Fiestas around Oliva
Of course, Oliva is not the only town in the Safor area to have Fiestas. Many of the towns and villages around Oliva
, like Gandia, Pego, Denia, and Daimus also have Fiestas.
Here is a guide to the Fiestas for some of the towns and villages around the
Oliva area.

FALLAS
The great "Fallera" week brings to Oliva a great entertainment spectacle of
music, colour and fire, that is kept going in the streets of the town
throughout the festivities. The fallas, have been celebrated since the 60s
and are spread throughout the different neighbourhoods of the city. These
monuments, elaborated with paper maché and wood, depict different scenes
with an ironical and acidic touch. During the festivities diverse acts are
celebrated such as the entertaining "Cabalgata del Ninot" or the floral
offering to the Virgen del Rebollet. But undoubtedly, the most emotive act
of the fallas in Oliva comes on the day of San José with the traditional "cremà",
in which fire devastates the monuments under the attentive gaze of all the "fallera"
community members.
Dates : 15-March to 19th March
FESTIVITY IN HONOUR OF THE SANTÍSIMO CRISTO DE SAN ROQUE
The most representative customs and traditions in Oliva take over the
streets during the festivities of San Roque, which have been celebrated
since the XVII century. The proclamation, in which all the "festeros" take
part dressed in the traditional costume, announces the beginning of the
festive day. The religious acts consist of the prayer of the "novena" in the
chapel of Christ, completed by a solemn procession. Theatrical
representations, sporting competitions of Valencian ball and fancy dress
cavalcades are just some of the different and most playful acts.
Dates : 01-May to 03-May
The 3rd is a local bank holiday.
FESTIVITY OF EASTER WEEK
The Easter Week festivity in Oliva has gained the recognition of the whole
region as being the oldest of the territory. On Holy Friday the religious
manifestations begin with the Vía Crucis on the mountain of Santa Ana. At
dawn, the images of the ‘Dolorosa’ arrive with the members of the different
confraternities. The evening brings one of the most enduring traditions of
Holy Week in Oliva, the "desenclavamiento", a lyrical - religious
representation in which Christ is lowered from the cross and liberated from
his torture. On Easter Sunday the "Encuentro" is interpreted on the ‘Paseo
Juan Carlos I’.
Dates : April - Variable
MOORS AND CHRISTIANS FESTIVITY PROGRAM
Oliva is one of the municipalities of the Valencian Community that lives
with great intensity the Moors and Christian festivities, which commemorate
the struggles between the two forces for the territory. One of the most
distinguished acts of the festive week is the ‘ Day of the Entry ’ which is
celebrated on the Friday. The captains, ambassadors and standard-bearers,
along with other festive protagonists, parade in sensational costumes, and
provide an exceptional spectacle of colour and music. Later the
disembarkation is represented with the landing of the Moorish Emissary
whilst the Christians wait on the coast where the battle is interpreted with
fireworks. On Saturday evening a curious spectacle takes place, a living
chess game is disputed between the two armies. The last of the
representations is the " Reconquest of the Castle " on behalf of the
Christians who fight to re-conquer the castle. The struggles finish on
Sunday with the ‘ Day of the Brotherhood ’ and a great parade.
Dates : 12-July to 20-July. The 19th is a local bank holiday.
FESTIVITY IN HONOUR OF SAN ANTONIO ABAD
San Antonio is celebrated in Oliva with the installation of the traditional
'porrat', a typical custom to the whole region. The event, of medieval
origin, consists of a travelling market being installed in the ‘plaza San
Roque’. Many stalls sell products like candied fruits, nuts, toffee apples
and hammer shaped sweets. Sunday is dedicated to religious acts in honour of
the Saint. At the hermitage of the Santos Antonios a great concentration of
animals are blessed after the celebration of a Mass ceremony. At the same
time ‘ blessed bread ’ is on sale at different stalls set up along the
principal streets
Dates : 17-January to 19-January
FESTIVITY IN HONOUR OF THE VIRGEN DEL REBOLLET
The festivities in honour of the Virgen del Rebollet, Patron Saint of the
city, begin with a peregrination, in which hundreds of pilgrims take part,
accompanied with a cane from which they hang a pumpkin. The procession moves
the image of the Virgin, a Romanesque sculpture from the XII century,
considered to be the most ancient Marian representation of the Valencian
Community, from the Plaza de Santa María up to the Castle. There is a Mass
ceremony celebrated in honour of the Patron Saint. Later, at lunchtime, the
"romeros" distribute wine and fruits amongst the attendees.
Dates : 01-September to 08-September
FESTIVITY IN HONOUR OF THE VIRGEN DEL CARMEN
The maritime character of Oliva means that the people of the sea honour
their Patron Saint by means of a procession at sea, in which the majority of
the crafts of the municipality take part.
Dates : 16-July to 16-July