Valencia is in a prime position in the centre of the eastern coast of car hire Spain from which to access the wide range of attractions in the surrounding area. Excellent road and transport links through beautiful scenery make short day trips from the city a viable choice for visitors.

The most convenient area to visit from the city is the Valencian coast known as the Costa del Azahar (Orange Blossom Coast), which lies alongside the capital on two large sandy beaches.

Other local tourist centres on the Costa del Azahar include Cullera, Gandia and Oliva to the south. 27 km north along the coast from Valencia is Sagunto, which was known to the ancient Iberians as Arse. It offers the visitor a wealth of attractions including an impressive castle, the remains of a temple to Diana, the Gothic churches of Santa María and Salvador and a Roman amphitheatre that is used in summer for high profile musical, dance and theatre performances

The areas inland also contain a unique range of attractions that visitors find easy to access. Surrounding Valencia is a wide belt of very fertile land, called La Huerta on the south of which is a salt water lake where boating and water sports are hugely popular.

Further south is Játiva which boasts a fortress that conserves the remains from almost all periods of Spanish history, starting with its ancient Iberian walls.

Close to Játiva are the 8000 year old cave systems of Cova Negra, which is one of the most significant prehistoric remains on the peninsula. The papal city of Xátiva is 58 km from Valencia and was the birthplace of two popes.

La Plana de Utiel-Requena is 82 km to the west of Valencia, perfect for a longer excursion from the city. These towns retain a number of features that visitors will enjoy.

In Requena, the medieval quarter of La Villa contains a rich heritage including the churches of San Nicolás, Santa María and El Salvador, the Home of Santa Teresa de Avila and the Palace of El Cid.

Utiel, meanwhile, has the El Salvador College, the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción and the Chapel of El Remedio high in the Sierra del Negrete.

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