Platja de Venècia (Venice Beach) takes its name from the nearby Venetian-style residential development built during the early 20th century when Mediterranean coastal towns across Spain adopted romantic European place names to attract tourism and real estate investment. The beach is located in Gandia municipality, province of Valencia, Comunitat Valenciana, positioned at the mouth of the Serpis River where it flows into the Mediterranean, creating a distinctive transitional ecosystem between freshwater and marine environments. The Serpis River, historically important for irrigating Gandia's fertile agricultural plains where oranges, rice, and vegetables have been cultivated for centuries, creates a natural southern boundary for this beach. Platja de Venècia lies adjacent to Gandia's Club Nàutic (yacht club) and marina, with the protective harbor breakwater extending into the Mediterranean creating shelter from northern winds and swells that frequently affect more exposed coastal sections. This 400-meter beach developed more slowly than Gandia's main northern beaches, maintaining a quieter, more local character that attracts residents and visitors seeking alternatives to the busier tourist beaches further north. The fixed dune cord with native vegetation behind the beach represents conservation efforts to preserve coastal ecosystems that have disappeared along much of Spain's developed Mediterranean coastline, providing habitat for beach-adapted plants and nesting sites for shorebirds while stabilizing sand and preventing erosion.
The beach extends approximately 400 meters in length with a width of roughly 50 meters, featuring fine golden sand characteristic of Valencia's Mediterranean beaches. The impressive breakwater protecting the marina creates calm water conditions within the bay, making swimming safe and pleasant for families with young children and less confident swimmers who appreciate the absence of strong waves and currents. The beach's sheltered position provides protection from the Tramontana (northern wind) that can make other beaches uncomfortable during spring and autumn months, extending the comfortable beach season. The gentle seabed slope and clear water create ideal conditions for wading and swimming, with depths increasing gradually allowing parents to supervise children easily. Beach facilities include showers for rinsing off saltwater and sand, and a children's playground with swings, slides, and play structures providing entertainment beyond beach activities. The beach maintains free parking throughout the day—a significant advantage compared to Gandia's main beaches where summer parking can be challenging and expensive—with lots accessible from the bridge connecting Gandia with the Morells neighborhood across the Serpis River. The beach experiences significantly fewer visitors than the main Platja de Gandia to the north, creating a more relaxed atmosphere where finding space for towels and umbrellas presents no difficulty even on summer weekends. The proximity to the marina allows viewing of sailboats and yachts entering and exiting the harbor, adding maritime character, while the river mouth attracts birdwatchers observing gulls, terns, and herons feeding where fresh and saltwater mix. Evening walks along the beach provide serene sunset experiences, with the sun descending over the Mediterranean and reflecting off the marina waters.
Club Nàutic de Gandia restaurant at the adjacent marina serves arroz a banda (rice cooked in fish stock with alioli), lubina a la sal (sea bass baked in salt crust), and mejillones al vapor (steamed mussels with white wine and garlic). Restaurante Casa José, 2 kilometers north along the coast, specializes in paella de marisco with prawns, mussels, clams, and squid, fideuà de Gandia (noodle paella with alioli), and gambas al ajillo (prawns sautéed with garlic and chili). Restaurante Arrocería Casa Julia in Gandia town offers arroz negro (black rice with squid ink), arroz del senyoret (peeled seafood rice for easy eating), and paella valenciana with chicken, rabbit, and green beans. Restaurante Coronada features sepia a la plancha (grilled cuttlefish with garlic and parsley), chopitos fritos (fried baby squid), and calamares rellenos (squid stuffed with ham and vegetables). Tasca Manduca serves pulpo a la gallega with paprika and olive oil, chipirones a la plancha, and ensalada valenciana (Valencian salad with tuna, olives, tomatoes, and onions).
