Universitat Jaume I - UJI - Castello

Institutional information

Institutional information and regulations

Castelló de la Plana and its province

The most outstanding of Castelló

FADRI Castelló de la Plana is situated at the point where the 40º parallel and the Greenwich meridian cross. It is the capital of one of Spain's most mountainous provinces and at the same time it has 112 Km of Mediterranean coastline. It now has a population of over 160,000, split between the town of Castelló itself and the maritime district of the Grao (the Port)

In 1251, after the Reconquest, the inhabitants of the ancient settlement known as the Magdalena, or "Castell Vell" (the "Old Castle", located in the mountains near Castelló) were granted a Charter by King Jaume I that authorized them to move their village to the town's present location. This historical event, therefore, marked the birth of the town of Castelló de la Plana as we know it

The tradition of working with ceramics is a remnant of the Arab culture which was present in different parts of the province of Castelló for several centuries. The origins of the industry date back to the late 18^th century when, influenced by the Count of Aranda's Royal Factory (Real Fábrica), les fabriquetes - small ceramic workshops devoted to the production of shaped pieces and tiles - began to appear in Alcora, Ribesalbes and Onda. But the current boom of the ceramics sector began in the sixties, following the growth experienced by the Spanish economy during that period.

Business hours

Nartural Spots and Beaches

Castelló is one of the most mountainous provinces of Spain. There are several natural spots that we recommend to visit: the Desert de les Palmes (one of the best natural spots in the Valencian Community which has an old monastery belonging to the Carmelitan Order); the Serra d’Espadà Natural Park, is well known among others for its Cork trees; the highest mountain of Castelló, Penyagolosa, receives many visitors all year who like to climb it, the Tinença de Benifassà and El Maestrat have plenty of places, forests and rivers to visit. Some villages of cultural interest near Castelló are Morella, Sant Mateu, Vilafamés or Segorbe in the inland.

The Columbretes Islands (one of the most interesting natural areas in the Mediterranean, 30 miles away from the coast of Castelló was declared Protected Natural Park). In general, Castelló beaches are long and wide, and some still preserve pine trees and dunes. Some of the most touristic ones are: El Serradal Benicassim, Orpesa, Alcossebre and Penyiscola.

Tourist visit of the town

The town of Castelló offers several cultural resources. It is a small town, so most of it can be visited on foot, and it takes only a short route through the town centre to find out about its past and history.

One of the town’s most representative, well-known and most loved buildings by the inhabitants of Castelló is El Fadrí. It is located next to Concatedral de Sanra María (Saint Mary’s Concathedral), and it is a simple gothic belfry, with a hexagonal ground plan. Saint Mary’s Concathedral has a Valencian gothic style, as its construction began in the XII century. Through the time it has suffered several misfortunes, like fires and bombings. Nowadays it keeps its three original doors and some other elements of the old temple.

In the same old part of the town, in the Plaza Mayor (Major Square), there are some interesting buildings such as the town hall, which is divided in two buildings: the old one is a classic style building (with clear Italian influences, was erected between the XVII and XVIII centuries) which still keeps the original façade although the ground plan has been completely restored. The new building is made with embossed bronze, which tells us about the mythical origins of the city, told in the book of Tombatossals. In the Plaza Mayor we can also find the Mercat Central (Central Market) which is the main market in the town centre and the Casa Abadía (Abbey House) and just behind the cathedral and next to the Casa Abadía we find the old Lonja del Cáñamo (Hemp Market), built in the XVII century (a rectangular, two-storey building with four half point arches and little ornamentation) which was used by the society of Castelló as the business centre.

But besides these buildings, the city has some other monuments like the Palacio del Obispo (Bishop’s Palace) an academicist style building, constructed in the XVIII century; or the Correos (Post Office) a modernist style building, erected in the XIX century, the façades of which are made with bricks, ceramics and glass, remembering the Islamic style. Together with the Plaza de Tetuán (Tetouan Square), the Correos building was named historical-classical heritage in 1981. The Plaza de la Independencia (Independence Square) is more known as La Farola (The Street Light), as it is a tiny square with the most popular modernist street light in the city It is surrounded by several modernist houses from the end of the XIX and the beginning of the XX centuries. It also was declared historical-classical heritage in 1981. The Casino Antic (Old Casino) was founded in 1814 and is a neo-plateresque building constructed in the second half of the XVIII century. Other interesting buildings are the Teatre Principal (Main Theatre) erected in the XIX century, which occupies the whole block and of course and the Basílica de la Mare de Déu del Lledó (Lledó God’s Mother Basilica), a baroque building.

The Festivities

In addition, you can enjoy the town’s festivities, the Magdalena, which begin on the third Sunday of Lent, usually between February and March, and commemorate the peregrination of the citizens from the mountain to the town’s present location. They are foundational festivities, where plenty of events take place, and in which music and fireworks have an outstanding place.

Gastronomy

About gastronomy, Castelló offers its visitors a wide range of traditional dishes, usually based on seafood, especially the Vinaros’ guarantee of origin king prawn and all kind of rice such as: Arrós a Banda, Fideuà, Arrós al Forn and Engravà. But no doubt, the most popular and well-known dish is Paella. Some other typical dishes from Castelló are: la Olla de la Plana and el Tombet de Bou.

Among the traditional desserts and sweets we should mention: figues albardaes, coca mal feta, llesquetes amb ou, pastissets, almendrados or pilotes de frare. And the most typical drinks are mistela and moscatel