Peniscola is a fortressed old quarter surrounded by the sea which gives the impression that it is in fact an island.

Sat proudly on its highest part is the castle, watchtower and impregnable fortress, enclosed by a series of walls constructed during different ages and which shelter the old town.

The fortifications of the south and east sides were built between the 13th and 15th centuries. The “Sant Pere” Gate was used as a jetty for Papa Luna up until the 18th century but for military reasons it stopped being used for this function. It has been kept in a perfect state of conservation; indeed the ancestral coat of arms of Papa Luna is clearly visible, carved into the lintel. On passing through the gate you can see the Muralla de la Fuente (Wall of the Fountain) built between the 14th and 15th centuries which ends at the Batería de Santa Ana.

The fortification was constructed in the 16th century and was a very ambitious project that included the Artillery Store and Sant Pere Gate, the construction finally finished at the Santa María Bastion. An ornamental cordon runs the length of the masonry walls and watchtowers at each corner making Peniscola an unusually beautiful and impregnable rock.

The renaissance style Fosc Gate was the main entrance to the city until the 18th century. Above the main gate a commemorative coat of arms belonging to Phillip II can still be seen.

The military strategy can be clearly appreciated in the Parque de Artillería (Artillery Park), which is currently a botanical garden for species native to the Sierra de Irta.

The third entrance to the city is the Santa María Gate, erected in 1754 to improve access to the city. Inside the gate is the Plaza de “Les Escaseres”, next to the Hermitage of Santa Ana. Dating back to 1827, the hermitage is of great historical interest and is a must when strolling through the narrow streets of the old city.

The bufador is a wide gap between the rocks through which the sea suddenly rises on stormy days.