This route, almost 4 kilometres long and of low difficulty, is the perfect plan for the whole family. The route starts at the foot of Santa Anna Castle and descends along a path to the Mediterranean coast. You can follow this order or take the route in the opposite direction – ascending – to finish with beautiful panoramic views: of the historic centre of Oliva, the sea, the Marjal Pego-Oliva natural park and other nearby spots.
We start the route at the castle, a 16th century fortress, listed as a cultural heritage asset and easily accessible from the end of Antonio Maura Street, next to the CEIP Santa Anna school in Oliva. The castle remained in service during the 17th century and its functions were limited to the surveillance of the coast and the Moorish quarter that extended in its vicinity. Its name was given in memory of an ancient chapel devoted to Santa Anna, and located on the same hill.
As you walk along the path, you will enjoy a natural environment made up of medicinal and aromatic plants, as well as native shrubs and trees, from the Mediterranean white pine to the kermes oak and cypress. We enter the urban section and cross the town through its old quarter. Here we can make a short break to enjoy the three different tourist itineraries from the medieval period that Oliva offers: a route through the Villa Condal, which runs through noble mansions of rustic and elegant architecture; the Moorish Raval, made up of steep narrow streets, a legacy of its former dwellers; and the Gerrería-Pinet neighbourhood, which is home to chapels and squares with a lot of history.
We return to the path to move forward in parallel through the Vall de les Fonts and the Vall de Burguera. In this section, due to its proximity to the sea, you can enjoy a wide variety of floral species, from water clovers to mallows and eucalyptus, as well as a diverse fauna made up of frogs, turtles and migratory birds such as herons.
At the end of the route, 150 metres further on, on the right, we find the Mediterranean Sea and a magnificent beach with protected dunes, of great natural value due to its ecosystem and vegetation.
