Parc de la Rambleta

The Parc de la Rambleta is one of those green lungs that mostly only locals know about: 14 hectares of Mediterranean garden between the Sant Marcel·lí neighbourhood and the cemetery, in the south of the city. There's a palm grove, a large reflecting pool, lawns to sprawl on and, above all, plenty of calm far from the tourist crowds. It suits a quiet morning, and right next door is the Espai Rambleta cultural centre, with theatre, concerts, film and exhibitions almost every day.

A little history

The name comes from an old rambla, the seasonal watercourse that once crossed these market-garden fields before the city expanded southward. The park was designed in the late 20th century to recover a degraded site and bring green space to neighbourhoods that barely had any; its first phases were built in the early 2000s, and the Rambleta cultural building opened in 2012.

What to see

The undisputed star is a 400-year-old olive tree, one of the oldest trees in the city, its trunk gnarled and twisted. Around it you'll find a low-water Mediterranean garden, palms, ponds with ducks and generous play and sports areas. It's a park made for slowing down: strolling, reading in the shade, letting the kids run free.

Practical tips

• Take the metro: lines 1 and 5 stop very close by.
• The best light is early morning or at sunset, when the palms cast long shadows.
• Check the Espai Rambleta listings before you go: many concerts and shows are worth the trip on their own.

LOCAL TIP: almost no visitors make it down here, so you'll have the ancient olive practically to yourself. Pair it with other off-the-radar greenery like Marxalenes Park or Benicalap Park, and for more nature ideas see our guide to free things to do in València. To get there car-free, check how to get around València.