Peniscola Peníscola/Peñíscola |
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— Municipality — | |||
Peniscola from the beach | |||
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Peniscola
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Coordinates: | |||
Country | Spain | ||
Autonomous community | Valencian Community | ||
Province | Castelló | ||
Comarca | Baix Maestrat | ||
Government | |||
• Mayor | Andrés Martínez Castellà (PP) | ||
Area | |||
• Total | 79 km2 (30.5 sq mi) | ||
Elevation | 46 m (151 ft) | ||
Population (2009) | |||
• Total | 7,894 | ||
• Density | 99.9/km2 (258.8/sq mi) | ||
Demonym | Penisclà, penisclana Peniscolà, peniscolana | ||
Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||
• Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||
Official language(s) | Valencian | ||
Website | Official website |
Peníscola (Valencian: [peˈniskola]) or Peñíscola (Spanish: [peˈɲiskola]) is a municipality in the province of Castellón, Valencian Community, Spain. The town is located on the Costa del Azahar, north of the Serra d'Irta along the Mediterranean coast. It is a popular tourist destination.
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Peniscola, often called the "Gibraltar of Valencia," is a fortified seaport, with a lighthouse, built on a rocky headland about 220 feet (67 m) high, and joined to the mainland by only a narrow strip of land (Peníscola is a local evolution of Latin peninsula). Originally built between 1294 and 1307[1] by the Knights Templar, in the fourteenth century it was garrisoned by the Knights of Montesa, and in 1420 it reverted to the Crown. From 1415 it was the home of the schismatic Avignon pope Benedict XIII (Pedro de Luna), whose name is commemorated in the Bufador de Papa Luna, a curious cavern with a landward entrance through which the seawater escapes in clouds of spray. History has it that this is the place where Hannibal took an oath swearing to his father that he would never be a friend of Rome. He went on to war with rome through out his life, gaining many famous victories.
The castle where Benedict lived from 1417 until his death in 1423 was restored, improved and new walls were added in 1960 when Anthony Mann's film El Cid was partially filmed there. The town and castle of Peníscola played the role of Valencia. The castle is now a popular tourist attraction and the beaches and surrounding area is a popular family holiday resort.
Peniscola hosts an annual comedy film festival that draws Spanish and foreign actors and filmmakers and features screenings in historic venues. That the festival celebrates comedy is a natural fit; the city was the backdrop for Luis Berlanga's comedic masterpiece Calabuch.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
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