Discover Castellón de la Plana: Culture, Coast and History

Castellón de la Plana is home to Castell Vell, an Andalusian fortress on Cerro de la Magdalena hill that is connected to the origins of Castelló. Between its Roman past, urban history, museums and Mediterranean coast, the city presents an unusually diverse picture.

Culture and History

The Villa Romana de Vinamargo was inhabited from the 1st to the 5th century AD. With 3,000 m² of excavated area, it is the largest excavated Roman villa in the province of Castellón. A working area with mills, a pottery workshop and storage rooms has been preserved there.

The visitor route to Castell Vell is 400 metres long, has a positive elevation gain of 30 metres and features seven marked stations providing information about the fortress. The Villa Romana de Vinamargo offers a 45-minute, self-guided visit in Spanish, Valencian, English and French. Different route lengths, time frames and exploration formats can be easily compared when planning an individual day.

El Fadrí is a 58-metre-high, free-standing bell tower with a terrace offering panoramic views over the city. A 30-minute, self-guided visit leads through the tower using exhibition panels. The Muralla Medieval route runs along preserved sections of Castelló's city wall dating from the 13th to the 18th century and offers nine marked stations for independent exploration.

The cityscape itself also preserves notable landmarks: Casa de las Cigüeñas, built in 1912, is probably the best-preserved modernist-style building in the city of Castellón. The Basílica de Santa María de Lledó is connected to the most important Marian devotion of Castelló; its landscaped forecourt contains ceramic panels depicting chapels from the municipal area. The Romería de les Canyes takes place as part of the Fiestas de la Magdalena and commemorates the founding of Castelló.

Museums and Memory

The Ethnological Museum of Castelló houses more than 2,000 objects documenting crafts and urban life in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Museu de la Mar in Grau presents Castelló's maritime culture through 274 objects and more than 70 photographs.

The Museu de Belles Arts de Castelló brings together a permanent exhibition, temporary exhibitions, a library, an auditorium, restoration workshops and archives for archaeological research. Its fine arts department covers painting and sculpture from the 14th century to the first third of the 20th century.

The archaeological department presents a chronological history spanning 200,000 years through multimedia offerings, interactive screens and reconstructed historical situations. In addition, the ceramics collection displays more than 800 pieces, including medieval lustreware and Valencian folk ceramics. The Ruta cerámica modernidad presents Castelló's most significant murals as artistic elements that stand apart from industrial production.

The Tetuán air-raid shelter was built during the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) and restored as a historical interpretation centre addressing the consequences of the war and a culture of peace. The Espacios de Memoria route explores Castelló's recent past, the human costs of the Civil War and the effects of the post-war period.

Walking Tours through Castelló

The Castelló Republicano route can be visited at any time as a 90-minute, self-guided tour in Spanish, Valencian, English and French. It includes 10 marked sights identified by numbered plaques. Together with the Muralla Medieval route and the visitor route to Castell Vell, this provides a range of historical exploration formats with their own lengths, durations and numbers of stations.

More local pages: El Grau De Castelló, Alcalà De Xivert, Sant Jordi, Sant Joan de Moró, Morella, Figueroles, Fredes, Fuentes De Ayódar

Coast and Nature

Platja del Serradal is an area protected as a plant micro-reserve and is home to Castelló's only natural dune system. Depending on conditions, kitesurfing, surfing and other water sports are available on Castelló's beaches; there is also a seafront promenade and a cycle path.

For the overarching travel overview: Castellon.