This municipal district is like a huge garden full of orange blossoms, whose fragrance permeates the entire area, even the streets of the town. There are picturesque sites here, like the Clot de la Mare de Deu. With substantial wealth derived from orange growing, inhabitants live in privileged surroundings, with lively spots for entertainment such as el Grao, las Terrazas, la Malvarrosa and the excellent Arenal beach. The town's artistic heritage is completed by a church with a handsome Gothic apse, frescoes by José Vergara and paintings by Josep Orient. Another noteworthy monument is the temple of Sant Blai which contains a beautiful image of the town's patron saint.
SIGHTSThe parochial church of El Salvador, Ex-convent and church of La Merced, now a cultural centre
MUSEUMSDistrict Archeology Museum, tel. 964 51 00 10Museum of the Orange, tel. 964 51 54 15Centre for Subaquatic Archeology, tel. 964 58 66 24
FIESTASSant Blai (February 3rd), Fallas (March 19th) and the feast of the Misericordia (September 8th) and Les Creus de Maig (May Crosses) on the first weekend in May
SPORTSValencia Regional Sailing School
The old town centre of Onda extends to the foot of the '300 Tower Castle', dominating an extensive plain. The centre has been declared a historic-artistic complex of cultural interest. Strolling through the meandering narrow streets, which reflect the concept of Moorish urban design and the way it adapts to the natural terrain, we are transported back to the Middle Ages. Awaiting discovery are the porticoed plaza of El Almudín - a square for socializing - the Sant Pere gateway, the church of La Sangre, built by Templars in the 13th century - illustrating the transition from late Romanesque work to Mudejar Gothic architecture - and tiny chapels such as that of San Vicente strewn throughout the ancient town centre - the Moorish quarter - and San José, in the square of the same name. From the Plaza de la Sinagoga, ascending to the castle, we can see one of the most typical areas in the town, popularly known as the escaletes dels gats (the Cats' Stairway). From Onda a trip to the nearby Natural Science Museum of El Carmen is recommended, located in an ancient convent, and offering an interesting sampling of flora, fauna and minerals. Also in the surroundings is the chapel of El Salvador, a site of popular pilgrimage. The Sitjar dam regulating the flow of the Mijares river provides a picturesque picnicking spot for many.
MUSEUMSMuseum of Natural Science, tel. 964 60 07 30Valencian Ceramics Museum, tel. 964 77 08 73
FIESTASThe Most Sacred Saviour (last week in October)
CERAMIC TRADITIONThe ceramic tradition found in the towns of the Plana Baixa has grown to become a flourishing ceramics industry, with 40% of Spain's ceramic tiles coming from this area. People who formerly sent their oranges to markets in London are now exporting ceramic floor and wall tiles around the world. In Onda, the Ceramics Museum preserves over 8,000 pieces ranging from Gothic tiles to the finest avant-garde designs produced today.
Vila-real was founded by King Jaime I, in the 13th century, and from this time comes the plaça de la Vila, with Gothic arches. The archpriest's church was constructed in the 18th century following plans by Juan José Nadal and decorations by José Vergara. Its burial chapel with the reliquaries of San Pascual Baylón, the dancing friar, became a site of popular prayer and devotion, with an ancient refectory decorated in 18th-century tiles and now converted into a museum. Also worth seeing in the town is the "Casa de Polo" Town Museum, with works by Gimeno Barón, Ortells, Gumbau and the Tárrega room. In the outskirts of town is the hermitage of Our Lady of Grace, a residential area where the Ethnology museum is located.
