Along the north coast of Valencia is a market garden area speckled with ancient farmhouses and country villas which soon give way to modern residential areas replete with all kinds of tourist infrastructures and entertainment facilities as they near the shoreline. Only a few kilometres inland, the Sierra Calderona serves as a privileged lookout point over the Mediterranean.
BIRTHPLACE OF 'HORCHATA'At the northern end of Valencia's Malvarrosa beach, next to the capital's maritime district, we can discover the municipal district of Alboraya. The fields within the town limits are rich in chufa or tiger nut plantations, whose fruits are ground to a powder to make the popular refreshment called horchata. Along the coastal area lies Port Saplaya, where sailing enthusiasts can moor their boats outside their front door. This residential complex is painted in colourful ochres and siennas, with light blue and pink trimming traditionally used in house decoration here. Next to the mouth of the Carraxet ravine is the popular 'Chapel of the Little Fish' (Peixets), the site of a pilgrimage in commemoration of the miracle of the fish.
SIGHTSParochial Church of the Assumption (18th C)Chapel of the "Miracle dels Peixets"(16th C)
FIESTASSt Christopher (2 to 10 July)
RESORT TOWNLying close to the city and enjoying good connections, La Pobla de Farnals was a pioneering experiment in tourist development along this part of the coast. The tourist boom of former years produced a monumental holiday centre along the beach where rest and relaxation are the keywords. In the midst of this tourist enclave, in front of the seafront promenade and interrupting the south and north beaches, is the Pobla de Farnals marina with a total of 835 moorings. The marina harbours yachts, regattas, light sailboats and quite a few catamarans.
SIGHTSParochial Church of San José (18th C)
FIESTASSan José and San Félix Mártir (from 10 to 11 September)Our Lady of Mt Carmel (16 July)
MONUMENTAL HISTORYThe urban centre is laid out next to the only two hills in the entire district, just a few kilometres from the beach. Tradition says that it was here that the Byzantine image of a Madonna was found, which was called the Virgin of El Puig. This image was hidden for years under a bell during the Muslim domination, until 1237 when the Christians reconquered the area under King Jaime I. In appreciation of the townsfolk's support and religious devotion, the king had a monastery built near the hill to honour the Virgin. This building, still in use today, has two inner cloisters decorated with outstanding Valencian paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries. The lower cloister leads to the chapel of the Mercedarian monks, the refectory and Gothic salon. The upper cloister gives access to the Royal salon and the library, which is extensive. The east wing of the monastery contains a Printing and Graphic Arts Museum, commemorating the fact that the first book published in Spain in the year 1474 came from a printer in Valencia. Five kilometres from the town is the broad El Puig beach, which is faced by numerous apartment buildings and residential areas with villas.
SIGHTSLa "Torreta" (16th C), Chapel of St George (1575)
MUSEUMSPrinting and Graphic Arts Museum, Tel. 96 147 02 00
FIESTASOur Lady of El Puig (September)St Rocco (Saturdays in August with bullfights)
This coastal town has a magnificent infrastructure, comprising apartments, residential areas and entertainment zones next to its broad beaches flanked by protected sand dunes. Canet d'En Berenguer beach is a tourist site lying along the shore - kilometres from the old town of the same name. It is highly popular in summer, and many Valencians drive out from the city because of its well-kept beaches, fine sand and clear, transparent water.
SIGHTSParochial Church of St Peter the Apostle (18th C)17th-C manorial home (Palacio señorial)
FIESTASSt Peter the ApostleOur Lady of the Fevers (September)
THE CASTLE FACING THE SEAThe city commands a view of the Valencian huerta from the hillside cooled by the fresh sea breeze, where the echo of Hannibal's army can still be heard. The heroic defence of the city encouraged Rome to transform this outpost in Hispania into a specially esteemed municipium lying along the Via Augusta running along the coast. The serrated hilltop is crowned with the remains of the castle, practically one kilometre long, with stretches of wall from Roman, Moorish and Medieval times. Inside are a total of seven fortified areas or plazas. On a tour of the castle visitors will discover constructions from various periods: cisterns, pavings, remains of the Roman forum, temples, columns and friezes...
