My first glimpse of this battlement mounted, sliver of rock jutting out from the hotel fringed shore, was so compelling we changed our travel plans to make time to explore! 
Peniscola a small, laid, back beach side town can be found between Barcelona & Valencia on Spain’s eastern coast. Although it had been recommended as an interesting place to visit, we did not realise how interesting till we arrived and looked down an otherwise unremarkable beach!
It was so tempting to set out down that beach and explore! Glad we didn’t…… as we would have been walking a long time!!!! It was also useful to have a car as the local bus service was not running that day.
The Castle was initially erected by the Knights Templar on the ruins of a old Moorish Citadel, completed by the Montesianos in the 14th century and later modified by Pope Luna, his heraldic coat of arms can be found in his old study. Benedict XIII also had his palace here which can be found to the right of the main patio. The claim to fame is that this is only one of the 3 places in the world where Popes have lived Rome, Avignon and in this very place, with a room facing in the direction of Rome.
As in many of Spain’s ancient cities, the “Old” town is housed inside the fortress walls, the modern development spreading outward and along the beaches. The “Old” town is of course where the most interesting places are to be found.
Standing surrounded by “tons” of rock and stone, peering through an archer slit, generations have huddled here for protection, the doors are barricaded, bows are taut, quivers ready……Hey! Perhaps boiling oil to pour over the battlements against invaders? Maybe that’s why I was so drawn here…… my English heritage of conquerors and invaders, makes me feel right at home here.
It is well worth the €3.50 entry fee, which includes a map and brief explanation of the Castle, the views are of course far reaching…… why else would it be built here if not to command such a view? From the battlements, the concrete coastline sweeps away to either side. The ocean sparkles before us, white froth below, bordered by blues, dark and forbidding as the dark rocks beneath to turquoise, aqua and even baby blue, in the sandy shallows where babies run naked.
Behind us the old city snuggles up and out, intersected by winding alleys, sun dried laundry, palm trees and tiled domes. It reminds me of my trips to Egypt, the domes and white washed walls; show the Moorish influence in these towns.
The call was answered and we thoroughly enjoyed the visit, one of my favourite places so far.
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