Ducal Palace of the Borgias (Gandia)

The Ducal Palace of the Borgias (Palau Ducal dels Borja) is the Gothic palace of the Dukes of Gandia in the centre of Gandia old town, about 500 m from the railway station and 4 km from the beach. It was the home of the Borja family from 1485 and the birthplace of Saint Francis Borgia, and you visit it on a guided tour (7 €, checked November 2026) or with an audioguide. It suits anyone curious about the Borgias or Valencian Gothic architecture and takes about an hour; skip it if you only have a beach day and no interest in history.

Quick facts

• Names: Palau Ducal dels Borja in Valencian, Palacio Ducal de los Borja or Palacio de los Duques de Gandía in Spanish; in English the Ducal Palace of the Borgias or Ducal Palace of Gandia.
• Where: Carrer del Duc Alfons el Vell 1, Gandia (Valencia), in the historic centre beside the River Serpis.
• Coordinates: 38.9658, -0.1799.
• Built: an early Gothic palace of the 14th and 15th centuries, with Renaissance work from the 16th, Baroque extensions from the 17th and 18th and neo-Gothic rebuilding in the late 19th and early 20th centuries (Comunitat Valenciana tourism).
• Protection: Site of Cultural Interest (Bien de Interés Cultural) since 1964.
• Guided tour: 7 € standard, 6 € reduced, 4 € special ticket (checked November 2026).
• Contact: +34 962 871 465, visites@palauducal.com.

Access and parking

On foot and by train: Gandia station, the end of Cercanías line C1 from Valencia Nord, is about 500 m north-west of the palace, and the Gandia bus station about 520 m away; the town’s tourist office is about 440 m away (straight-line distances from OpenStreetMap). The palace stands at the edge of the old town, next to the town walls.

From the beach: the Platja Nord and the harbour district, the Grau, are about 4 km east. OpenStreetMap shows stops of the La Marina Gandiense bus company in the beach district; we could not confirm the lines or timetables, so ask at the beach tourist offices.

By car: Gandia lies just off the A-7 motorway and the N-332. Do not try to park in the old town. OpenStreetMap shows several paid underground car parks within 100–300 m, including the Plaza del Prado car park, and free surface car parks about 350–450 m away.

What to expect

The palace has stood at the heart of Gandia for almost seven centuries, and the visit walks you through the layers of its history (Comunitat Valenciana tourism). It was the residence of the Royal Dukes of Gandia from the 14th century and of the Borja family from 1485 (Wikipedia). Spain.info notes that it stands on the remains of a large house of Arab origin and shows a clear Italianate influence; the Jesuits later restored it and turned it into a sanctuary (spain.info).

• The entrance and the Gothic courtyard: a robust round-arched door and hallways are the oldest parts of the Gothic palace. They lead into the large central courtyard, the parade ground, with an outside staircase up to the halls.
• The Golden Gallery (Galeria Daurada): a run of Baroque rooms.
• The Crown Hall (Saló de Corones): one of the Baroque halls reached from the courtyard staircase.
• The neo-Gothic chapel: from the late 19th century.
• The town wall: the palace is attached to the wall that surrounds the old city and has two gates, one Gothic and one Renaissance (spain.info).

The Borgias in Gandia. The Borja family is better known in English as the Borgias. Spain.info says Gandia owes its ducal title to the Borja pope Alexander VI, and that the town had an intense court life in the 15th and 16th centuries, when its university was founded (spain.info). Saint Francis Borgia, the fourth Duke of Gandia, was born in the palace, which the Society of Jesus later restored as a sanctuary. Gandia still holds fiestas in his honour from 29 September to 3 October.

Prices and opening

From the palace’s listings on the regional tourism portal, checked November 2026:

• Guided tours (in Spanish, about one hour): Monday to Saturday at 11:00, 12:00, 16:00, 17:00 and 18:00 from November to March, and at 11:00, 12:00, 17:00, 18:00 and 19:00 from April to October; Sundays all year at 10:15, 11:00 and 12:00. Sundays and holidays have morning tours only (Comunitat Valenciana tourism).
• Tickets: 7 € standard, 6 € reduced and 4 € special. Book by email (visites@palauducal.com) or phone (+34 962 871 465).
• Audioguide: about 40 minutes, in several languages including English, French, Italian and German; a version that also covers the old town of Gandia can be rented (Comunitat Valenciana tourism).
• Living-history tours: on alternate Sundays from October to June at 13:00, the fourth duke, Francis Borgia, Pope Alexander VI, Duchess María Enríquez and the architect Pere Compte guide you round the palace, set in the 16th century. Booking is needed (Comunitat Valenciana tourism).
• Families: there is a family activity, “Where are the keys of the Borja Ducal Palace?”, and an easy-reading version of the visit.

The portal gives no prices for the audioguide or the living-history tours; check the palace website, palauducal.com.

Accessibility and safety

Best time to visit

Any time of year, since it is an indoor visit. Take the 11:00 or 12:00 tour and spend the rest of the morning on the old town; in summer the late-afternoon tours (17:00–19:00) let you spend the hot hours on the beach. Avoid Sunday afternoons, when there are no tours. Gandia’s Fallas run from 15 to 19 March and its Easter week processions are of tourist interest (spain.info), so the old town is busier then.

Nearby alternatives

• Collegiate Basilica of Gandia, 0.1 km away: the Gothic Seu de Gandia, built between 1250 and 1520.
• Archaeological Museum of Gandia (MAGa), 0.2 km away: finds from the Parpalló cave in the old Sant Marc hospital.
• Gandia: our guide to the town, its beaches and the Grau.
• L’Ahuir beach, 7.1 km away: Gandia’s wild dune beach next to Xeraco.
• Valldigna Monastery, 13.8 km away: the Cistercian monastery founded by James II in 1298.
• Xàtiva, 29.4 km away: the castle town where two Borgia popes were born.

Distances are in a straight line from the palace.

FAQ

How much does it cost to visit the Ducal Palace in Gandia?

The guided tour costs 7 € standard, 6 € reduced and 4 € for the special ticket (checked November 2026). Book by email or phone; the palace website has the current prices.

Is there an English tour of the Borgia palace?

The guided tours are in Spanish. The audioguide, about 40 minutes long, is available in English and several other languages.

What are the opening times of the Palau Ducal?

Guided tours run Monday to Saturday in the morning and afternoon (11:00 and 12:00, then 16:00–18:00 in winter or 17:00–19:00 from April to October) and on Sunday mornings at 10:15, 11:00 and 12:00.

Who lived in the Ducal Palace of Gandia?

The Royal Dukes of Gandia from the 14th century and the Borja (Borgia) family from 1485. Saint Francis Borgia, the fourth duke, was born here; the Jesuits later restored the palace as a sanctuary.

Can you walk to the palace from Gandia station?

Yes. It is about 500 m from the station in a straight line, at the edge of the old town.

Sources and freshness