Orange grove in Valencia

Discover the ‘garden of Valencia’

Region of Valencia

If you like nature, peace and tranquillity, and going back to the origin of things, then the ‘garden of Valencia’ is a must.

What is the ‘garden of Valencia’?

It’s an area in the Valencia region that’s been declared a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System by the FAO (the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations), and comprises over 12,000 hectares of agricultural land. These are lands with centuries of history behind them where different civilisations have left their mark, helping to improve and perfect agricultural systems. From the Romans to the Moors, who introduced the system of irrigation canals that are still important in the region in the present day.

Cabbage patch in Valencia

Things to do

Although it might seem to be simply an area of crops and fields, this is far from the truth. Here, you can enjoy an environment where you can connect with nature while you take long walks or bike rides following the irrigation channels between fields of tiger nuts, onions or artichokes. Furthermore, you can discover some of the little villages that have an important historical and cultural heritage, with constructions such as the irrigation channels and typical Valencian style houses called barracas.

 Bicycle in a grove

Gastronomy

As well as paella, Valencian cuisine uses all the local agricultural produce to serve up some delicious, healthy dishes. One of these is esgarret, a dish based on red peppers with salt cod, or olla valenciana, a soup made with lots of local vegetables. And of course we mustn’t forget one of Valencia’s stand out products, tiger nut milk (horchata de chufa), made from locally grown tiger nuts.It’s in the countryside that you’ll discover the origins of the region’s cuisine, with the sound of the water running in the irrigation channels as a backdrop, and views of fields that stretch all the way to the horizon.

Typical Valencian esgarraet
Agricultural produce
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