Gandia
General Information
Gandia Useful Telephone Numbers
Gandia Golf Course
Map of Gandia
Gandia Weather Forecasts
Gandia Webcams
Property For Sale in Gandia
Gandia Shops Bars Services
Camping in Gandia
Restaurants in Gandia
Bed and Breakfast and Guest Houses in Gandia
Sport and Leisure Activites in Gandia
Gandia Tourist Information Offices
Hotels in Gandia
For reception of UK Satellite TV in Gandia, Sky TV in Gandia and Freesat TV in Gandia see "The Sat and PC Guy - Satellite TV Installations".
Gandia Tourist Information
Gandia, with population over 77,000, is a city and municipality in the Valencian Community, Eastern Spain on the Mediterranean. Gandia is located on the Costa del Azahar, 65 km south of Valencia and 96 km north of Alicante.
How to get to Gandia
By road: Gandia can easily be accessed via the N332 coastal road and the A-7 motorway. To get to Gandía you can use the Mediterranean motorway A-7, following exit number 60. The N-332 national road is the main road to the Valencian coast which connects Gandía with Alicante and Valencia, just as the N-430 connects with the centre of the peninsula. And with the CV60 newly opened to Ontinyent and Alcoy inland and the A7 and N332 running north and south, Gandia is perfectly situated.
By Air: Gandia is close to Valencia airport which is approximately 45 minutes drive away. Also consider Alicante airport approximately 100 km to the south although it is about an hour and a half drive.
By Rail: Gandias railway station is located at Parc de l'Estacio which happens to be handily placed next to Gandia's tourist information office. There are frequent trains from Gandia to Valencia which is only about 65 km to the north. During the summer months, FGV runs two trains per day between Gandía and Madrid, but for the rest of the year there is only one. There are trains every half an hour to Valencia all day, and from Valencia you can connect with services to all other Spanish and European cities.
Gandia History
While it is generally thought that Gandia did not exist as a town much before 1240 when Jaime I took control of the region from the Moors, there is evidence of human activity going back to the Palaeolithic Era (artefacts and remains found in the caves of Meravalles and Parpalló). The area was also settled by Iberians (an early race of Spanish peoples)
and later by the Romans, before the Arabs (Moors) invaded in the Eighth Century. The urban development of Gandia appears to have started in the 14th Century, as commerce and agriculture flourished in this growing town. The 1st Duke of Gandia (Marti L’Huma) was so declared in 1359 and he made great advancements for the town including some important architectural works which began at about this time including the Palau
Ducal (Duke’s Palace), the Convent of San Jeronimo de Cotalba and the collegiate Church of Santa Maria (a fine example of Valencian Gothic architecture).The late 15th Century saw the arrival in Gandia of the Borja (Borjia) family, a name inextricably linked to the town from this time onwards, with the arrival of the Borjas, Gandia’s growth increased in pace, and did so right up until the 18th Century. Rodrigo Borja who came to Gandia in 1485 later became the notorious Pope Alexandro VI.
The port of Gandia was inaugurated in 1886 and 7 years later in 1893 the railway line to Alcoy was opened bringing more trade and commerce to the town. The port was once the major export point for Valencian oranges and while it is not considered to be quite so important these days, the port of Gandia still has a busy fishing fleet.
Today, Gandia is one of the largest coastal towns and a thriving centre of commerce and tourism in the region. There are two main zones, Gandia City, which has all the historical monuments, commercial activity, and shopping, and Gandia beach, where all the apartments and summer residences used during the summer season are to be found. The beach and town are actually some 2 km apart which succeeds in separating summer tourism from day-to-day living.
The beach area of Gandia, which is separate from the main town, is extremely popular with Spanish tourists and the restaurants, bars and shops there are mostly Spanish, unlike many other Costa Blanca resorts, which have a more international flavour. The beaches are golden and
sandy and are without doubt some of the best beaches along this coastline. Playa Nord stretches for some 3.5 kilometres and is lined with shops, bars and restaurants. There are lots of other beaches, which in all extend for about 20 kilometres.
The bars and nightclubs are concentrated in the beach area. As is normal for Spain, nightlife does not take off until well after midnight.
There are a number of interesting places that are worth visiting. The previously mentioned Palau Ducal (Duke’s Palace) is an impressive Gothic palace, it was acquired by the famous Borja family in the Fifteenth Century and was extended and improved over subsequent centuries, the
palace is mostly renowned for its shimmering ceramic tile mosaics. The Palau Ducal situated in Calle Duc Alfons el Vell 1. Also certainly worth a visit are the Church of Santa Maria and the Museo Archeológico (Archaeological Museum).
Only three kilometres away is the Port, Yacht Basin and Gandia Playa coastal resort offering a seven km promenade (over underground car parking ) faced with palm trees and golden sands. A major holiday playground for visitors from Madrid. Gandia is within a short car drive of towns such as Tavernes, Oliva, Ondara with its ancient Bull ring, Denia yacht basin, Javia and the
Montgo mountain. Benidorm 50 minutes by car and the beautiful city of Valencia just 45 minutes by rail. Last, but by no means least, the ancient city of Xativa with its dramatic well preserved historic castle is just 1 hours pleasant car ride away.
