 marked Via Ferratas close to the villa – Les Majures above Tavernes and La Falconera, south of La Drova.
There are miles and miles of golden sandy beaches all along the coast – there are resorts with high rise apartments and hotels but in between are some very quiet beaches backed by sand dunes. The nearest place for sailing and windsurfing/kitesurfing is at Gandia Playa.
