Oliva Sightseeing
Sightseeing in Oliva. Places to visit around Oliva.
Marjal Marsh and Natural Park Oliva
Santa María la Mayor church Oliva / Iglesia de Santa Maria – Oliva
Oliva Town Hall. Ajuntament d’Oliva.
Places to Visit around Oliva
About 15 minutes drive south, between Denia and Javea, there is La Sella Club with its mainly flat “use all the clubs in the bag” course. The course is in a beautiful setting with a mountain backdrop, many trees and water obstacles (in the form of the various canals and lakes which irrigate the course).
Other sports available in and around Oliva include horse riding, go-karting, cycling (bikes can be hired from shops in the town), mountaineering and of course a huge variety of water sports. The towns municipal sports centre has indoor and outdoor pools and facilities for wall tennis, basketball and petanque.
Within easy reach of Oliva there are some wonderful day trips and excursions to enjoy.
Valencia is only one hours drive north with its excellent shops, restaurants, beautiful palm-fringed squares and stylish architecture. The
Principe Felipe Arts and Science Centre has become one of Spains most visited attractions since it opened in December 2001 – with its emphasis on inter-active exhibits, this makes a great day out for children and adults alike. The complex includes an
aquarium, dolphinarium and planetarium.
Just 40 minutes drive south is the lively international resort of
Benidorm. Here you will find
Aqualandia, the biggest aquapark in the region with a wide selection of rides, slides, waves and pools.
Mundomar is a marine park with a dolphin show and located just outside Benidorm is the famous
Terra Mitica theme park, the antastic theme park which is the largest in the Mediterranean. with the Terra Mitica theme park, and a host of other tourist attractions.
To the north west of Benidorm, and about 30 minutes drive inland from Oliva, lies the ancient Moorish fortress of
Guadalest, perched impossibly on its mountain pinnacle. The drive alone will take your breath away and the views from the castle are simply staggering. It is sheltered by high mountains and dramatic peaks which have created a microclimate where a wide range of fruit trees are grown. Oranges, lumquats, almonds and olives line the valley which becomes a sea of pink blossoms in the early springtime. Guadalest is a major tourist attraction so brace yourself for crowds and too many tacky gift shops but it is still worth a visit, as are the nearby Algar waterfalls.
Another fascinating excursion (and one which has not yet been over-run by tourists) is to the Cova del Rull in Vall d’Ebo, inland from
Pego. The drive over the mountains, via many steep and somewhat hazardous bends, is probably enough to deter many a wary traveller. But at the end of it you will be treated to a staggeringly beautiful display of stalactites and stalagmites in a cathedral-like mountain cavern.
Gandia
10 kms north of Oliva between the coast and mountains in the heart of La Safor region. Its rich cultural heritage can be seen in its many monuments and historic buildings such as the Ducal Palace, The Golden Gallery, The Hall of Crowns and The Plaza Mayor, a civic, administrative, commercial and religious centre. Beaches at Gandia are excellent with a Blue Flag awarded at Playa Nord. Gandia Tourist Information Website
Valencia
75 kms to the north of Oliva on the A7 motorway or the Spanish national road the N332. Here you can visit the modern Ciudad de Las Artes y Las Ciencias with its fabulous L’Oceanografic sea world. Valencia Tourist Information Website
El Vergel Safari Park – Currently closed July 2011
Enjoy a new sensation seeing the lions and tigers in complete freedom. Come on a safari and admire the leopards, jaguars, Iberian wolves, primates and hundreds of totally free animals. Various attractions include karts, trampolines, boats, Congo train, horses and an exotic ride on a camel.
Denia
Has many shops, bars and restaurants as well as being the closest town to Oliva from where you can take a train as far south as Alicante. There are many stops at coastal towns such as Altea, Calpe and Villajoyosa as well as Benidorm if you prefer a livelier environment. There is also a port at Denia which has several ferry services to the island of Ibiza. Denia Tourist Information Website
Javea
This is also a busy town with a lively bay area known as The Arenal. Here you can find many bars and restaurants close to the waters edge surrounded by a beautiful beach. Javea Xabia Tourist Information Website
Pedreguer and La Nucia
Every Sunday both these towns hold what are known as “Rastros”, the equivalent of the traditional English car boot sale. A must for all you bargain hunters! Pedreguer Tourist Information Website
