The best road cycling routes around l'Albufera

The port of Barx is a Valencian classic. Its horseshoe bends run over the panorama of the surrounding mountains and the Mediterranean coast.

Mareny Barraquetes (in Valencian and officially, Mareny de Barraquetes) is a minor local entity of the Valencian Community, Spain, belonging to the province of Valencia. Formerly a district of the municipality of Sueca, since 1999 it has been an entity of territorial scope below the municipality (EATIM) belonging to said municipal term. Mareny de Barraquetes is located in the heart of the Albufera natural park and next to the sea. The nearest towns are Sueca 7 km (kilometers) away, 28 km from Valencia and 9 km from Cullera. Its toponym mareny means ‘marshland’, that is, an area very close to the sea and easily flooded. For its part, the term barraquetes indicates the type of habitat that was frequent throughout the area, huts built with reeds and mud, materials from the marshes and the dune cordon. The historical origin of the first human settlements in this area dates back to the period of Roman domination, when the Phocaean colonies were established near Sicania, with El Mareny de Barraquetes being one of them. It survived through the centuries, as an alquería, thus reaching the first historical antecedents, which are found in the first census of inhabitants that was made in Sueca in 1795, by governmental order for the preparation of the conscription, as Spain was at war against Revolutionary France of the Directory (1793-1795). Likewise, until the 1845 census, we do not have a specific list of residents from El Mareny, with nine huts. Its inhabitants are mainly engaged in agriculture. In the last century, the population nucleus based its economy mainly on fishing. There were three fishing settlements where families lived who were dedicated to freshwater fishing (in the canals coming from the Júcar). Until recently, there was a fishing settlement where this work continued, but with modern facilities.

The Albufera lake was formed by the sinking of an approximately 30 km long coastal strip. The saltwater lake then became a freshwater lake due to the inflows. In the Estany del Pujol lagoon you can observe various water birds.

One of the best landscape views very close to Valencia capital.

On many occasions, advertising encourages us to travel to other places to contemplate a spectacular sunset or a landscape worthy of a postcard. We Valencians have one of the most beautiful sunsets next to the capital.

The Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Valldigna was founded by James II the Just on March 15, 1298, who gave the Alfàndec valley to Abbot Bononat of Vila-seca to found a monastery of the Cistercian order, a branch of the Santes Creus monastery. It was the first monastery of such importance built in the ancient Kingdom of Valencia, after the Christian conquest. Days after the royal donation, James II, brother Bononat and his entourage met at the place of Ràfol (a Christian village in the valley founded after the conquest of James I) to take possession of the territory, plus one mile inland, the castles of Marinyén, Alcalà and the tower of Mondúber.

The "Col de Rates de la Safor" The Barx Pass, from Simat, is a gem for any cycling enthusiast. A climb that perfectly combines effort with the beauty of the surroundings. Each curve offers a new perspective of the Valldigna Valley, while the monastery remains behind as a silent witness to the ascent. Frequently used by local cyclists, it's an ideal stretch to enjoy at a leisurely pace, feeling each pedal stroke amidst nature and heritage. With several well-defined hairpin bends and a steady but manageable gradient, it's perfect for enjoying the effort without suffering too much. Pass details: 6.3 km | 301 m elevation gain | average gradient of 4.8% | ramps of up to 9.8%.

Don't get me wrong, I like the sculpture, but it reminds me of a ship's propeller.