Excursion City in the sea, peñiscola tour at Castellon de la Plana

The tiny walled peninsula of Peñíscola looks firmly out to sea and is known for its most cherished monument; the gothic castle of Pope Pedro Luna (Benedict XIII). Surrounding the citadel are what used to be the houses of local fishermen, located along the narrow, winding cobbled streets. At the foot of the town are broad sandy beaches and fertile lands to the north. The southern stretch is ultimately bordered by cliffs that extend down the coast to form attractive coves.

Take a drive directly from the port to the often called "Gibraltar of Valencia," a fortified seaport with a lighthouse built on a rocky headland about 67 metres (220 feet) high and joined to the mainland by only a narrow strip of land. Peñiscola is on Spain's official list of most beautiful towns and is dominated by the Castle of Peñiscola.

Peñiscola

Upon arrival, begin your guided walk passing the Plaza de Armadura to visit the Castle. Rising 64 metres (210 feet) above the azure blue sea, the castle and city walls envelope gorgeous windy cobbled stone streets, which are throbbing with the memories of centuries gone by. Walking along these historic streets of the old town of Peñíscola, you need to stop quite frequently to take in the breathtaking views over the Mediterranean Sea.

Castle of Peñiscola

Before entering you are greeted by an impressive bronze statue of Pope Luna at the entrance of the Templar fortress castle, which was constructed between 1294 and 1307. Pope Luna (originally Pedro Martínez de Luna y Pérez de Gotor, of one of the 12 noble families of Aragon) was Pope between 1394 and 1417, and due to the Great Schism he was anti-Pope from 1417 until he died in 1423. He came to Peñíscola in 1415, after he had refused to surrender his Papal tiara to the Council of Perpignan. The Master of the Order of Montesa, Romeu de Cabrera, offered him the fortress and Pope Luna accepted and turned it into his Papal court.

New walls were added in 1960 when Anthony Mann's film El Cid was partially filmed there.

Enjoy approximately 30 minutes of free time around the old quarter to spend as you please and shop for souvenirs.

Afteward, rejoin your coach to return to the pier and your ship.

Please note: This tour involves an extensive amount of walking for approximately 3 hours total. Some surfaces are uneven with cobblestones and there are some steep steps and inclines at the castle. This tour is not recommended for guests with limited mobility or those who utilise a wheelchair. We recommend wearing lightweight clothing and flat, comfortable walking shoes. Bring a hat, sunscreen and bottled water.

Points of interests

Points of interest seen on this excursion include: Costa del Azahar, Peñiscola, Templar Castle