Spanish Holiday: Charming Castellon

Every tourist who goes to Spain visits Madrid, Granada and Barcelona, with probably a beach-holiday thrown in, lots of sight-seeing, Spanish food and wine and the mandatory flamenco show. If you want to do something different, travel to Castellon, in Valencia for that authentic Spanish experience!

Castellon de la Plana is in the province of Castello in the Valencian community. You can travel directly to Villa Nova airport and take a train to Castellon which is an hour's trip. Otherwise, you can travel by local bus or hire a cab. The route is extremely scenic, as this is one of the most rugged provinces of Spain, with the Desert de Palmes mountains situated here.

The town has strong historical roots dating back to the Moorish civilization in the 13th century, the Spanish wars of succession in the 18th century and the struggle against the Napoleonic conquest in the 19th century. In modern times, the city walls have been taken down and the urban area moved beyond their limits.

Important monuments in Castellon are:

El Fadri Tower: This landmark 16th century bell-tower is one of Castellon's ancient monuments and the bells are still rung to mark the hours and important events. The nearby Abbey contains a vast library that belongs to the Castellon Cultural Society.

Santa Maria Cathedral: Built in the 13th century, this Gothic style church contains beautiful gold and silver embellishments and several medieval paintings.

Santa Clara Square: The heart of the city, this square is the venue for all major festivals and events, including a famous book fair.

Teatro Principal: is the 19th century theater which can seat up to 1500 people and hosts major cultural and civic events. It also has some interesting paintings by Spanish masters.

There are plenty of other interesting monuments to be explored in Castellon, if you have the time. Castellon is also known for the famous Santamaria Magdalena festival during Lent. Pilgrims carrying decorated canes arrive at the shrine and later, a whole week of festivities continues, including fireworks, music and dance, a carnival parade and wonderful regional food and wines. Other festas like the Patron Saint Fiesta etc also add color and charm to the city.

The Museum of Fine Arts, the Provincial Ethnological Museum and the Santa Maria Cathedral museum are all repositories of local art, archeology, ethnology and traditional crafts and occupations, religious art and artifacts etc.

You can get a bird's-eye view of Castellon if you take a microlight flight over the city or simply lounge on one of the beaches. Golfing enthusiasts can get a game at one of the two courses here. The port has restaurants offering superb paella and seafood delicacies. A walk through the nearby orange groves can be combined with a visit to several of the local monasteries where you can sample delicious home-made liqueur.

Castellon offers a unique holiday experience, if you're willing to try!