Costa AzaharGeneralMonuments and places of interest: The Concatedral Cathedral, Fadri and the Observatory (Castellón), Museum of Contemporary Art (Vilafames), Papa Luna castle (Peníscola), Benicassim villa, the King tower and Oropesa castle, the castle and walls of Morella, the Orange Museum (Burriana), the Roman arch (Cabanes) and the Ceramics Museum (Alcora). Beaches: Benicassim, Castello-Grao, Alcossebre, Peniscola, Oropesa, Torreblanca, Benicarló y Vinarós. Gastronomy: Arros a banda, suquet de peix, Benicarló olleta barretja, barbecued fish, arros negre, Vinarós King Prawns and arrosejat. Festivities: San Antonio (17th of January) in Benicassim, Vinarós carnivals, Magdalena (Castellón, March), San Juan (24th of June), Oropesa fiestas (25th of July), Santo Tomás (22nd of September) in Benicassim, 9th of October and Peníscola fiestas (7th to 16th of October). Resort townsThere are many excellent beach resorts in the Costa Azahar. Please see below for a selection: AlcossebreThe village of Alcossebre is located in the heart of the Costa del Azahar (Spain's Orange Blossom Coast), surrounded by Almonds and Orange groves and protected by the rugged Sierra De Irta Mountains. Steeped in history and full of charm, Alcossebre has become a haven for those who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of modern life, without losing any of the modern conveniences. Whether walking in the mountains and national parks or relaxing on golden sand, the area has it all. The town has 5 blue flag beaches and a 2 minute strole inland leads you to a large number of orange and almond groves. The main village centre has many small shops and a wide range of restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets, and of course a good supply of bars too. To the north of Alcossebre is the busy marina of Las Fuentes that overlooks the harbour and is a hive of summer activity. Alcossebre and the surrounding villages are set in a conservation area where development has been strictly controlled with no high rise buildings. PeñiscolaPeñiscola is an ancient town and was probably founded by the Moors during the Arab conquest of the Iberian Peninsular, it is often called ‘The Gibraltar of Valencia’ as it is a fortified town with a lighthouse constructed on a rocky headland, which rises to a height of 220 feet. The charismatic castle of Peñiscola is notable for a number of reasons, not least because it was the location for some of the filming of the epic ‘El Cid’, starring the recently deceased Charlton Heston. The castle was also the former residence of the notorious Pope Luna (Benedict XIII) who was Pope during the late 14th century. The castle was begun in around 1294 upon the site of an earlier Moorish fortress, it was finished by 1307 (a remarkable feat) due to the resolve of the Knights Templar who undertook the task.
The ‘old town’ of Peñiscola comprises a maze of narrow winding streets, lined with old white-walled houses, this area is surrounded by huge ramparts and entry is by way of two gateways - the San Pedro Gate and the Fosch Gate.
Modern Peñiscola is a popular holiday resort, one of the best known on the Costa del Azahar, it has a superb marina, backed by a fine selection of restaurants, its main beach to the north is five kilometres long and 44 metres wide, comprising both sandy and rocky areas, small beaches to the south are bounded by rocky coves and cliffs, a renowned area for scuba diving and snorkelling.
Apart from the castle and the old town, other places worth visiting in Peñiscola include the Sea Museum, the Hermitage of Mare de Déu and the Parochial Church of La Virgen del Socorro (15th century).
Peñiscola is the location for some significant cultural events including the International Festival of Cinema Comedy (Festival Internacional de Cinema de Comedia de Peñíscola) held in May / June, the Short Story Award (Ciudad de Peñiscola) judged by a jury formed from members of the Spanish Royal Language Academy, and the International Festival of Ancient and Baroque Music (held in August). Festivals and EventsBenicassim Festival
The International Benicàssim Festival can be described as a cross between a summer holiday with friends and a music festival. It has been extremely popular since its conception in 1995 not only due to a great line up, but also due to the lovely hot climate, lack of rain and the nearby beaches to laze around on during the day. In addition to the main stage there is a 10,000 capacity dance tent complete with cooling water misters and fans to keep everyone cool. Benicàssim itself is a small beach town on the Costa Azahar, a few kilometers away from Marina Dor.
Besides the music, the Festival provides space for other disciplines such as dance, fashion, contemporary art, theatre and short films, and is the only music festival in the world that offers, among its many activities, summer courses which offer official course credit to university students. The festival really is about being part of a completely unique experience – a holiday extraordinaire by the sea, with a very cool summer vibe and a true cultural event all in one. |
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