About Valencia

Spain's third-largest city, and capital of the province of Valencia, home to paella and the Holy Grail, it is also blessed with great weather and the spring festival of Las Fallas, one of the wildest parties in the country. One of Valencia's best attractions is the baroque Palacio del Marqués de Dos Aguas.

Located just below Mount Montduver (841m), Marxuquera is an area of pine covered mountains and orange groves, enjoying a mild climate all year round. Between October and March the orange trees are laden with fruit and in April the air is heavy with the scent of their blossom. Dotted in amongst the groves are small villages with farmhouses and friendly Spanish bars. There is good walking to be had on Mount Montduver and further up into the mountains, both for those who are dedicated walkers and those who prefer a scenic stroll.

You can walk for miles and not see another soul, smelling the wild rosemary and enjoying the spectacular views, stopping to rest beneath the mountain pines to eat one of Villa Florencia's packed lunches. Discover the tranquil valleys of the interior or take an excursion round the La Safor Cirque.

The City of Gandia is good for shopping and restaurants, with monumental buildings and rich historical heritage. Visit the Palace of the Borgias, an outstanding example of 14th Century architecture, or admire the Colegiata, a Gothic church constructed over an ancient Moorish mosque. Reach back into the past at the Archeological Museum of Gandia with its rich collection of prehistoric silex and bone utensils and engraved stone plaques. If its nightlife you are after, Gandia has a wide variety of entertainment to suit all tastes, especially during the summer months..

The white sandy beaches are long and wide with palm trees and restaurants lining the promenades where people like to stroll before 'sundowners' or dinner and watch the sun set over the blue Mediterranean.