Accommodation Blog - Villa Florencia Casa Rural Gandia

La Murta Valley – Alzira

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La Murta Valley, located near Alzira in the Valencian Community of Spain, is a hidden gem for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. This picturesque valley, nestled within the Sierra de Corbera mountain range, offers an idyllic escape into nature, where visitors can immerse themselves in the serenity of lush landscapes, rich history, and diverse wildlife. The valley is renowned for its beautiful walking trails that meander through ancient forests, past historic ruins, and alongside tranquil streams. The most popular route is the circular walk that takes visitors through the heart of La Murta Valley. This trail, approximately 6 kilometers long, is suitable for walkers of all levels, offering both gentle paths and more challenging ascents for those seeking adventure. As you begin your walk, you’ll be greeted by the sight of the valley’s abundant flora, including Mediterranean pine, oak, and a variety of aromatic herbs. The air is filled with the scent of rosemary and thyme, creating a truly sensory experience. The trails are well-marked, with signs providing information about the local flora, fauna, and the valley’s history. One of the highlights of walking in La Murta Valley is the opportunity to explore the ruins of the Monastery of La…

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Xativa Castle

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Xàtiva Castle, perched on the Sierra del Castell ridge in the town of Xàtiva, Spain, is a monumental fortress with a history that spans more than a thousand years. This impressive stronghold, strategically located overlooking the plains of Valencia, has witnessed countless historical events and played a crucial role in the region’s defense and power struggles. The origins of Xàtiva Castle can be traced back to the Iberian and Roman periods, though its most significant development occurred during the Muslim rule in the 8th century. Under Moorish control, the castle was expanded and fortified, becoming a key defensive structure in the region. The strategic importance of Xàtiva, situated on the route between the interior of Spain and the Mediterranean coast, made it a prized possession for any ruler. The castle is divided into two distinct parts: the Castell Menor (Minor Castle) and the Castell Major (Major Castle). The Castell Menor occupies the site of the original Iberian and Roman fortifications and offers a glimpse into the ancient past of the region. The Castell Major, however, is the more substantial of the two and was extensively fortified during the Muslim period and later by the Christian conquerors. In 1244, during the…

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Altea Outing

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St. Michael the Archangel Russian Orthodox Church in Altea, Spain, is a stunning architectural gem and a spiritual haven for the Russian Orthodox community on the Costa Blanca. Nestled amidst the picturesque surroundings of Altea, a charming coastal town known for its whitewashed buildings and scenic views, this church stands out with its unique design and cultural significance. Built in 2002, St. Michael the Archangel Church was the first Russian Orthodox church constructed in Spain. The project was initiated and funded by the local Russian community, with contributions from Russian philanthropists. Its design reflects traditional Russian architecture, characterized by its wooden construction, golden onion domes, and intricate iconography. The church’s exterior is reminiscent of the classic Russian churches found in Moscow and other parts of Russia, evoking a sense of nostalgia and connection to the homeland for Russian expatriates and visitors. Inside the church, the atmosphere is serene and reverent, with walls adorned with icons depicting various saints and scenes from the Bible. The iconostasis, a screen decorated with icons, separates the altar from the congregation and is a central feature of the Orthodox liturgy. The church is dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel, a revered figure in Christian tradition,…

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Castillo de Bayren / Castell de Bairén

Castillo de Bayren / Castell de Bairén Bayren Castle If you feel like having a nearby excursion that incorporates a gentle hike as well as a taste of local history, then maybe a visit to the ruined Bayren Castle on the northern outskirts of Gandia could be the answer. It was probably first built as a Roman fortification and look-out post rather than as protection for local towns, and dates back further than the founding of Gandia itself around 1240. First mentioned in reference to a battle in 1097, the castle itself is now in a ruined state but has recently been the subject of a restoration project. As a result, the whole area it occupies is now very much more visitor friendly, and has been designated an archaeological park. Parc Arqueològic del Castell de Bairén You can park your car at the base of the rock and make your way up the newly-constructed trail that leads to the summit and the castle itself, with plenty of resting and viewing points along the way. After an ascent of some 106m above sea-level you arrive at the summit and are rewarded with spectacular views of the surrounding area in all directions,…

