Exchange Zones

Our holiday home is on the outskirts of Gandia in a little Spanish working town of Palma de Gandia (Palms of Gandia)
The ground floor apartment has recently been converted from a traditional Valencian townhouse in a Moorish influenced cul-de-sac just off one of the main squares in the historical part of Palma de Gandia.

The town hestles under the Safor mountains and is almost surrounded by orange groves that stretch down to the sea and the wonderful Blue Flag beaches. The year round crop of oranges are the main source of income for the local people and are picked, sorted and boxed in the co-operative on the edge of the town. This part of town has narrow winding streets and passageways that criss cross into small squares and you can have a pleasant stroll meandering through the narrow alleyways, calling at one of the bars or walking through the orange groves down to the river.

The apartment is believed to be over 100 years old and has been sympathetically renovated and we have kept all the traditional Valencian features: the local priest blessed the property when the church was built many years ago.

The traditional double Valencian doors open onto a spacious L shaped open plan living area with a vaulted beamed ceiling. Through the doorway is a large hallway with seating where you can sit and take in the summer breeze. There is a formal dining area with a Moroccan theme and a further seating area with a reverse air con unit and a fireplace with a cast iron electric fire. There are 2 bedrooms (1 double with ceiling fan and 1 twin) both with hanging and storage space. Fully fitted bathroom with shower and the kitchen is well equippted and opens onto the private walled patio to the rear where there are small shrubs and trees, garden furniture and a gas bbq. Our property was recently featured on UK TV Channel 4 "A Place in the Sun".

Its only 2 minutes away from the local bakery, butcher and small supermarket and there are hypermarkets and supermarkets and shops in both Gandia and Oliva. There are bars/cafes and small restaurants within walking distance and in the summer there is an open air swimming pool where everyone is welcome.

The small city of Gandia once home to the Borgia family (Rodrigues Borgia eventually became Pope Alexander VI and was the father to Cesere and Lucretia). The beautiful Palace of the Borgias is a "must see" and the suprisingly plain Cathedral was the setting for the film "Lucretia". The historic part of Gandia is traffic free and you can enjoy the atmosphere in one of the many cafes or take a rest on the tree lined paseo. Gandia Playa is approx 1km from the city. About 8kms is the Moorish town of Oliva, divided into 3 areas, the seaside area, the new shopping area and the old Moorish town with its narrow winding streets dominated by the ruined castle of Santa Ana from where you can get a spectacular view of the coastline. Oliva also has a tree lined paseo with cafes and restaurants and on Friday there is a massive open market where local people come from miles around to sell everything and anything.

Bocairente is an medieval cobbled town where you can sip your sangria in a cave bar.

Xativa is where Rodrigues Borgia was born in the fabulous castle and where Hannibal and his family lived. Perched on top of a hill there are splendid views over the countryside. In the town itself there are some lovely old houses and it is said that there are over 1,000 fountains.

Most towns have their own castle (even Palma has a dilapidated one) perched on top of a hill.

There are plenty of Theme Parks and Safari Parks and Water Parks and an Animal Rescue Centre which depends on your donation and where you will find bears, tigers and lions happily living after being cruelly treated or abandoned.

Elche just south of Alicante has an ancient palm forest and in the Basilica you will find the life size state of Jose Marie Escriver, founder of Opus Deil. The city has an archaeological museum and Roman remains.

Peniscola has a beautiful crescent shaped beach where there is a fortified castle which was the backdrop for the film "El Cid". Travelling back to Gandia call in at Sagunto if you are not too tired and see the Roman remains including the well preserved Amphitheatre.

To visit Valencia stress free, try the train which winds its way through orange groves, vineyards and rice fields (famous for Paella) There is much to see in Valencia and top of the list is the Cathedral which holds the Holy Grail, the largest indoor market in Europe and the new museums l'Hemisferic and l'Oceanographic. You can take in the land marks with an open topped bus which you can hop on and off at the different places of interest