Serra Calderona Natural Park

Serra Calderona is a natural park in the mountains of Valencia province between the Palancia and Turia rivers. The landscape shows dry peaks with low vegetation, shady ravines and small villages on the slopes.

The area received protected status in 2002 from the Valencian government because of threatened habitats. Monastic communities built charterhouses and monasteries here since the Middle Ages, and their ruins remain visible today.

People from nearby towns walk the trails on weekends and often visit the monastery ruins inside the mountains. The name Calderona comes from the round valleys that resemble large cauldrons and sheltered shepherds for centuries.

The trails can be very dry in summer and sometimes slippery in winter after rain, so wear sturdy shoes and start early in the morning. From Valencia, several roads lead into the park, and villages at the edge offer parking and starting points for walks.

Garbi peak offers a wide view over the coastal plain and the irrigation fields of the Huerta on clear days. Many walkers miss the old charcoal sites in the forest, where black ash patches still show traces of traditional charcoal burning.