Gilet: Sierra Calderona, Monastery and Falles

Parts of Gilet belong to the Parque Natural de la Sierra Calderona. From Gilet, hiking trails lead to the Cova del Sant Esperit, also known as Cueva del Santo Espíritu. When planning your trip, nature, history and festival culture can be given different levels of priority independently of one another.

For your personal planning, you can treat routes, landscapes, culture and dates as separate focal points. This leaves room to gather different preferences first and only then decide which topics should be combined.

Culture and history

Santo Espíritu del Monte Monastery was founded in 1402. Queen María de Luna applied to Pope Benedict XIII for the permissions required for its canonical foundation. Construction of the Iglesia Parroquial de San Antonio Abad began in 1533. Its history is connected with a 16th-century painting of the Virgen de la Estrella and with the beginnings of devotion to this image.

If several interests come together, you can consider the cultural topics individually and then combine them with the other focal points. No fixed order is prescribed, so planning can be adapted to your own daily rhythm.

Festivals

The Falles in Gilet are a traditional celebration held in March, featuring satirical monuments that are burned on the night of 19 March during the Nit de la Cremà. They also include mascletades, processions and floral offerings to the Mare de Déu.

A stay in March therefore has a different timing focus from a trip planned without this festival date. When deciding on your personal priorities, you can consider the date alongside nature and cultural topics.

Geographical setting

In the vicinity of Gilet are the castle “Castle of Sagunto”, the mountain el Xocainet, the peak Pîc de l'Àguila, the mountain el Picaio and the mountain El Garbí. The Ermita de Sant Cristòfol temple complex is also located nearby.

The ruins Ruinas Castillo del Puig and the Museo de historia natural are located in the area around Gilet. You can organise the different locations separately in your own planning, distinguishing between natural sites, historic buildings and museum-related topics.

Other places: Montroy, Paterna, Bétera, Bellreguard, Simat de la Valldigna, Almàssera, Benetússer, Villargordo Del Cabriel

Accommodation

The Hospedería of the Monasterio de Santo Espíritu del Monte has single and double rooms as well as halls for group activities.

When staying in a holiday apartment in Gilet, you can compare travel dates, room category and cancellation conditions with your personal priorities. For different travel groups, it can be helpful to gather preferences first and only then prioritise nature, culture or a specific date.

The Cova del Sant Esperit contains significant remains of prehistoric rock paintings.

For the overview of the wider travel region: Valencia.