Villa Xauxa Gandia

Villa Florencia Casa Rural, Rural accommodations with pool.Carrer de la Penya Roja 2, Xauxa, Marchuquera (46728), Gandia, Spain Xauxa derives its name from Arabic, which means passage or gate. Xauxa (Catalan references,…)País imaginari on hi ha tot el que es desitja. / País imaginario donde está todo lo que se desea. Imaginary country where there is everything you want. Situació o lloc on no hi ha cap mena d’obligació i es fa el que es desitja.Situación o lugar donde no existe obligación alguna y se hace lo que se desea.Situation or place where there is no obligation and you do what you want. The term “Xauxa” has intriguing roots connected to both linguistic evolution and local geography in the Gandia region of Spain. Origins of the Word “Xauxa”: The word “Xauxa” is believed to have origins in Valencian and Catalan dialects, with its etymology possibly tracing back to the Arabic term “shauṣa,” which refers to a place or land, reflecting the region’s historical interactions with the Moors. Over time, the term evolved in local vernacular to describe specific geographic and cultural contexts within the Valencian Community. The exact origin is somewhat obscure, but it has been integrated into the local…

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2023 Drone Footage

Gandia Property for Sale

If a picture is worth a thousand words,… here is a three volume novel,….Villa Florencia Casa Rural in Gandia is earning high praise from visitors who are captivated by its charm, comfort, and the warm hospitality offered by its hosts. Nestled in the scenic countryside near Gandia, this rural retreat is becoming a favorite destination for those seeking a peaceful getaway in the heart of the Valencia region. Guests frequently highlight the beautiful setting of Villa Florencia, surrounded by lush orange groves and stunning views of the nearby mountains. The rural location, just a short drive from Gandia’s beaches, offers the perfect blend of tranquility and accessibility. Many visitors appreciate the ease of exploring the area’s natural beauty, including nearby hiking trails, while still being close to the vibrant culture and history of Gandia. The accommodations at Villa Florencia are consistently praised for their comfort and cleanliness. Visitors describe the rooms as spacious, tastefully decorated, and well-equipped with modern amenities, ensuring a relaxing stay. The traditional Spanish architecture of the villa, with its charming courtyards and terraces, adds to the appeal, creating an authentic and inviting atmosphere. One of the standout aspects of Villa Florencia is the hospitality of the…

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Citrus Production in the Gandia Region of Spain

Citrus Production in the Gandia Region of Spain: A Rich Legacy and Modern Industry The Gandia region of Spain, nestled in the heart of the Valencian Community, is renowned for its thriving citrus industry. This area, with its fertile soil, mild Mediterranean climate, and centuries-old agricultural traditions, has become a key player in the global citrus market. The region’s oranges, mandarins, and lemons are celebrated for their exceptional quality, flavor, and nutritional value, making them highly sought after in both domestic and international markets. This article will explore the rich history and current state of citrus production in the Gandia region, focusing on the specific varieties grown, the cultivation practices, and the major exporting companies that have made Gandia a hub for citrus trade. From the iconic Valencian oranges to the delicate Clemenules mandarins, Gandia’s citrus industry is a testament to the region’s agricultural prowess and commitment to excellence. The History of Citrus Cultivation in Gandia Citrus cultivation in the Gandia region has a long and storied history that dates back to ancient times. The first citrus trees were likely brought to Spain by the Moors in the 10th century, who introduced advanced irrigation techniques and agricultural practices that transformed…

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Bed and Breakfast in the Mountains

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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Spanish Property Hunters return for a second look

Spanish Property Hunters return for a second look! A couple of weeks ago we were glad to meet Malcolm who stayed with us for one night only at the end of a property hunting trip to Spain – but that was enough to convince him that this was the part of the country that would be right to look for a home in a serious way. He found a couple of properties that he liked during that visit, so now he returned to us, but this time with his partner Paul, in order to look again at some of the houses he had already viewed before, as well as to look at some others for the first time. They had in fact been staying in a hotel in the centre of Gandia for a couple of nights before coming to us in order to get a proper feel for the town they were thinking of making their home. This period spent in the town itself only helped to confirm in their minds that Gandia is indeed the vibrant place they had thought, with plenty of heart and soul to it and well able to supply everything they would want for…

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Guided Mountain Biking in Spain

Mountain Biking Trails of Spain

David (guide) Mario, Alain & Scott – Mountain Biking in Spain Scott, Alain and Mario from Montreal in Canada arrived on Sunday evening to stay with us for six nights and the purpose of their visit was to spend their time here mountain biking in Spain, in the beautiful mountains and countryside of the La Safor region. Scott and Alain had visited the area before, and although they had hired bikes then, they had not taken advantage of the guided mountain bike service that is available. This time they decided to do just that, and be shown new routes that they would otherwise not have discovered for themselves. After their evening arrival from Canada, they dined with us that night before getting some well-earned rest and attempting to adjust their body clocks to European time. The following morning though, on the Monday, they were eager to get on the road and set off with Dave Warrington from Mountain Biking Valencia on a route of some 30kms in the mountains of the La Safor region, starting from Pla de Corrals. They took a packed lunch with them and had a great time, returning to us in the early evening in time…

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Cross Country – XC Mountain Biking in Spain