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Parpallo Cave – an excursion

Parpallo Cave A mountain walk with a bit of pre-history! Coming from Gandia, just before the outskirts of La Drova, is the starting point for several beautiful and well-marked mountain walks in the Parpalló-Borrell conservation area. However, at the Parpallo Cave – Information Centre there, one can take the opportunity to discover more than just mountain walks because it is also the starting point for a guided tour to the famous “Cueva del Parpalló” – a cave of great archaeological significance. Inhabited by ancient man from about 29,000 until 10,000 years ago, this cave was believed to be a meeting point for the various clans that lived along the Mediterranean coast at the time, facilitating trade as well as increasing the gene pool amongst the different groups. Of great significance are the very many examples of cave art (mainly scratched-out pictures on the rock) that were discovered here, far more than at any other site in Europe. Many of these, as well as tools and weapons, are now on display in the Prehistoric Museum in Valencia and MUSEU ARQUEOLÒGIC Gandia. Guided visits to the cave can be arranged, and these start with a video in the Information Centre followed by…

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Villa Florencia Summer 2021 Update

Summer 2021 at Villa Florencia Casa Rural is, not unexpectedly, turning out to be another one of uncertainty as far as travel is concerned – especially international travel. However, we are happy to say that very many of our past guests are feeling safe enough to visit us, as well as welcoming many new local Spanish faces too. Our self-catering apartment is proving especially attractive to families, who are looking to have a sunshine break, but with the added reassurance of extra privacy and distance from others. As well as bed and breakfast guests in our rooms, we have also had several larger family groups who have rented the whole property – again with the reassurance that they can enjoy time together safely, rather than in the environment of a conventional hotel with other guests. At Villa Florencia we always aim to make our guests feel as welcome and safe as possible, and this year is certainly no exception. With the several sun terraces and large pool there is no difficulty in maintaining a safe distance from others whilst enjoying a very welcome break. We hope of course that life will return to normal in the year to come, but…

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Bed and Breakfast in the Mountains

Bed and Breakfast in the Mountains Summer 2020 – Bed and Breakfast in the Mountains.Having been living and working in Villa Florencia for nearly 14 years, I can certainly say – for reasons we are all too familiar with – that this has been our quietest year for guest bookings yet! However, things are gradually easing up in Spain and we now feel able to look forward to welcoming guests back again soon, although slightly differently than before! In order to maintain social distancing, when we let our rooms on a Bed & Breakfast basis this year, we shall only be operating at around 50% capacity, although of course our self-catering apartment can accommodate a family of 4 with no need for distancing, assuming they are from the same household. Bearing that in mind, we are also accepting block bookings for the main B&B rooms on a self-catering basis this year – in other words for a large family group to rent the main floor of the house on a self-catering basis too. Whatever the situation of the bookings we receive, our guests’ health and well-being is of the utmost importance to us, so anyone booking with us can be…

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Monastery of Sant Jeroni de Cotalba

The monastery of Sant Jeroni de Cotalba is one of the most historic monastic constructions in Valencia and located near Alfauir, a village about eight kilometres outside Gandia. The Monastery of Sant Jeroni de Cotalba, located near Alfauir in the province of Valencia, Spain, is a remarkable historical site that reflects centuries of religious, cultural, and architectural development. Founded in the 14th century, this monastery has witnessed the rise and fall of empires, the transformation of religious practices, and the enduring influence of the Jerónimos order in Spain. Foundation and Early History The origins of the Monastery of Sant Jeroni de Cotalba date back to 1374 when it was founded by Alfonso of Aragon, the Duke of Gandia. The monastery was established as a religious house for the Jerónimos, a Catholic monastic order known for their dedication to prayer, study, and manual labor. The site chosen for the monastery was strategically located in the fertile lands of the Safor region, providing the monks with the necessary resources to sustain their contemplative lifestyle. The initial construction of the monastery was modest, but it quickly grew in both size and importance. The Jerónimos were well-connected to the royal family and the nobility,…

