If you have a few vacation days, March is the perfect time to take a break. Spring and Easter are coming and looking at the world is much more pleasant without extreme temperatures; the break makes us want to visit coastal towns. Spain is full of charming cities and sometimes it’s hard to choose one.

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Still not sure which direction to take? National Geographic Travel magazine just picked, the most beautiful city to visit this month of March: Peñiscola. We tell you more.

From city beaches to the impressive Peñiscola Castle, it brings together the most wonderful and photogenic places making it the best city in Spain to explore these days.

Peñiscola is a destination chosen by thousands of travelers every year, but is especially popular with middle-aged people. According to Forbes, the Costa del Azahar (which includes cities like Benicarló, Peñiscola, Vinaros and Benicassim) is one of the favorite destinations for foreign retirees.

No matter how old you are, Peñiscola will win you over for many reasons.

5 reasons to visit Peniscola

1. This is one of the most beautiful cities in Castellónthe perfect combination of history and relaxation.
2. Because of the good temperature in spring, maximum 19º.
3. He leisure and hospitality reopened after winter.
4. March is the last month to enjoy a typical benicarlo artichokes.
5. Near Peñiscola there are other charming towns such as Benicarlo, Sant Jordi and Vinaros.

What to see in Peniscola?

Currently, Peñiscola boasts of being one of the locations chosen for filming scenes from cult series and films such as Game of thrones or even a whole series, as in the case of Chiringuito Pepe, where you can see several corners of this Levantine city. That is why people full of posters, signs and panels that explain which movie or series was filmed at each location.

Peñiscola has managed to make the most of the fame that the big screen has given him, although, no doubt, the pleasure of visiting these corners in person will always be much more impressive. Our recommendation do another tour with which you can learn and delve into his legacy, as well as some anecdotes from the filming

OLD CITY

A medieval relic that can be accessed through either of two impressive gates. The first entry, viz. Fosk Portal, one of the corners that best preserved the medieval air of the city. Until the 18th century, this was the only entrance to the fence, consisting of first line of walls Renaissance with Italian influence.

Crossing this portal, you get to two places: santa maria square, a small charming esplanade bounded by majestic walls, where nowadays you can find craft shops, and on the other hand, there are artillery park, A botanical park where you can walk among beautiful gardens. Not forgetting the most photogenic place, the small sea ​​gate, small direct access to the sea.

The second entrance to the historical center is Santa Maria Portalbuilt in 1754. This promenade is more connected to the sea, as it offers a view of the port from above. But above all leads to a series of turns typical of the Mediterranean. First of all, puffer, natural tunnel where the waves break on the rocks and you can enjoy the sound of the sea.

Secondly, Mar Museum which, in addition to its contents, has a small observation deck on its esplanade where you can enjoy wonderful views. Finally, shell house, a peculiar building of a married couple who in the 50s decorated the facade of their house with shells to attract tourists and earn money from it.

To complete this tour, you must visit peniscola lighthouse, built in the highest part of the city. Here you can enjoy incredible views of the entire city and the beach.

PENYSCOLA CASTLE

The old town ends when you reach the castle, the most remarkable building of this city is located on the top of the cliff. Also known as Papa Moon’s Castle because it was his residence. This is a Templar fortress built in 1307 in a very gothic and austere style.

The best option is to take an hour-long tour to learn all about its history and find out where the monks/warriors lived, who had great economic, political and military power of that time. The best thing about visiting a castle is to know its most hypnotic Romanesque chapel and also enjoy observation deck on its highest wall from where you can see Peñiscola, its sea and fields.

In the vicinity of the castle you can enjoy Artillery garden and from there travel narrow and typical streets from the city, full of life, shops and photogenic corners.

The beaches of Peñiscola

To fully enjoy your visit to Peñiscola, you need to take a dip on any of its impressive beaches. The most famous is north beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in the entire Valencian Community, not only for its Blue Flag views, but also for its well-maintained promenade. At the foot of the wall we find south beach, smaller than the previous one, but differs in its view of skyline Middle Ages and proximity to the port.

But few people know that where the Sierra de Irta Natural Park stretches, this is the big beach secret of Peñiscola. A path full of trails where abundant wild Mediterranean sands surprise. The most notable beaches: Basset Beach, V Bay of Argilaga And the beaches of Pebret and Rousseau.

How many days does it take to see Peñiscola?

If you want to visit all the places and monuments mentioned above, you need at least at least two days. Everything will depend on the number of activities you want to do and the time you want to spend on each visit. if you want one quieter stay you can extend the daysbut two is more than enough to visit the most characteristic places in the city.

THE BEST PHOTO PLACES IN PENYSCOLA

• Lighthouse Peniscola
• shell house
• south beach
• artillery garden
• The highest wall of the Peñiscola castle
• Badum tower
• Papa Luna Stairs