On this page you will find all sorts of useful (we hope) information about Oliva, the buying process, money exchange, monthly activities from the Tourist Office, accommodation and transport links etc.

If you need information on anything else, please do not hesitate to contact us.

ABOUT OLIVA

Oliva is pretty much like Marmite, you either love it or you don’t, you may have noticed from other pages, that we love it.

A typical Spanish working town, set just 2km from a beautiful, white, sandy beach 12km long.  The population is mainly Spanish with approx 20% of other nationalities.

There is plenty to do, a market every Friday morning, festivals or fiestas most months and a very active U3A.  https://u3aoliva.org/ and the nearby Gandia  Social Club  https://www.gandiaareasocialclub.com/

Oliva is located approx 55 minutes from Valencia airport and approx 1.10 hours from Alicante airport by car.  There is public transport but please contact us for more details.

If you need any assistance with accommodation or car hire, please do not hesitate to contact us.

HISTORY

Oliva and its surroundings have been, since ancient times, a base for the various nationalities who have settled on the Mediterranean coast. This is supported by its numerous archaeological sites, Iberians, Romans and Muslims make an outstanding population profile in the archaeological landscape.

Much of the credit goes to its strategic position, since it was a transit point for the Roman road linking the cities of Xativa and Denia. At the time of Islamic rule, the core of Oliva begins to stand out from the rest of the surrounding settlements and castle defense Rebollet ensures southern region of Safor output. After the Christian conquest in the mid-thirteenth century, the new inhabitants occupied the bottom of the mountain of Santa Anna, known as villa, while Muslims occupied the top or suburb.  There are two well signed walking routes to take you round the old town, with information panels at key sites.  There is also a free guided tour from the Tourist Office every Wednesday morning. (This needs to be booked).

Since the early fifteenth century Oliva has been at the forefront of the production of sugar, a product which at the time dominated European markets. 1448 sees Oliva become the center of the county and, during the following century, the count of Centelles Serafín plays in his palace splendor in one of the finest Renaissance courts.

En 1609 the expulsion of the Moors left Valencia with abandoned fields. A long period of demographic and economic decline, culminating in the early eighteenth century with the War of Succession was then initiated. The profitability of sugar sank miserably low and, consequently, was replaced by rice cultivation and the mulberry, which revolutionized the incipient expansion of the silk industry.

In the middle of seventeenth century recovery it is already evident, but Oliva also notable for being the hometown of Maians Gregori, one of the largest European scholars of the Enlightenment. His nephew Gabriel Ciscar follows suit and also is awarded the title of Admiral of the Navy, and is Regent of Spain during the turbulent period of the War of Independence and  he actually introduced the metric system into Spain.
The nineteenth century is testimony of another turning point in Valencian agriculture and especially in the olivense, with the introduction of the orange.

Oliva has contributed to long periods of economic prosperity. In the early twentieth century, it added a thriving pottery industry, with popular artisans. However, the necessary diversification aimed at Oliva from the 1960s lead to an expansion in industrial activity and services, especially in the tourism sector, whose most visible project at the moment is the Oliva Nova area.

GEOGRAPHY

Oliva is located in the Valencian Central Counties, limiting the south coast to Denia (Marina Alta), and along the north coast with Piles (also of Safor). Most of the urban area of ​​Oliva is located 5 meters above sea level.

Coordinates: Latitude and Longitude: 38 ° 55 ‘North and 0 ° 07’ West.

The geographical relief can be divided into four distinct zones: the mountains, the plains occupied by the garden and most of the urban area, the coastal area to the east, and the wetland area (Natural Park of Marjal Pego-Oliva ) southwest.

The coast is low and sandy, enjoy 12 kilometers of beaches bordered along most of its length by dunes which separate the orange groves and the sea. The climate is Mediterranean.

Special mention deserves the Natural Park of Pego-Oliva, wet, marshy area with abundant wildlife and native vegetation of great ecological value.

Oliva is the second largest town in terms of population and the size of the municipality in the whole region of La Safor.

 SPORTS FACILITIES

Oliva has great facilities all round.

A large Municipal Sports Centre offers indoor courts, a swimming pool and a gym with an out door pool open in the summer.  There is also a full size athletics track, football pitches and outdoor basketball courts.

In Oliva there are 2 private gyms and some squash courts.  Towards the beach there is a tennis club for tennis & paddle.

Regular organised Triathlons, walks, cycle races, mountain biking and walking routes.

A full range of water sports with the leading water sports school in Spain.