Xátiva from Valencia: Castle, Museum & Old Town

Three thousand years in one morning: Xátiva's castle, churches and the Borja story

You enter Xátiva's castle high on the mountain with a guide who knows the Hannibal-to-Reconquista timeline, walk through the old town to the Collegiate Church where the Borja family's story anchors itself, and spend time in the Fine Arts Museum seeing what the city lost and kept from 1707. Transport from Valencia and all entry fees are included, and you're back by early afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Xàtiva castle and old town

• Visit Xàtiva Castle on mountain
• Enter old town and learn history
• Visit Fine Arts Museum of Xàtiva

The experience

"Wait, the Borgias were from here?" That's the question most people ask about five minutes into the drive from Valencia to Xátiva, a city that somehow stays quiet despite being the birthplace of two popes and the scene of some of the peninsula's most pivotal moments. The tour picks you up and heads south for about an hour in an air-conditioned vehicle, and when you arrive, your guide takes you straight up to the castle perched on the mountain: the views alone justify the climb, but what matters more is what happened there. You're standing where Hannibal Barca once stood, where Jaume I reclaimed the city during the Reconquista, where centuries of power shifted hands.

From the castle, you drop down into the old town, which is built around fountains and narrow streets that still feel lived-in, not restored. The Collegiate Church of Santa Maria is where the Borja family's story becomes real, not the Hollywood version, but the actual history of how a local dynasty rose to the papacy. Your guide walks you through the details: the art, the architecture, the weight of what it meant for a small city to produce that kind of influence. It's the kind of place where you understand why people stayed, why they built things that lasted.

The Fine Arts Museum comes next, and this is where 1707 becomes personal. The War of Succession left Xátiva damaged, and the museum doesn't hide that. It shows it. The collection reflects what was lost and what survived, and standing in front of those paintings and sculptures, you get a sense of how a city rebuilds itself. By 1:30 PM, when the tour ends, you've moved through three thousand years without feeling rushed, which is harder to do than it sounds.

What’s included

• Castle entry fee.
• Fine Arts Museum entry fee.
• air-conditioned vehicle transport from Valencia.
• guided walk through the old town including the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English or Spanish10:00

Guide in English or Spanish08:30

You pick the guide language when booking. Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday and FridayDepartures at 08:30 and 10:00

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Youth (8 to 12 years) · Infant (under 8): free

GroupUp to 50

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by Valencia & Go

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to understand a piece of Spanish history that doesn't make it into most guidebooks. The castle and museum visits are what let you do that in a single morning without arranging transport or tickets yourself.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (8 to 12 years); Infant (under 8): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the drive from Valencia to Xátiva?

About one hour each way in an air-conditioned vehicle.

What time does the tour end?

At 1:30 PM.

Is the castle walk steep or difficult?

The castle is located high on the mountain, so there is climbing involved. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, and infant seats are available if needed.

What's included in the price?

Castle entry, Fine Arts Museum entry, transport from Valencia, and a guided tour of the old town and key sites.

Who were the Borgias and why are they connected to Xátiva?

The Borja family (Borgias) was born in Xátiva and rose to prominence, producing two popes. The tour covers their history at the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria.

Will I have time for lunch in Xátiva?

The tour ends at 1:30 PM, so you'd have the afternoon free to eat in the old town before returning to Valencia.

Is this tour available in English?

The tour is led by an official guide. Confirm the language when booking.