Castellon de la Plana Tourist Attractions
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The attractive town of Castellón de la Plana, chief town of its province, lies in a fertile plain, the Huerta de la Plana, and is a center of the trade in oranges, large quantities of which are shipped from the port of El Grao de Castellón, to the east of the town on the beautiful Costa del Azahar ("Orange-Blossom Coast"). Castellón was one of the last strongholds of the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War and as a result was largely destroyed, so that it has preserved very few old buildings and presents a predominantly modern aspect.
Santa María Mayor
The church of Santa María Mayor, which was originally Gothic, was rebuilt after its destruction in 1936. Its free-standing octagonal bell-tower of 1604, El Fadri, 46m/151ft high, is a prominent landmark. It contains a number of pictures by the Castellón-born painter Francisco Ribalta (1551-1628), who is commemorated by a monument on the Paseo de Ribalta.
Town Hall (Provincial Museum of Art)
The Ayuntamiento opposite the Santa María Mayor was built about 1700. In the provincial government offices (Diputación Provincial) in Calle Caballeros is the fine Provincial Museum of Art, which has pictures by Ribalta, Ribera and Osona.
Fiestas de la Magdalena
Every year in March, the town of Castellon de la Plana holds a celebration in honor of La Magdalena.
Surroundings
Costa del Azahar
Costa del Azahar is home to a lovely stretch of coastline. The area is known for its mild climate and the lemon and orange trees for which it's named.
