From time to time, we all need to escape the city life. In mid-November, we decided to take a weekend trip about 1.5 hours south of Valencia, staying in a ranch-style property near the small town of Beniganim (via the Home Exchange platform). There wasn’t much to do there besides take walks along the ridge line, read, watch movies, and relax, which was just what we needed.
About 20 minutes north is the impressive Xativa Castle. Built as a dual fortification structure atop a mountain, with the original structure dating back nearly 1,000 years, Xativa Castle has well-preserved grounds and expansive 360-degree views on a clear day. If you have extra time in Valencia, it’s also possible to visit Xàtiva as a daytrip by train (1 hour ride), and walk from Xativa train station to catch an easy bus up the hill to the castle.
