Free walking tours in Ontinyent and what to see

Must-sees

Ontinyent is the main town of the Vall d'Albaida, in the south of the province of Valencia, set beside the Clariano river. Its jewel is the Vila quarter, the medieval old town, with dead-end alleys, the Plaza Mayor and the Torre de l'Atxa. Here stands the church of Santa María, Gothic in origin, with a very tall bell tower visible from almost anywhere in town. The Palau de la Vila houses the Valencian Textile Museum, a reminder of Ontinyent's industrial past.

From the bridges over the Clariano, such as the Pont Vell, you can see the old factories and their chimneys. Very close to town is the Pou Clar, a spot with clear river pools, a picnic area and waymarked paths, which fills with bathers in summer. The Moors and Christians festival is the biggest event of the year, filling the streets with music and parades.

Free tours and guided visits

There are no regular free tours or bookable activities in Ontinyent. The simplest way to see it is on your own, starting at the tourist office, where you can ask about occasional guided walks and maps of the Vila quarter. For nature, waymarked trails let you walk to the Pou Clar and the nearby hills.

How long to spend

Allow a morning for the Vila quarter, the church of Santa María and the museum. In the afternoon you can head down to the Pou Clar for a walk or, in summer, a swim. With a second day, pair Ontinyent with Bocairent, a few kilometres away, or with other villages of the Vall d'Albaida and the Sierra de Mariola.

Where to stay

Accommodation is concentrated in the centre and the new town, near the river, from where you can walk up to the Vila quarter. It is a mid-sized town, so outside festival time you will find hotels and apartments easily. If you prefer a rural setting, Bocairent and the villages of the Vall d'Albaida have rural houses nearby, and Xàtiva is another base with more choice.