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Oliva has a land nature reserve | Many Festivities in Oliva | Monuments | Gastronomy | Sandy longest Beaches | Sports
Oliva has a land nature reserve Excursions and Beauty-spots
The park, of approximately 1000 hectares, brings together the water off of the Sierra de la Gallinera and Mustalla giving the area the necessary conditions for different species of migratory birds to rest and nest. Visitors can find storks, river fowl, and royal herons. The San Pere bridge leads to the Font Salada, thermal waters with medicinal properties specially recommended for dermatological problems. The surrounding area is populated with water plants such as reeds and irises. Besides the marshlands, Oliva has several kilometres of beaches, conditioned with all the necessary services to enjoy its fine sand and crystalline waters. (»up)
FALLAS
Classification: Local / Beginning Date: 15-03 / End Date: 19-03
FESTIVITY IN HONOUR OF THE SANTÍSIMO CRISTO DE SAN ROQUE
Classification: Religious / Beginning Date: 01-05 / End Date: 03-05
FESTIVITY OF EASTER WEEK
Classification: Religious Beginning / Date: 17-04 / End Date: 20-04. Variable
MOORS AND CHRISTIANS FESTIVITY PROGRAM
Classification: Local / Beginning Date: 12-07 / End Date: 20-07.
FESTIVITY IN HONOUR OF SAN ANTONIO ABAD
Classification: Local / Beginning Date: 17-01 / End Date: 19-01
FESTIVITY IN HONOUR OF THE VIRGEN DEL REBOLLET
Classification: Religious / Beginning Date: 01-09 / End Date: 08-09
FESTIVITY IN HONOUR OF THE VIRGEN DEL CARMEN
Classification: Religious / Beginning Date: 16-07 / End Date: 16-07 (»up)
SANTA MARÍA CHURCH
Address: Plaza de España / Tel. 962963062
SAN ROQUE CHURCH
Classification: BIC Monument / Opening hours: Work days and Saturdays, 19.30. Sundays, 08.00 to 11.30 19.30. / Date/Century: XVI / Address: Pl. de San Roque / Tel. 962963302
SANTA ANA CASTLE
Address: C/ Mayor, 10 / Tel. 962851667
ENLIGHTENMENT MUSEUM
Address: Calles Duque de Osuna, del Palacio y Vicent Albert
ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM
Terranova-Burguera
Pau-Pi
Aigua Blanca
L'Aigua Morta
Rabdells
Les Deveses Beach
On the southernmost tip of the province of Valencia, on the border with Alicante province, the La Goleta dock is the site of the Oliva yacht club. It offers modern installations, including a café, restaurant, swimming pool, meeting rooms and terraces with lots of animated social life during the summer months. The club has a sailing school which is especially appropriate for young aspiring sailors. Address: Alfonso el Magnánimo, s/n / Tel: 962 853 423 Oliva (Valencia Terra i Mar)
Oliva Surf
Address: Paseo Roger de Lauria, 5 / Tel: 962 855 498 / 609 225 418 Oliva (Valencia Terra i Mar)
Indoor Swimming Pool The facilities have different courts on which to practice different sports such as fronton, athletics or basketball. In the indoor swimming pool, open all year round, there are courses programmed for all ages. Address: INDOOR SWIMMING POOL Calle Gabriel Miró, 32 / Tel. 962850221 (»up)
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The great "Fallera" week brings to Oliva a great entertainment spectacle of music, colour and fire, that is kept going in the streets of the town throughout the festivities. The fallas, have been celebrated since the 60s and are spread throughout the different neighbourhoods of the city. These monuments, elaborated with paper maché and wood, depict different scenes with an ironical and acidic touch. During the festivities diverse acts are celebrated such as the entertaining "Cabalgata del Ninot" or the floral offering to the Virgen del Rebollet. But undoubtedly, the most emotive act of the fallas in Oliva comes on the day of San José with the traditional "cremà", in which fire devastates the monuments under the attentive gaze of all the "fallera" community members.
The most representative customs and traditions in Oliva take over the streets during the festivities of San Roque, which have been celebrated since the XVII century. The proclamation, in which all the "festeros" take part dressed in the traditional costume, announces the beginning of the festive day. The religious acts consist of the prayer of the "novena" in the chapel of Christ, completed by a solemn procession. Theatrical representations, sporting competitions of Valencian ball and fancy dress cavalcades are just some of the different and most playful acts.
The Easter Week festivity in Oliva has gained the recognition of the whole region as being the oldest of the territory. On Holy Friday the religious manifestations begin with the Vía Crucis on the mountain of Santa Ana. At dawn, the images of the ‘Dolorosa’ arrive with the members of the different confraternities. The evening brings one of the most enduring traditions of Holy Week in Oliva, the "desenclavamiento", a lyrical - religious representation in which Christ is lowered from the cross and liberated from his torture. On Easter Sunday the "Encuentro" is interpreted on the ‘Paseo Juan Carlos I’.
