The busy and historic town of Oliva offers plenty for everyone to do and see.
You can stroll through the pretty winding lanes of Oliva’s old town or take a walk along the tree lined paseo, stopping at any of the bars or restaurants for refreshments along the way.
Oliva is perhaps best known for its miles of clean white sandy beaches which in the summer months have the famous Chiringuito beach bars where you can dance the night away, or just enjoy a pleasant evening drink listening to the sound of the sea as the sun goes down. You can choose between the busier beaches offering restaurants, bars and shops or quieter beaches where you might be the only person around and the virgin sand dunes rise above you behind the beach.
All of Oliva’s beaches boast the Blue Flags that indicate European Clean Seas.
Oliva Surf offers a whole host of water sports for your entertainment such as dingy sailing, pedaloes and canoeing. You can either partake in or just sit back and watch the picturesque and dare-devil sport of kiteboarding/kitesurfing which is very popular along Oliva’s beaches. Lessons and courses for this sport are given by the Kiteschool of Oliva.
Oliva, like many other Spanish towns celebrates many fiestas and holidays throughout the year with fireworks, feasts, processions and entertainment. Below, just a few are mentioned.
In January the three kings procession for the children is a big event. Traditionally this day is when Spanish children receive their presents which are brought by the three wise men as the English know them rather than by Father Christmas.
In February Carnival is celebrated by people dressing up in anyway they please and with processions and bands which play throughout the night.
Shortly after this in March the famous Fallas is celebrated. This is an important event which is unique to the Valencia region yet people from the all over the world travel to see. Huge and beautifully sculptured figures are displayed during the week in various sites throughout the town and on the last night they are judged and then burned one by one with the winner being the last to go. The people of the town celebrate with various processions and bands and on the night of the Crema (the burning) everybody rushes from place to place to watch the spectacular sight as they go up in flames one by one.
Easter is another very important event and during the Holy Week there are many processions to be seen. On Easter Monday, bull running takes place through the winding streets of Oliva’s old town followed by a week of bull fighting.
In June the people of Oliva celebrate the fiesta of San Juan by lighting fires or having BBQ’s along the beach. As far as the eye can see the beach is alight with bonfires and full of people having fun. Midnight is marked by everyone going into the sea and jumping the waves, this is supposed to bring good fortune for the coming year. At this time the band also kicks off and continues into the small hours of the morning.
In July another incredible fiesta is the Moors and Christians. This Fiesta is symbolic of the battles between the Moors and Christians hundreds of years ago. Various processions and firework displays take place over the course of a weekend but the main event is a huge disco playing on the beach throughout the night for a massive crowd followed by the battle being re-inacted on the beach at sunrise.
All the Fiestas are well worth seeing, you will be amazed by the wonderful and colourful costumes that are worn by the many people that choose to take part in each of the events and the noisy fireworks that always accompany any celebration.
