Πενίσκολα

Late spring and early autumn are the best times, with warm weather and fewer crowds. July and August are hot, busy and expensive. Winters are mild and quiet, and many beach businesses close.

The Fiestas Patronales in September honour the Virgen de la Ermitana, with processions, fireworks and bull runs in the streets.

• Castell de Peníscola is the Templar castle at the top of the peninsula, with a courtyard, halls and views of the sea and the coast. It was a papal residence in the 15th century.
• The old town has whitewashed streets, small squares, souvenir shops and the Porta de Santa Maria, the gate in the walls.
• Jardins del Parc d'Artilleria are the gardens of the Parc d'Artilleria, below the castle walls.
• Benedit XIII is a statue of Pope Benedict XIII (Papa Luna).
• The Bufador is a blowhole in the rocks, where the sea sends a spray of water through a cave on rough days.
• The Platja Nord is a long sandy beach, and the Platja Sud is a quieter beach on the other side of the peninsula.
• The Parròquia Mare de Déu del Socors is the old town's parish church.

• Visit the castle and walk the old town walls.
• Spend the day on the north beach, then eat rice and seafood by the sea.
• Walk or cycle in the Serra d'Irta.
• Try the artichokes of Benicarló in season.

• Serra d'Irta Natural Park (about 10 km): coastal walks and unspoiled coves.
• Benicarló (about 7 km): a town known for its artichokes.
• Vinaròs (about 20 km): a port known for its prawns.
• Castellón de la Plana (about 70 km): the provincial capital.
• Benicàssim (about 85 km): a resort town with beaches and a villa district.
• Valencia (about 140 km): the third-largest city of Spain.

Other places nearby:

• Valencian coast: Castellón de la Plana, Benicàssim and Valencia.
• Catalonia: Tarragona and Cambrils.

• By air: Castellón airport is about 50 km away, and Valencia airport about 150 km. Reus airport is about 110 km north.
• By train: The nearest station is Benicarló-Peñíscola, about 7 km from town, with trains to Valencia and Barcelona. Book on Renfe. A bus links the station with the town.
• By bus: Buses run along the coast from Valencia, Castellón and Barcelona.
• By road: The AP-7 and N-340 pass close to town.

• On foot: The old town is steep and cobbled but small. The promenade along the beach is flat.
• Local bus and taxi: For the beaches and the station.
• Cycling: Flat on the coast, with a path along the beach.

• Is a car worth it?: Useful for the natural park and nearby towns. The old town is closed to most traffic.
• Parking: Paid parking is available below the old town and on the isthmus. It fills up in summer.
• Roads: The AP-7 is a toll road, and the N-340 is free.

The food of the area is Valencian and Mediterranean. Try arroz a banda (rice cooked in fish stock), caldero (a fish and rice dish), paella and local seafood, especially Vinaròs prawns. Benicarló is famed for its artichokes (alcachofas).

The sweet pastries and the local wines can also be found.

Peñíscola is a safe town. The streets of the old town are steep and cobbled, so wear comfortable shoes. In summer, use sun protection. In windy weather, the Bufador and the sea walls can be slippery.

The peninsula was settled by Iberians, Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans, and the Moors held it until 1233, when King James I of Aragon took it. The Knights Templar built the castle between 1294 and 1307, and later it passed to the Order of Montesa.

In 1411 the antipope Benedict XIII, Pedro de Luna, moved to Peñíscola, where he lived until his death in 1423. The castle was later used as a fortress and in modern times as a film location, including for the 1961 film El Cid.

Quick practical facts for Spain at a glance: