Vinaròs is a city situated in the north of the province of Castellón de la Plana, near Catalonia. It is typically Mediterranean with a mild climate that makes it pleasant place to be all the year round.
Vinaròs is a very well communicated city, with the CN 340 road and the A-7 express highway that links the whole Mediterranean area, with exits 42 and 43 to Vinaròs, and the CN 232 road, which connects it to Aragón and the north of Spain. It also has a good train network.
Vinaròs' economy is based mainly on fishing, with a large fleet of fishing vessels. Its seafood is very well known, especially the excellent crawfish. It also has an important agricultural production of citric fruit. The most important industry is the manufacture of furniture.
Monuments
Among the most important monuments is the archipriest's church Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, an example of Gothic-Renaissance architecture with a Baroque facade, appointed a historic artistic monument in 1978.
Six kilometres away is the Hermitage of Nuestra Señora de la Misericordia and San Sebastian, patron saints of the city. This hermitage is situated on the top of the Puig mountain, a beautiful spot with a magnificent view.
The bull ring boasts the largest arena of all Spanish bull rings, with a diameter of 44.5m. It is also closer to the sea than any other bull ring in the country.
Gastronomy
Vinaròs is famous for the quality of the products used in its gastronomy. The large choice of restaurants and the many tourist who travel exclusively to try their dishes domenstrate this fact. Naturally, the extraordinary fish products stand out, of which the crawfish is the king, appearing in numerous recipes going from the simplest to the most complicated to be found on the menus of all restaurants. Rice dishes, typical in the whole Valencian Community, can also be found in a large number of varieties, from paella to arroz a banda or arroz negro.
Beaches
Vinaròs
opens up to the sea by means of the beautiful beaches of El Fortí, which was
awarded the Blue Flag in 1994, and Fora Forat, bordered by the promenade, a
favourite walk for locals and visitors, who can stroll along by the sea shore
refreshed by a cool sea breeze and enjoy all the services it has to offer.
There are many small coves both to the north and to the south of the city, where one can enjoy the clear waters in greater seclusion.
Every afternoon the large fleet of fishing boats returns to the city's important fishing port with a great variety of species that attract visitors to the auction held at the fish market at 4.30 pm on. This market offers first class products, including the world famous Vinaròs crawfish and other sea food highly valued by the most famous restaurateurs and markets.
Festivals
The feast day of Saint Sebastian, the patron saint of the city, on 20th January, is celebrated with a pilgrimage to the hermitage and a picnic with paella and folk dances.
Carnival is held in February, with marvellous parades of groups dressed in bright, beautifully-made costumes: an explosion of light and colour.
Holy Week is celebrated traditionally in Vinaròs with solemn processions on Holy Thursday and Good Friday.
The main local festivities are held from 23rd to 29th June: Fira i Festes de Sant Joan i Sant Pere (fair festivities of Saint John and Saint Peter), a privilege granted "the most noble and loyal city of Vinaròs" in the year 1686 by King Charles II. This festival has all kinds of activities for all kinds of public, among which the most important are the bull fight, the firework display to round off the day and the traditional local trade of agricultural and industrial machinery.
On 16th July, the fishermen celebrate the feast day of their patron saint, the Virgen del Carmen, with a mariners' mass at the fish market, followed by a traditional mariners' procession, during which all those present are invited on to the fishing boats, especially adorned for the occasion.
The Crawfish festivities in the month of August, with all sorts of entertainment throughout the whole month, offer the tourist complementary activities, the most important of which is crawfish-tasting day.
Sports
Vinaròs is equipped to offer the chance to practise almost all sports, with its Club Náutica for nautical motor and sailing sports; the Pabellón Deportivo indoor and outdoor centre for all kinds of sports activities; the tennis club, with tennis, squash, pelota and paddle istallations, which, although it is a private club, it opens its doors to the general public; an indoor swimming pool, football grounds...All sorts of sport activities are promoted by the Municipal Sports Department to initiate young people in all sports, both for enjoyment and for competition.
Useful information
Due to its location, Vinaròs is very well connected to the rest of the Spanish State, both by national roads and tha A7 motorway, exits 42 and 43, and the railway network. Valencia airport is 150 km away and Barcelona airport, 200 km away.
As it is the capital of the area, it has all the same services as a large city, from the well-stocked market of fresh daily products to the typical itinerant street market known as "El Jueves" (Thursday), because it is held on Thursdays. It has all types of commercial establishments, schools, high schools, gymnasiums, an indoor swimming pool, a sports centre, cinemas, a concert hall and a theatre. The heath centre and Hospital Comarcal and the pleasant mild Mediterranean climate make Vinaròs an ideal place to live the whole year around.
