Ontinyent Valencia Spain

Description:

An urban nucleus that reminisces of other times, an exceptional natural environment and a warm welcome are some of guarantees that Ontinyent offers to everyone that decides to visit the municipality.

 

It is possible to enjoy a historical centre that has kept impressions of the many cultures that have left their mark, presenting an intimate and calm character. Trips to local exceptional natural sites have the river Clariano as their main protagonist. The locality also offers a wide range of festivities, accompanied by an extraordinary gastronomy at the service of the visitor.

 

The Surroundings

 

Ontinyents' surroundings allow the visitor access to natural sites of enormous wealth that, offer a large dosage of tranquillity.

 

A clear example of this is Gamellons, an area 18 km from the urban centre, surrounded in Mediterranean vegetation and animal species of great natural value. The area is perfectly conditioned with a fresh water source and a picnic area. The mouth of the Bocairent-Ontinyent ravine is found in the Pou Clar Park, a rocky landscape through which the Clariano crosses. In the summer months bathers come to the pools created along the river, like the Pou de Reixa, the Pou dels Esclaus or the Pou Gelat.

 

Last but not least is the viewpoint of San Esteve, a magical place where local farmers come to ask that hail may not affect their crops. At 780 m, there is a formidable panoramic view of the Valle Blanco, Benicadell and the Sierra de Mariola.

 

Going towards Aielo de Malferit we find La Clariana Park, a 28,500 m2 natural enclave with spectacular gardens of exceptional beauty, gardens with ponds with aquatic species residents, numerous cages, a chapel and a XIX th century mansion which houses an exhibition of Valencian ceramics, with works covering the periods from the XV th to the XIX th centuries.

 

The activities that are carried out in the park are of an environmental, cultural, relaxation and leisure nature, and are grouped together around a series of areas: an area for contact with animals, an area for the free flight of birds of prey, nature area, etc.

 

Cultural Events

 

The "Manuel Sanchís Guarner" Cultural Centre organizes and offers theatrical productions, exhibitions on a wide range of subjects such as painting or photography or sculpture, and has an ample cinematographic offering through the Cinema Club Utiye.

 

These type of activities is combined with others such as the presentation of books, records, etc., and also the holding of concerts. For some years now an annual performance has been a regular occurrence in the Echegaray Theatre.

 

Easter Week Festivities

 

The religious acts organised on the occasion of Easter Week take a special relevancy in Ontinyent for the solemnity and the fervour with which the inhabitants live through each of the processions, Masses or benedictions that are celebrated.

 

The most relevant processions are the Encuentro Doloroso and the Santo Entierro, which are celebrated on Holy Friday. The very emotive Procesión del Silencio is held at night in the Medieval neighbourhood, La Vila, which is illuminated only by the light of candles and processional torches.

 

Access

 

:	From Valencia, via the N-430 direction Albacete, after reaching Cárcer , take the new road through the l’Olleria’s tunnel.   From Alicante, via the Madrid-Villena motorway, taking the C-3316 to Otinyent.   From Gandía, taking the C-320. There is also the Valencia-Xàtiva-Alcoi railway line. A regular Bus service departs from Valencia.

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Ayuntamiento de Ontinyent
Plaza Mayor, 1
46870  ONTINYENT
Valencia
Tel.:  962918200
Fax:   962918202