Cross Country XC Mountain Biking in Spain Today’s cross country XC mountain biking route,…We started the route in a high valley in the mountains behind my home,.. a 10 minute drive by car.  The first couple of kilometres were a gentle pedal and this was followed by the first major ascent of the day, a 4km gruelling climb up to the next plateau. The past couple of month this specific climb has become a bit of a personal demon for me,… a number of factors (new bike, trail running, lack of training, early mornings) have contributed to my struggle against the mountain, but not today! For the first time in months I conquered the climb in one go, and still felt good once I got to the top. A very good omen for the remainder of the day, given that there was some 70km, still to go. The next 6km of the route was a beautiful high mountain riding, undulating tracks through pine forests and orchards, and this brought us to the first village & coffee stop for the day. Refreshed and re-hydrated, we set off to cross the Valle de Albaida, 20km of good pedalling on off-road tracks, interspersed with…

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Mountain Biking in Spain, Walking and Winter Sunshine Holidays

Walking Holidays in Spain

Autumn Activity Holiday – Mountain Biking in Spain, Walking and Winter Sunshine Towards the end of October we received a reservation from Anne and Nigel who wanted to come to our part of the Costa Blanca in order to have an activity holiday in some welcome autumn sunshine. It was their intention to spend time getting to know some of the towns and villages in this part of Spain – which they had not visited before – and also to be out in the beautiful countryside both on foot and with mountain bikes. Since they were experienced mountain bike enthusiasts, they had already been in touch with Mountain Biking Valencia to arrange the rental of bikes for some of the days of their visit. They wanted to combine some guided excursions with some skills training, so by the time they arrived they had a fairly clear idea of what they wanted from their holiday. Dave and his wife Carolina joined Anne and Nigel here at Gandia Casa Rural for dinner on the night of their arrival in order to meet with him face to face and decide on the form the ride should take on their first full day of Mountain…

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Walking Holidays Spain (and a little property hunting too!)

Some time ago we received a reservation from David and Miranda for a three night stay here in November and so we were pleased to welcome them when they arrived this week, having stayed their first night in Valencia. They had originally booked their trip to us with the intention of considering the area for a possible house purchase, although now their emphasis had changed somewhat. Although still thinking about maybe purchasing a property in the future, they were now more interested in having a walking holiday in Spain. They had already realised what a beautiful part of the country this is and how many opportunities there are for walks and hiking along well marked routes in the area, so they decided to combine their interest in the outdoors with a little time spent viewing properties as well. After arriving early on Friday afternoon, they settled in to their room and soon set off on a short walk through the orange groves here to the rear of Villa Florencia. They walked up to the tree line of the hills behind us and came back tremendously impressed with the views stretching right across the valley. This part of the Costa Blanca…

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Pet Friendly Accommodation

Pet Friendly Accommodation Spain

We were pleased to welcome an Italian family who came to stay with us for a few days last week, Christian and Paola with their daughter Elena and their two beautifully behaved black setters – Maggie and Martha. They soon settled in, and Maggie and Marta became part of the menagerie here at Villa Florencia! It was the first time they had visited us, and they were doing a trip all around Spain but decided to make us their base for their time on the Costa Blanca. Maggie and Marta felt at home very quickly indeed, and when the weather was too hot for them in the garden they had no hesitation in taking themselves up to their room and staying there in the cool! Most of the time, however, they preferred to keep close to their owners and accompanied them on trips to Gandia and local village restaurants, as well as on a whole day excursion which took in the Albufera wetlands, a paella lunch at El Palmar, as well as a boat trip on the lagoon and a quick visit to the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia City! Well-travelled dogs indeed and perfectly behaved all the…

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Guided Mountain Biking

Cycling for families in Spain

We were really pleased to welcome the Cameron-Jones family when they stayed with us recently, as they were not only spending part of their family holiday in Spain with us here on the Costa Blanca, but also celebrating the 18th birthday of one of their sons, Max. They had booked four nights with us, and planned to spend one of their days on a guided mountain bike tour of the area as well. Tim and Samantha wanted to have a mix of rest and relaxation along with seeing some of the countryside in this beautiful region of Spain, so decided to spend part of each day relaxing around the pool as well as exploring some of the towns and beaches within easy reach of the villa. On the day of Max’s birthday, Tim and Max, along with his brother Alistair, went for a morning’s mountain-biking with Dave Warrington and had a great time taking in the fabulous scenery and discovering unspoilt mountain villages and hamlets, before returning to the villa for a very welcome lunch. After a well-earned rest in the gardens they set off again, this time with Samantha as well, and took in the whole of the valley…

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The Boys from Bordeaux

We were really pleased to welcome Fabien and David from France who came to stay with us recently. They live near Bordeaux, but enjoy spending time in Spain for their holidays, whilst renting out their home in France during that time. This time they decided to spend some time on the Costa Blanca, before moving further south and finishing their holiday near Marbella. They had not visited our area at all in the past, however, so enjoyed taking trips in the car to some of the surrounding towns and villages, as well as making the most of the beautiful beaches that the La Safor region has to offer. They stayed with us for a total of five nights, often taking advantage of our evening meal service, and even enjoyed celebrating David’s birthday here as well. However, all good things have to come to an end, and all too soon it was time for them to go on to the next part of their holiday and bid us farewell. However, they had really enjoyed their time with us and were very impressed with the La Safor region as a whole, so they have every intention of returning to us in the…

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