About us

The u3a movement was founded in France in 1973, making its way to the UK in 1982. It encourages groups of people no longer in full-time work to come together and continue their enjoyment of learning subjects of interest to them.

From the start, the guiding principles were to promote non-formal learning through self-help interest groups covering a wide range of topics and activities as chosen by their members. There is no minimum age to join u3a, but a focus on people who are no longer in full-time employment or raising a family. The founders envisaged a collaborative approach with peers learning from each other.

u3a in Oliva was founded in 2007, and offers a wide range of groups to members. u3a Oliva isn’t officially affiliated with our sister groups in the UK or elsewhere. We operate as a standalone organisation that shares similar aims. There are u3a branches in many parts of Spain.

About Oliva

Oliva is a municipality in the Valencian Community, Spain. To its east lie 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) of coastline and beaches. On the left side of the Marina beach is Kiko beach. The blue flagged beaches of Oliva stretch for 7 kilometres (4.3 miles); many contain sand dunes. Eight kilometres to the north is Gandia, a small historic city.

Oliva has one of the province’s biggest and most colourful Moors and Christians Festivals in the area. In the old town there are two churches, and . Sant Roc dates from the 18th–19th centuries, and Santa Maria  Santa Maria la Major from the 17th–18th centuries. At the top of the hill in the old town is built in the 16th century.

Oliva’s Old Town has historical streets which see various “fiestas” celebrated throughout the year: the falles “Fiesta” in March, the Moors and Christians in July and Setmana Santa (Holy Week). In the centre of the town is a Roman kiln situated below one of the blocks of apartments on Santíssim street.