Oliva is one of the municipalities of the Valencian Community that lives with great intensity the Moors and Christian festivities, which commemorate the struggles between the two forces for the territory. One of the most distinguished acts of the festive week is the ‘ Day of the Entry ’ which is celebrated on the Friday. The captains, ambassadors and standard-bearers, along with other festive protagonists, parade in sensational costumes, and provide an exceptional spectacle of colour and music. Later the disembarkation is represented with the landing of the Moorish Emissary whilst the Christians wait on the coast where the battle is interpreted with fireworks. On Saturday evening a curious spectacle takes place, a living chess game is disputed between the two armies. The last of the representations is the " Reconquest of the Castle " on behalf of the Christians who fight to re-conquer the castle. The struggles finish on Sunday with the ‘ Day of the Brotherhood ’ and a great parade.
San Antonio is celebrated in Oliva with the installation of the traditional 'porrat', a typical custom to the whole region. The event, of medieval origin, consists of a travelling market being installed in the ‘plaza San Roque’. Many stalls sell products like candied fruits, nuts, toffee apples and hammer shaped sweets. Sunday is dedicated to religious acts in honour of the Saint. At the hermitage of the Santos Antonios a great concentration of animals are blessed after the celebration of a Mass ceremony. At the same time ‘ blessed bread ’ is on sale at different stalls set up along the principal streets.
The festivities in honour of the Virgen del Rebollet, Patron Saint of the city, begin with a peregrination, in which hundreds of pilgrims take part, accompanied with a cane from which they hang a pumpkin. The procession moves the image of the Virgin, a Romanesque sculpture from the XII century, considered to be the most ancient Marian representation of the Valencian Community, from the Plaza de Santa María up to the Castle. There is a Mass ceremony celebrated in honour of the Patron Saint. Later, at lunchtime, the "romeros" distribute wine and fruits amongst the attendees.
The maritime character of Oliva means that the people of the sea honour their Patron Saint by means of a procession at sea, in which the majority of the crafts of the municipality take part.
A good example of Valencian architecture of the epoch, it has three Naves. It was begun in the Baroque style and was ended in the academic – classical style. The belfry stands out, as does the chapel of the Virgin of the Rosario and the ‘transagrario’, which acts as a buttress to the apse. It shelters a museum of ornaments, images and gold work, in which it is possible to see, among other pieces, a chalice from the Centelles family from the XVI century
Its roots are in the Moslem community that occupied the Raval throughout half of the XV century. The current temple is from the XIX century with the exception of the chapel of Christ, which was built in 1749. The chapel is an authentic baroque jewel, along with the frescos of its domes.
The castle is on mount Santa Ana, where the remains of the fortifications of the hermitage of the same name can also be found. It has a rectangular layout and has two circular towers placed at the Northeast and the Southwest of the fortress.
The building integrated into the historical nucleus of the city has three floors, with a noble floor and a "cambra". The entrance, with rounded arch and ‘dovelas’, bears the shield of the Mayans. The decoration of the front consists of the strategic location of large windows on each floor. Nowadays it houses a cultural centre and the Illustration Museum.
A building with great architectonic interest, recently restored and dated between the 16th-18th centuries. The permanent exhibition in the museum offers us a journey through the different cultures that populated our lands. There, one can contemplate tools and objects from prehistoric times up to the 16th century and a magnificent collection of object from the palace of the Centelles.
The gastronomy of Oliva is characterised by the use of typically Mediterranean ingredients that contribute to a healthy and balanced diet. Among the most traditional recipes are ‘ Coques to the Calfó ’, a thin base elaborated with wheat and corn flour accompanied by different products, or 'Figatells', a mixture of pork with spices kneaded into balls accompanied with mustard. The sea and cattle farming contribute an exquisite combination in dishes such as prawns with spinach. Also, stuffed peppers stands out on the menu, with the flavour of traditional cooking. And of course: the most well kown dish of our Valencian cuisine: our tasty “Paella.
Beach Situated on the northern extreme of the town, it is a beach of natural aspect with an outstanding dune and Mediterranean vegetation cordon behind which an important marsh area is located. Its sand is fine and golden and waters show a very clean aspect. 
More than one kilometre of open fine sand beach located in a residential urban environment. It has two stretches of beach adapted with all necessary services for people with reduced mobility. One of this stretches is at Alfonso el Magnánimo, next to the yacht port, and the other in front of Plaza de Europa, on the southern extreme bordering on the beach Aigües Blanques.
Beach Dunes and Mediterranean vegetation shape the characteristic image of this semi-urban beach of fine sand and clean water, being almost three kilometres long and reaching El Riuet dels Gorgs.
L’Aigua Morta gives name to the stretch comprising from river Vedat to the residential area San Fernando. Open fine sand beach of rustic aspect with an important dune cordon being one of its main attractions.
A perfectly conserved dune cordon gives a special attraction to this open fine sand beach of more than one kilometre extending from El Riuet dels Gorgs to river Vedat.
Located on the most southern extreme of the province of Valencia, it reaches river Molinell and beaches in Denia. Beach of fine sand with an environment marked by dunes covered with vegetation. In summer, Llebeig wind usually blowing in the afternoon, attracts several windsurfers. 
Club náutico de Oliva
Located on the tranquil Oliva beach, betweeen the lively tourist resorts of Gandia and Denia. Oliva Surf offers tuition and hire services for light sailing and windsurfing, and sea kayaks. The centre opens from March to September and offers a group programme that combines sailing with other activities like bodyboard, kneeboard, kayak surfing, kayak polo and donut ski.
