Morella
A medieval walled hilltop town with a rock-top castle and a Gothic cathedral overlooking the mountains. It is the classic day trip from Peñíscola.
Morella is the historic heart of the Maestrat mountain region and is listed as one of Spain's most beautiful towns. The entire town is enclosed by roughly 2.5 km of 14th-century walls, with more than ten towers and several gates. The town clings in tiers to a huge rock, and at its summit lie the remains of an ancient castle. Inside the town, the Church of Santa María is an important Gothic church in the Valencian region, with a rare spiral staircase to its choir loft. Along the old streets, arcades shelter many small shops selling truffles, goat's milk cheese and handmade blankets. There is an admission fee to climb to the castle, from where you can look down over the whole town and the Gothic aqueduct beyond the walls. The drive from Peñíscola takes about an hour along winding mountain roads, so plan for a full day.
Opening hours
Old town open all day; castle and church approx. 10:30–17:00 (extended in summer)
Nearby sights
- Xivert Castle
- Serra d'Irta Natural Park
- Torre Badum
- Playa Norte
- Benicarló
- Playa Sur
- Port of Peñíscola
- Peñíscola Old Town