THE ROMAN THEATRE... and the Roman theatre, constructed in the 1st century, and declared a National Monument in 1896. It was built into the hillside and offers excellent acoustics for staging theatre and musical events, such as the summer festival 'Sagunt a Escena', held every year.
THE JEWISH QUARTERLa Judería, or the Jewish Quarter, has narrow alleyways with whitewashed houses and lancet arches that connect streets and form an interesting labyrinth for strolling round and imagining the days of old. Flanking the castle is the Calvary route, the scene of a representation staged by the Brotherhood of the Most Holy and Pure Blood during Holy Week, a rite reaching back to the 16th century. Other monuments include the Gothic church of Santa María, the church of El Salvador, the Chapel of La Sangre, the remains of the temple to Diana, and the gateway to the Roman circus, all forming part of the rich history of ancient Saguntum.
MILES OF BEACHESFive kilometres from Sagunto is the port district - a town in its own right - called Puerto de Sagunto, grown up around the local steel industry. Its extensive coastline gives fun and sun lovers lots of opportunities for enjoyment, in a wise combination of sightseeing and sunbathing. There are 13 kilometres of beaches, some with dune areas, such as the beaches of Malvarrosa, Corinto, Almardá and Puerto Sagunto.
SIGHTSRoman castle, Roman theatre (1st C), Remains of the Temple of Diana (5-6th C BC), Church of El Salvador (13th C), Gate to the Roman Circus (2nd-3rd C), Aqueduct, Church of St Mary (14th C), Chapel of La Sangre(18th C), Jewish Quarter.
MUSEUMSSagunto Castle, Tel. 96 266 55 81Roman Theatre, Tel. 96 266 55 81
FIESTASFallas (15-19 March), Sagunto Holy Week (April)St Raimond the Unborn (20-31 August), St Anne (1-5 July)
Towards the Sierra CalderonaThe Sierra Calderona mountains offer a balcony overlooking the market gardens and orchards of the Valencia coast, providing a panorama of the Gulf of Valencia, and southwards to the cape of San Antonio on a clear day. From the coast, travellers can visit the mountain towns of Náquera, Serra and Torres-Torres. The approach is via a narrow valley towards the mountains, passing by the fountain of Barraix and the peak of El Garbí (601 m). Before the ascent, on the skirts of the mountains, is the Carthusian monastery of Porta-coeli, preserving religious works by Ribalta and Alonso Cano. The summit of Rebalsadores (789 m) is the highest point in these pine-covered hills. Near the town of Gilet in the Palancia valley is the monastery of Santo Espíritu, a monumental complex built in the 15th century. A local inn can provide visitors with a few days of rest and relaxation among the Franciscan monks and provide a home base for hikes in the surrounding mountains.
GASTRONOMY AND CRAFTSMANSHIPThe entire lineup of Valencian rice and seafarer's cooking. From the classic paella to arròs negre (with squid), arròs a banda (rice in fish stock) and other dishes made from fresh produce from the local market gardens such as olla de féssols i naps (bean and turnip stew) and olla de carne (meat stew).
The most characteristic craft product made near here is a small kind of barrel made of cork, popularly called a colcho or colcha. It is made using the bark of the cork oak and encircled by finely-worked metal bands.
ACCESS
SAGUNTOVia the A-7 motorway (junction 50) and the N-340. Valencia Airport at 32km.Bus connections. Valencia-Barcelona railway line station.
LA POBLA DE FARNALSVia the N-221. Valencia Airport at 20km. Bus connections. Valencia-Barcelona railway line station. Valencia Metro line No. 3.
EL PUIGVia the A-7 motorway (junction 51) and the N-221. Valencia Airport at 23km. Bus connections.Valencia-Barcelona railway line station.
CANET D'EN BERENGUERVia the A-7 motorway (junction 59) and the N-340. Bus connections. Valencia Airport at 38km.
ALBORAYAVia the N-221. Valencia Airport at 11km. Bus connections to the beach and town centre. Valencia Metro line No. 3.