Free walking tours in Almussafes and what to see

Must-sees

Almussafes is a municipality in the Ribera Baixa, about twenty kilometres south of Valencia, best known for its large car factory. Behind that industrial image is a small town with history. It began as the Andalusí farmstead of Al-Mazaf, and from that period survives the Torre Racef, the town's great monument. It is a rammed-earth tower, almost square in plan and about twenty-five metres high, that guarded the old road south and was part of Valencia's defensive network.

The tower rises on the Plaza Mayor, surrounded by gardens and facing the neoclassical church of San Bartolomé. Strolling through the centre you will see 19th and 20th-century farmers' houses and remains of the farming past, such as old mills and a rice mill. Very close begins the landscape of market gardens and rice fields that leads to the Albufera Natural Park.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no free walking tours in Almussafes. If you want to go inside the Torre Racef, ask at the town hall whether any visit is scheduled. To see the surroundings, the most practical options are the Albufera trips from Valencia, with a boat ride on the lagoon and a visit to the rice fields, or cycling the rural tracks towards the park.

How long to spend

Almussafes can be seen in an hour or two: the Torre Racef, the Plaza Mayor, the church and a stroll through the centre. The usual plan is to combine it with other nearby visits on the same day, such as the Albufera, Sueca or Alzira. If you stay longer, the surrounding market gardens and rice fields are good for unhurried walking or cycling.

Where to stay

Accommodation in Almussafes is limited and aimed mainly at business trips, with a hotel or two by the access roads and the industrial estate. For a break it is better to sleep in Valencia, less than half an hour away by car, with much more variety in the historic centre. If you prefer the sea, El Perelló or Cullera are also close and have beach apartments and hotels.