Page 253 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

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3 Peníscola 4 Costa del Azahar
Castellón. * 7,000. @ n Paseo Castellón. £ Castelló de la Plana.
Marítimo, 964 48 02 08. ( Mon. @ Castelló de la Plana. n Plaza de la
_ Fiestas Patronales (2nd week Sep). Hierba s/n, Castelló de la Plana, 964 35
∑ peniscola.es 86 88. ∑ turismodecastellon.com
The fortified Old Town of The “Orange Blossom Coast”
Peníscola clusters around the of Castellón province is named
base of a castle built on a rocky after the dense citrus groves of
promontory, surrounded on the coastal plain. The three
three sides by the sea. This principal resorts are Oropesa,
labyrinth of narrow winding Peníscola and Benicàssim, Castelló de la Plana’s planetarium, close to
streets and white houses is where handsome old villas the beach
enclosed by massive ramparts. stand beside modern hotels
These are entered by either the and other tourist amenities. 6 Castelló de la
Fosch Gate – reached by a ramp Alcossebre also has a popular Plana
from the Plaza del Caudillo – or beach. Vinaròs – the most
through the San Pedro Gate, northerly point – and Benicarló Castellón. * 180,000. £ @ n Plaza
from the harbour. Some visitors are key fishing ports supply ing de la Hierba s/n, 964 35 86 88. ( Mon.
are drawn to the town because prawns and date mussels to _ Fiesta de la Magdalena (3rd Sun of
Lent). ∑ castellonturismo.com
the 1961 Hollywood blockbuster local restaurants.
El Cid was filmed there.
The Castell del Papa Luna Originally founded on high
was built on the foundations of ground inland, the capital
an Arab fortress in the late 13th of Castellón province was
century by the Knights Templar. relocated nearer to the coast
Their cross is carved above in the 13th century.
the door. It later became the The city centre, the Plaza
residence of the papal pretender Mayor, is bordered by the
Pedro de Luna, cardinal of market, the cathedral, the town
Aragón. He was elect ed Pope hall and El Fadrí, a 58-m- (190-ft-)
Benedict XIII during the Great high octagonal bell tower begun
Schism that split the Catholic in 1590 and finished in 1604.
Church at the end of the 14th The Museo de Bellas Artes
century. Although he was contains a col lection of artifacts
deposed by the Council of dating from the middle Palaeo-
Constance in 1414, he continued lithic era, paintings from the
to proclaim his right to the 14th to the 19th centuries
papacy until his death as a and modern ceramics from
nonagenarian in 1423. the region. Most of the older
Sculpture in the Casa del Batlle works come from the nearby
+ Castell del Papa Luna convents, because the govern-
Calle Castillo. Tel 964 48 00 21. 5 Vilafamés ment seized many church
Open daily. Closed 1 & 6 Jan, 9 Sep, possessions in the 19th century.
9 Oct, 25 Dec. & 8 Castellón. * 2,000. @ n Plaza del An important collec tion of paint-
Ayuntamiento 2, 964 32 99 70. ( Fri.
_ San Miguel (late Mar), Patronales ings attributed to Francisco de
(mid-Aug). Zurbarán is also on display here.
In El Planetari there are
This medieval town climbs from demonstrations of the night sky,
a plain along a rocky ridge to the the solar system and the nearest
restored round keep of its castle. stars, plus temporary exhibits.
The older, upper part of the town
is a warren of sloping streets. E Museo de Bellas Artes
A 15th-century mansion Avda Hermanos Bou 28. Tel 964 72
houses the Museo de Arte 75 00. Open 10am–2pm & 4–8pm
Contemporáneo de Vilafamés. Tue–Sat, 10am–2pm Sun. 8 by
The artworks on display date appt. 7 =
from 1959 to the present. P El Planetari
Paseo Marítimo 1, Grao. Tel 964 28 29
E Museo de Arte 68. Open Oct–Jun: 9:30am–2:45pm
Contemporáneo de Vilafamés Tue–Fri; 10:30am–2pm & 4:30–8pm Sat;
Casa del Batlle, Calle Diputación 20. 10:30am–2pm Sun (Mar–Jun & Oct: also
Sunset view of the beach and old town Tel 964 32 91 52. Open Tue–Sun. & 4:30–8pm Tue–Fri); Jul–Sep: 9:30am–
of Peníscola ∑ macvac.vilafames.es 2:30pm & 4:30–9pm daily. & 7

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