From ancient fortresses to a tourist hotspot

We have arrived. We are in Peñíscola. We are by the sea. Our Little Pearl Tour is almost at its end. Almost, because we want to introduce you to this place, one of the most beautiful villages in Spain, in the next two days.

However, you will have to adjust – just like us. It's no longer quiet, tranquil, deserted, or dreamy. Peñíscola is buzzing. 365 days a year. There are no quiet times here. In summer, the Spaniards come, in winter, the tourists from the northern regions of Europe who don't want to miss the sun.

A few numbers back this up: Peñíscola has 8,774 inhabitants (2025). While villages in the hinterland keep losing residents, the population here has almost doubled in the last 25 years. No wonder, the Euro is rolling in. In the three summer months alone, nearly 350,000 tourists arrived. More than a million overnight stays were recorded in hotels and campgrounds. Hardly any café or restaurant closes for the siesta here. People work almost around the clock.

But of course, there are good reasons why so many people want to see this city. Peñíscola is located on the Orange Blossom Coast. The historic town center with its mighty castle sits atop a 60-meter high rock that juts far into the sea. In ancient times, this rock was cut off from the mainland at high tide. Thus, Peñíscola became a small island. This made the place a strategically coveted piece of land for centuries.

The Romans were here, later the Moors, then Christian knights. And finally, even a Pope resided here. But I'll tell you more about that tomorrow.

Oh, and the Spaniards can be different too: November 1st is a big holiday here. And since it fell on a Sunday this year, the shops remained closed on Monday as well. That’s it!