MUSEUMSMuseum of Fine Arts, Tel. 964 54 70 09
FIESTASSan Pascual Baylón (March) and Our Lady of Grace (September)
Boat tour of an underground river in Vall d'Uixò. Towards the interior, at the foot of the Sierra Espadán, lies the town of Vall d'Uixò, a town having specialized in footwear manufacturing for many years. One of the tourist sites in town are the famed Caves of St Joseph (San José), which contain Europe's longest underground stream which can be visited by boat. The 'Hall of the Bats' can be visited, after traversing the 'Mouth of the Oven' and paddling across 'Diana's Lagoon'. Around the caves is a recreational area and a few archeological remains, such as a Roman aqueduct. The spring that feeds the underground river is hidden under the hill crowned by the chapel of the Sacred Family. Vall d'Uixò celebrates the Fiesta de las Peñas in honour of the Sacred Family in the month of August, and San Vicente Ferrer in April.
The town of Nules preserves the church of the ancient Discalced Carmelite convent and the church of La Sangre from the 16th century, containing the chapel of Our Lady of Solitude (18th C) in rococo style and the historic museum of the erstwhile Marquisate of Nules. One kilometre from the centre of town is the walled enclosure of the Mascarell, now listed as a Historic-Artistic Monument. This site was probably founded by the Arabs expelled from the neighbouring town of Burriana, and still has its original walls in a good state of conservation. A visit to Pujol de Benicató is recommended to see the Roman villa found here with significant archeological remains. The coastline, just a few kilometres from the town, has tranquil beaches where bathing in the Mediterranean can be enjoyed.
MONUMENTSBenicató Roman villa and walled enclosure of Mascarell
MUSEUMSEnrique Giner Medal Museum, Tel. 964 67 43 61
FIESTASSt Bartholomew (second fortnight of August)San Joaquín (second fortnight of September)San Joaquín la segunda quincena de septiembre
Lying among the last spurs of the Sierra de Espadán, Vila-vella is well-known for the properties of its thermal waters, used by Romans and Moors. The spring called Font Calda provides thermal waters at a temperature of 27°C. The place called the Glorieta has a spa which has acquired fame for its health-giving waters. From the chapel of Sant Sebastià a broad view of the town and the surrounding district can be gained. Local festivities are held in the second fortnight of September.
BEACHES AND NATURE PARKSMarket gardens called 'huertas', orange orchards, and the calm Mediterranean coast with seafaring villages and tourist resorts all comprise this coastal stretch of the Plana Baixa district. In Almenara, Chilches and Moncofa there are broad beaches with clear, transparent water, offering an atmosphere popular with families. In Almenara, before you reach the sea, there are a series of estanys (lagoons) which provide picturesque scenery, forming an interesting wetland eco-system which has survived thanks to strong-flowing underwater springs. As in other Mediterranean marshland systems, there are numerous bird and water species such as llisas (grey mullet), samarucs, turtles, etc.
FIESTASChilches: Most Sacred Christ of the Reeds (end of September)Moncofa: St Anthony (January and October), St Magdalene (3rd week in July) and St Rocco (August)
Oranges, fruits and vegetables from the fertile coastal gardens, fresh fish and shellfish... all these natural ingredients will delight the palate. And of course, rice dishes are prepared in a thousand and one different ways - from the classic paella to arròs a banda (rice in fish stock), amb bledes (with spinach), plus the typical empedrats (rice and lentils) and amb fesols (with beans), the olleta de la Plana, rice with duck and all i pebre (eels in sauce) in Almenara, and for dessert pilotes de crema (cream puffs) and rollet de Sant Blai (St Blaise's rolls) in Burriana.
BURRIANAACCESS: Via the A-7 motorway (junction 48) and the N-340. Valencia Airport at 65km. RENFE railway station.
VILA-REALVia the A-7 motorway (junction 48) and the N-340. Valencia Airport at 66km. RENFE railway station.
MONCOFAVia the A-7 motorway (junction 49) and the N-340. Valencia Airport at 53km. RENFE railway station.
LA VALL D'UIXÒVia the A-7 motorway (junction 49) and the N-340. Valencia Airport at 59km.
ONDAVia the A-7 motorway (junction 48) and the N-340. Valencia Airport at 83km.