# Summer Saturday in Xàtiva: a walk to the Cova Negra, oven-baked rice and a swim at the Gorgo de la Escalera

A flat walk to the Cova Negra before the heat, oven-baked rice facing the Seu and an afternoon swim at the Gorgo de la Escalera in Anna, at the foot of 136 steps.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/valencian-community/xativa/itineraries/cova-negra-and-gorgo-de-anna · Revisado: 2026-11-13

## El día
- 07:45 · Salida: 45 min by car (via the A-7 from Valencia, about 48 minutes)
- 08:45 · Walk from Xàtiva to the Cova Negra on the PRV-78 (PRV-78 from the fountain of the 25 spouts · return, 3 h 30 · free) · Love Xàtiva Tours, From €145 private tour
  - 15 min on foot
- 13:15 · El Cullerot (El Cullerot · Xàtiva-style baked rice · €€ · booking; on Saturday open 13:00 to 18:00) · El Cullerot, €€
  - 15 min by car, 18 km
- 15:45 · Swimming at the Gorgo de la Escalera in Anna (136 steps · €2 from age 4 · no lifeguard)
- 19:00 · Vuelta (From Anna via the A-7)

In summer, Xàtiva is lived the opposite way to winter: the castle, with no shade, is left for another day, and the plan looks for cool in the morning and water in the afternoon. The Cova Negra is a flat walk from the old town, beside the River Albaida, and the Gorgo de la Escalera in Anna is 22 minutes by car.

## The day, hour by hour

7:45 · Set off. From Valencia, the A-7 towards Alicante, about 48 minutes. The route starts at the fountain of the 25 spouts, beside the Portal de Cocentaina, east of the old town.

8:45 · Walk to the Cova Negra. The PRV-78 leaves from the fountain of the 25 spouts and follows the irrigation channel, flat and waymarked, to the bend in the Albaida where Neanderthals lived. An hour and a half or two each way and the same back. Bring water for the whole morning.

13:15 · El Cullerot. In the Plaza del Mercat, facing the Seu: Xàtiva-style oven-baked rice. On Saturdays it opens from 13:00 to 18:00; book ahead.

15:45 · Gorgo de la Escalera. In Anna, 18 km. You go down 136 steps to the pool, at the foot of a waterfall of about 20 metres. Entry €2 from age 4, bought online or at the entrance; capacity of 350 people and no lifeguard.

19:00 · Head home. From Anna, back to the A-7 towards Valencia.

## If you go with children

The route is flat, but it is three and a half hours of walking: with children who will not manage that much, drive to the Alboi poplar grove and do only the last stretch. At the gorge, under-4s do not pay; watch them closely in the water, because there is no lifeguard.

## Cómo llegar

### By car
A-7 from Valencia to Xàtiva, 48 minutes. From Xàtiva to Anna, 18 km and about 22 minutes.

## Consejos

### Water shoes and a towel
To get into the water from the rocks at the gorge.

### Buy the gorge ticket online
On an August Saturday the capacity of 350 can fill up.

### Save your strength for the stairs
The 136 steps are noticeable on the way back, after the morning's walk.

## Cuándo no ir

The castle at midday in July or August: the road up has no shade.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How long does it take from Xàtiva to the Gorgo de la Escalera?
About 22 minutes by car, 18 km.

### Is the Cova Negra route hard?
No, it is flat and waymarked, though long: between three and four hours there and back.

### Where can you eat in Xàtiva on Saturday?
At El Cullerot, facing the Seu, from 13:00 to 18:00, with a reservation.

### Do you have to pay for the gorge?
In summer, €2 from age 4, with a capacity of 350 people.