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Biker Friendly Accommodation in Spain

Motorbike Friendly Accommodation in Spain

Motorbike guests on the way home! Spain is a very biker friendly country with a tremendously good road infrastructure – and far fewer cars than in the UK or many other countries in Europe. This makes for an ideal place to enjoy a ride on your motorbike if you are a resident here and of course a great holiday destination for a motorbike road trip. We have always been pleased to welcome guests on a motorbike holiday and have had many such visitors in the past – often visiting us several times. We were therefore very pleased when we received a booking from Tony and his friend Dave who wanted to stay with us as part of their trip back to England, after having enjoyed a biking holiday in the area to the south of Alicante. They had spent time with their wives in a villa in Alicante province, having crossed over to Spain via the ferry to Santander and biked direct down from there. Once at their destination, they hired a car for their wives to use during their visit, whilst Tony and Dave enjoyed taking their bikes out on the open and uncrowded roads in the area Once…

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2015 Year in Review

bed and breakfast accommodation with pool

Villa Florencia Gandia 2015 has been a busy year for us all at Villa Florencia, with a constant succession of guests both old and new. This marks our 9th full year of welcoming visitors into our home and it is great to see so many of them coming back to us year after year. Our general mix of guests this year was very much along the usual lines, with a large number coming (not surprisingly) for the sunshine and warmth that is not to be found in the northern parts of Europe so easily, but also many coming for a variety of other reasons. Over the years we have been able to promote ourselves to certain “niche” markets that all help to make Villa Florencia an appealing place to stay and enjoy what the local area has to offer The year started with beautiful weather – which developed into a very hot summer – and this early sunshine encouraged our first rock-climbing visitors to stay with us. The whole area of the Costa Blanca is a well-known destination for climbers in the cooler months of the year and it is always a pleasure to have them stay with us here….

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Las Fallas & Easter Fiestas

Las Fallas Fiesta in Gandia! “Las Fallas” is one of the biggest fiestas of the year in the Valencia region – it’s the one that everyone has seen pictures about, where the different districts of each town build huge wood and papier-mâché effigies about local events and then they all get burnt to the ground on the night of March 19th – St. Joseph’s day. The fiesta is a huge attraction for tourists, both Spanish and foreign, and we were delighted to welcome Sandy and her husband David back to us for a second year to enjoy the preparations and festivities. They chose to stay in our self-catering apartment again as they found last year that it suited them perfectly. They combined their accommodation there with taking breakfast and dinner in the dining terrace with the other guests, so had the advantages of both. As far as Valencian residents are concerned, Fallas marks the end of the old season – essentially winter – and the beginning of the spring and all things new. It always culminates on the same date, March 19th, and so also marks the beginning of the build-up to the most important time of year of all…

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Pet Friendly Holidays in Spain

Last week we were visited by Helena and Stuart, who wanted to spend some time in the spring sunshine on their Pet Friendly Holidays in Spain. They were attracted not only by the chance to have some warmer temperatures than where they live in France, but also by the fact that they were able to bring their lovely dog Angelo along with them to enjoy our pet friendly accommodation. They also decided to have a bit of a reunion with a good friend of theirs from their native Scotland – Maggie – who flew out the following day to join them here. Helena, Stuart and Angelo arrived on the Sunday afternoon by car from France and soon settled in to their room. Angelo made friends with our dogs in no time and before long they were all playing happily in the garden like one extended family. Angelo even grew accustomed to our cats very quickly and learned that a slow approach is needed if you want to make real friends with them! After dinner that night, they were all more than happy to retire for an early night and a well-earned rest after their long journey. The next day was…

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