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A snapshot of Castelló de la Plana
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Besides being the capital of the province, Castellón de la Plana is a reference point in the Valencian Community with over 150.000 inhabitants. This is a modern town, booming, culturally and economically dynamic.

Nevertheless, it has not given up its agricultural origins or the spirit of a town overlooking the Mediterranean on the Costa Azahar. The fragrance of the orange blossom (“azahar”) invades the area, the streets and each of its festivities and traditions. 
 
Patronat de Turisme de Castelló de La PlanaDownload a print version of this guide

 

The history of Castellón de la Plana started in the Desert mountain range, where there used to be an Arab castle which was conquered by James I in 1233. Its hard living conditions made the King grant a permission in 1251 to relocate the population to Benirabe farmstead on the plains where the current town is located.

The moat and walls were built in the Middle Ages, but it was all destroyed in the 19th century. The primitive town has grown inland, north and south.


Starting at El Fadrí
A stroll through Plaza Mayor. The most representative symbol is El Fadrí bell tower, built between 1591 and 1604. It is an exterior building, of an octagonal shape and 58 metres high, with eight bells which sound every hour and to mark the town’s main events.

The arcade of the town hall (17th century) and its Corinthian pilasters are worth mentioning. In its halls there are paintings by local 19th and 20th century artists. Opposite is the town market. Santa Maria’s cathedral is a stunning 14th century building where three faces have been kept, as well as several construction and decorative elements. In this area there are many samples of Academicist architecture: the orphanage, the Cáñamo market, the Grammar school, the Bishop’s Palace and Casa de los Caracoles.


Further to the west is one of the most representative areas, located between plazas Tetuán, Independencia, Huertos Sogueros, the bullring and Paseo Ribalta. The park was created in 1869 and has kept the Romantic style of the times when it was built. La Farola monument was erected in 1929 at the place where the virgin Mare de Déu del Lledó was crowned.

Other areas, such as the Principal Theatre, the Provincial Fine Arts Museum and the old town are also interesting. Castellón’s patrimony of churches is very extensive. Among the main churches are Puríssima Sang, Sant Miquel, Sant Nicolau, Trinitat and the convent of the Capuchin nuns, with a collection of paintings by Zurbarán.

The chapels must not be forgotten either: Santa Maria Magdalena del Castell Vell, Font de la Salut, Sant Jaume de Fadrell, Sant Isidre and Sant Pere de Censal, Sant Nicolau del Barri, Sant Francesc de la Font and Sant Josep del Censal. Mare de Déu del Lledó Basílica deserves a special mention. It was built between 1734 and 1766 on the same location where there once were three sanctuaries at different times. Its museum has images from the 16th and 18th centuries.

El Grau and its beaches
4 km away from the town is Castellón’s port El Grau, around which a tourist area has been built. El Grau includes a fishing port, marina, commercial docks and Nautical Club.

Pinar beach is in the tourist section and has residential areas, a promenade, a Planetarium with a dome 25 metres high, an 18-hole golf course and an airfield. One of the best trips from the port takes us to the Columbrete Islands (see the article on Natural Areas). On the outskirts El Molí-La Font or La Magdalena chapel is worth visiting.

The festivities celebrating the creation of the town
Castellón’s main “fiestas” celebrate the creation of the town and take place around the third Sunday in Lent. La Magdalena week starts with the Pregó parade and the streets are taken over by the emblematic “gaiates”. The parade’s main characteristic is that all the towns in the province are represented. The main event is the romería de las Cañas procession, leading to the Magdalena chapel which is located on top of a mountain outside the town. The procession commemorates the relocation of the first settlers to the current town. The Magdalena week ends when the queen of the fiestas shouts: «Vítol!» in front of a multitude of citizens gathered at Plaza Mayor.

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