Apartment rental in Peniscola, Spain - Hilltop apartment with breath taking view of the Mediterranean & castle - Property 180900

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Peniscola : On the Costa del Azahar (coast of orange blossoms) in the Community of Valencia where orange groves fill the plains miles upon miles. It is a 75-90 minute (125 km) drive or by train north of Valencia, Reus airport (Ryanair) is to the north 60-75 minutes (120 km), as well as Bercelona which is two hours drive (220 km). Peniscola is a small town, with a population of 5000, and is the most attractive spot on this coast. It lays roughly mid point on the north-south axis between Barcelona and Valencia. It is certainly placed in a privileged part of the Mediterranean. The Municipality of Peniscola covers 79 square kilometers, 17 of which run parallel to the coastline, an area which is fairly distributed between woodland areas and warm Mediterranean groves of oranges, olives and almonds. The old town is perched on a rocky promontory topped with an old castle built by the Knights Templar on an Arab castle foundation, and rises 64 meters (205 ft) above the sea.

It is a typical post-card scene of narrow cobbled streets, and whitewashed houses. The old castle of Peniscola is the second most visited monument in Spain after Alhambra. The city was a center of Christendom for a short period 1421-1429 during a conflict in the Catholic church when Pope Benedict XIII and Pope Clement VIII resided in the castle. The city wall was built in 1578 during the reign of Philip II. The movie El Cid starring Charleston Heston and Sophia Loren was filmed here. The sea promenade (Paseo Maratimo) and its beaches stretch north to Benicarlo for about 8 km (5 miles), dotted with a lot of cafes and restaurants, and makes for a pleasant walk especially in the evening. The coast south of Peniscola is rocky and steep and has a lot of cliffs and small beaches and isolated coves good for fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling.

Also to the south lies the Sierra de Irta with a 26 km of hiking and horseback trails, can be made on foot in about 5 hours or by a rough terrain vehicle. It is an excellent day out for a group of able people. All amenities are within 5-25 minutes. There are major shopping strips especially in Bencarlo (8-10 km) or in Vinaros (15 km). Local fiesta Les Danses is held on the 8th and 9th of September. You can enjoy the many local sandy beaches, sailing, canoeing, and paddle boats. The narrow steep streets and whites houses of the old city are filled with history. Providing a contrast with the old quarters are the modern streets and wide avenues of the tourist area. The weather is mild and extreme temperatures are rare. Taking a stroll in Peniscola is a delight year round. The coasts have classic Mediterranean climate of hot summers cooled by sea breeze and mild balmy winters.

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