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With a name derived from the many palmettos on the island, this village was originally a Moorish farmstead. After the forced deportation of Muslim residents in the mid-13th century, the island was essentially abandoned until the late 18th century when fisherman and their families began to take up permanent residency here. Most modern visitors come here primarily to eat paella (see listings below in 'Eat'), but it is worth taking some extra time to explore the surrounding canals and to see the barracas, traditional thatch-roofed dwellings.
La Barraca del Tío Aranda
The oldest building in El Palmar dates from the 19th century, and is the only one which still has the original construction of adobe walls, packed clay floor, wooden ceiling, and thatched roof. It is not open to the public, but visitors can appreciate it from the outside.
Hermitage of the Saints of the Stone
The 14th-century chapel was modified in the 17th century, and is a good example of Gothic architecture from the Reconquista period. It is dedicated to Saints Abdón and Senén, patron saints of the nearby city of Sueca, and on 29 July it is a pilgrimage destination from Sueca during the festival of Benissants de la Pedra.
A Republican battery and artillery site from the Spanish Civil War.
Centro de Interpretación Racó de l'Olla / Racó de l'Olla Interpretation Centre
The visitor centre can offer information on bird life in the area, and has an observation tower, two bird observatories, and a nature trail through a smaller lagoon. Ample parking is available nearby, and the nearest EMT bus stop is located a short distance to the north.