Location description from owner

The Valencian Country region

Location of Property

Huertos D'Olivos is situated south of Valencia and 30 minutes drive inland of the resort of Gandia, in the area known as the Costa del Azahar (Orange Blossom coast). The valleys are farmed with olives, oranges and vines and framed with majestic mountains stretching as far as the eye can see. The nearest local town of Ontinyent is a 5 minute drive and is a lively country town with superb shops, bars and restaurants, cinema, bowling alley, internet cafes and a weekly market. The mediaeval city of Xativa is a 15 minute drive from Huertos D'Olivos and is highly recommended - preserved castle, old quarter, bull ring, elegant shops, fine dining and tapas bars. The beach resort of Gandia is 30 minutes drive and easily accessed by the main road located 1 km from the villa. Valencia is a'must see' City, only an hour away. Railway station is very close and is cheap to use. Ontinyent has everything needed for a super holiday.

Other Activities: Bird Watching, Football

Ontinyent

The city of Ontinyent is situated in the centre of the Valencian Community, in the west of the Vall d'Albaida surrounded by fields and on the banks of the river Clariano – sometimes known as the Ontinyent river.

Human occupation has been documented or discovered since prehistoric times and one of the first settlements was discovered in La Cova l´Hedra although there are several sites from the neolithic period, such as the lárenal de la Costa, and several Bronze Age sites of particular interest. There are also listed sites from the late Iberian Age (3rd to the 1st centuries b.c.) around the city, one of which is the current site of the sports centre.

There are many sites that date from Roman times, particularly from the time of Augustus and the beginning of the 1st century a.d. such as Baixa or l´Agrillent. Most of these settlements were only occupied for a short time but others, most notably Sant Vicent, were occupied until the end of the 5th cenury a.d.

To date, none of the Roman remains discovered are in the Vila but on the outskirts of town among the richest agricultural land. In fact the name Untinyân, clearly pre-Islamic, is probably an adaptation of a Latin name. One of the most notable Roman remains has been discovered and partiallly excavated in the Llombo, to the south of the sports centre. An extensive late Roman or Visigothic cemetary has been discovered about 2 km south of the city containing approximately 100 tombs dating from the 6th century a.d. More recently, during roadworks alongside the Vila in calle Monges Carmelites, several sites from the 6th and 7th centuries have been discovered.