Live like you would die tomorrow, learn like you would live forever! (Gandhi) All artwork, music and photography is of my creation and all are originals if not otherwise stated.
(Ayuntamiento de Valencia, photo by FBC, C.2019 All Rights Reserved, Derechos Reservados)
(Photo by FBC, All Rights Reserved, Derechos Reservados, C.2019)
(Photo by FBC, All Rights Reserved, Derechos Reservados, C.2019)
(Photo by FBC, All Rights Reserved, Derechos Reservados, C.2019)
Valencia is the third city in Spain…it is a port city in the southeast coast of the Iberian peninsula…almost 800.000 souls live in this city…it was founded by the Romans in 132 B. C. and was named Valentia Edetanorum…in the year A. D. 711 the Muslims conquered the city and in 1238, King Jaume I of Aragon reconquered the city. Pope Gregory IX gave the reconquest the status of a cruzade and King Jaume was known as a Catholic King.
The “Kingdom of Valencia”, was established in 1238 by Jaume I as a part of the Crown of Aragon. Phillip V of Spain dissolved the kingdom in 1707.
El Cid, Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, born 1043, died 10 July 1099, ruled Valencia from 1094 until his death in 1099. His wife, Jimena Diaz ruled after him. It is possible that El Cid died during the siege of Valencia by the Almoravids. By 1102 they had taken the city. Jimena left the city in 1101 and took the body of El Cid to be re-buried in the Burgos Cathedral. Babieca, his warhorse was buried with him.
(Photo property of FBC, C.2019, All Rights Reserved, Derechos Reservados)
The Coat of Arms of the Aragonese Monarchs marked the time when the city became, once again a Christian city and a future part of the Kingdom of Spain.
Valencia has a long history and beautiful places…
Photo by FBC, C.2019, All Rights Reserved, Derechos Reservados
Photo by FBC, C.2019, All Rights Reserved
Photo by FBC, C.2019, All Rights Reserved
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THANKS!
All images are the property of Francisco Bravo Cabrera (FBC) and cannot be copied or reproduced without written consent. All images C.2019, All Rights Reserved, Derechos Reservados.
In the province of Castellón in the Comunitat Valenciana, Peñíscola has been awarded the title of city since 1707. Presently about eight thousand souls live there. It is considered among the most beautiful towns in Spain.
The city is on a small peninsula…basically a huge rock…separated from the mainland by a small spit of sand. The old town is on the small peninsula as well as the castle of Papa Luna. The modern city lies to either side along a large stretch of sandy beach.
The castle was built by the Knights Templars between 1294 y 1307.
Pedro Martínez de Luna y Pérez de Gotor was named Pope in accordance to the Avignon Papacy and took the name of Benedict XIII of Avignon, although he was called “Papa (Pope) Luna”. The castle became his papal see.
North of the Castle
South of the Castle
To me it was like walking into another century. Picture yourself on a rock that juts out into the Mediterranean Sea, walking up a winding street…
Going up the rock
Mare de Déu de l’Ermitana
It was a rather lovely experience from the top of the rock and the Templar Castle was a fascinating experience as well…
From the North Tower
Ghosts of Templars?
Peñíscola is a short distance from Valencia, perhaps an hour and a half by car. Definitely it would be a great addition to your visit to Valencia. I don’t really know about other times of the year, but October is a great time to visit as the weather is pleasant and the crowds are thin, so thin they are hardly visible. You can really enjoy the modern city as well as the Old Town on the Rock and Papa Luna’s Castle…
(Statue of Papa Luna as you enter the Castle)
Here are some of the images of the Old Town as well as the views from the battlements of the Templar Castle, Papa Luna’s home…