Tag: Marxuquera

Springtime in Gandía

The middle of March always seems to mark the beginning of the new season and the onset of Spring, with the fiesta of Fallas and early guests in search of some warm sunshine on the Costa Blanca.  This year was no exception, and we were pleased to welcome guests from England as well as from Spain. Mike and Maggie decided to see for themselves what the fiesta of Fallas in Gandía was all about, having been recommended by a friend that it was an event not to be missed.  They also wanted to find some early warmth and sunshine, and they were not disappointed.  The weather was almost consistently bright and clear, and was perfect for the combination of sightseeing, walking and relaxing that they had in mind.  They spent six days with us, and always found plenty to see and do, even if a trip to Valencia city was not on their itinerary – they had already visited there in the past, and wanted to get to know the surrounding area this time instead.  They found Gandía to be a delightful town, and the fiesta of Fallas was taking place there at the time of their visit too, so…

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Mountain Biking, Nature Trails and Valencia Football

On Monday we welcomed a guest from just about as far away as you can get – Australia. Nic was travelling on his own and doing a bit of a tour, visiting his father in the U.S. before embarking on a trip around Europe. He had visited his sister in Edinburgh before going on to see Amsterdam and then Berlin before making his way to Spain. However, he felt that he now wanted a break from busy city sight-seeing and was looking for a spell of getting back to the countryside and nature so decided to visit us here in Gandía. He thought we would be well placed for a tranquil, rural setting but within reasonable reach of Valencia city if he wanted to have a quick day trip. He arrived by train in Gandía, having flown in to Barcelona from Berlin earlier in the day. We were happy to collect him from the station, and he dined in with us on his first evening. When he arrived the previous evening, it was already dark, so the following morning he was very impressed with the surroundings of the villa and felt he had made the right decision in coming here…

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Villa Florencia Casa Rural Gandia B&B Spain 2012

The season that lies ahead in 2012 will be our sixth full year of operation, and we are looking forward to a year of welcoming back previous guests as well as meeting new ones for the first time.  The New Year period has already been and gone and was a busy time for us, with a full house of guests, many of whom had come for the excellent rock-climbing to be found in the area.  We hope to have more rock-climbers visit us in the future, as this is an activity – along with other outdoor and nature-related interests – that we are actively promoting.  In the cooler months of the year the area is a haven for those looking for an outdoor holiday rather than one based around sunshine and beaches.  Mountain biking, hiking, horse riding, bird watching and hill walking are just some of the other activities that can be enjoyed in the immediate area around the villa, or at most within a 20 minute drive.  Diversification has to be a positive thing, especially in the uncertain economic times that seem to face everyone at present– in whatever European country you find yourself.  In past seasons, we have directed…

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The Story of the Heidelberg Student´s Kiss

Several months ago we received a booking for two nights from a German couple wishing to break their journey at Villa Florencia. It turned out that they were on an extended holiday in Spain of just over three weeks, and we were to be their first stop in Spain, on their way to the Costa del Sol. They had departed from near Heidelberg and embarked on a 17 hour drive, arriving in the early evening, and looking for a well earned rest! In recent times we have had several guests stay with us in similar circumstances, as it seems Villa Florencia is at a convenient stopping point along the way down to the south of Spain and the Costa del Sol. Travelling guests feel that once they reach a point slightly south of Valencia that they are then on their way to their destination, and can afford to have some time to relax and unwind after the stress of a long journey. Klaus and his girlfriend arrived in the early evening and spent the following two nights in our self-catering apartment, which suited them very well, as the first morning they were still catching up on some much needed sleep!…

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Ramblers take on Costa Blanca Mountains

Out latest guests from Germany on the Spanish walking Holiday in the Lasafor Mountains, around Gandia. A group of friends from near Munich arrived in the early hours of Tuesday night/Wednesday morning to stay with us for 4 nights and to use Villa Florencia as a base for hill walking and hiking expeditions.  They had chosen to come to this part of Spain, rather than the Sierra Nevada for their walking, because it is a less touristy area and one that they felt might be worth exploring. Wednesday morning found them eager to depart for the mountains nearby, and they went to the La Drova and Barx area only a few kilometres away.  They spent the day following two hiking trails, one of which took them up Monduver – the highest mountain in the La Safor range – and provided them with spectacular views of the area. They went further afield on Thursday and spent the day in the Jalon valley to the south of here – still only about 40 minutes drive away though.  Again, they followed recommended hiking routes, had a great time and enjoyed the superb scenery of the region. Friday was a different story – they…

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Marchuquera Marxuquera

A GREAT PLACE TO VISIT Marchuquera is an area that lies to the west of the town of Gandia, stretching to the municipal boundaries of Ador and Palma de Gandia, with the mountainous areas of Sierra Falconera in its centre and Sierra Grossa to the west. Its total land area is approximately 750 hectares, or 12.21% of the total area of the municipality of Gandia. Crossing through Marchuquera is the road that lies to the west of Gandia and which leads to Simat via La Drova and Barx across the Coll dels Caragols. It is here that we can appreciate the scale of the mountains that enclose our wonderful valley. From any point in Marchuquera you can see the guardian of the valley – the mountain of Monduver – rising up in the distance like an 840 metre high giant which seems to watch over our lives from above. Nature has ensured that Marchuquera is divided up into two distinct parts with the mountain of Falconera in the middle, which exactly separates Marchuquera Alta and Marchuquera Baixa with the road called Raco de Tomba. The climate here, combined with the protection given by the mountains and the gentle prevailing breezes,…

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