Mediterranean Style
Cobbled streets - Citadel
The old town of Peñíscola, with its narrow cobbled streets, white-washed houses, blue windows and balconies full of flowers, evokes the Mediterranean.
The streets facing the sea recall the quasi-island status of the citadel that could stand in for almost any corner of the Mediterranean Sea: closer to the Aegean, near the coast of Africa or any point of the Spanish coastline.
Land access to the citadel is via the Sant Pere Gate and the Fosc Gate, both accessible to mixed vehicles, vans and even non-articulated, low-tonnage trucks. Inside the historic town centre are several areas where marquees can be set up, and spaces for performance and services (such as catering), as well as accessible entry and exit routes.
With traffic and parking restrictions, road closures are common with alternative routes offering access to homes and business. Filming permits are granted by the Film Office of the town council.
Mediterranean architecture
The colours and architecture found in the historic Old Town of Peñíscola are reminiscent of the Greek islands, with its lookout towers perched over the sea, awe-inspiring, rising from the Renaissance fortress, making the City in the Sea an icon of Mediterranean architecture from the middle ages until the 17th century.
Fishing port
The port is divided into one section for fishing boats and another for yachts. It offers the services of a typical port in a privileged setting: the foot of the mount that houses the Pope Luna castle and the old town.
The port's breakwater offers views of the Castle-south, the old town, Sierra de Irta, and the Mediterranean itself.
It can be accessed via the bridge located in front of the Sant Pere Gate and via the main entrance beside the South Beach. The port is right next to the old town and the distance between the entrance to the rock and the port is just 210m (3 mins walk).
This location is always open to the public, although there are restrictions on access to some areas such as the fish market during auctions, from 3.30pm to 5.30pm approx. If interested in filming this activity for documentary purposes, the Fishermen's Guild can facilitate the processing of access permits, insurance, and the transfer of image rights via the sailors' community.
To cordon off and restrict access to this site, a permit from the (relevant) port authority is required, which can be process via the Film Office itself.
Museum of the Sea
The views from the Museum of the Sea are a great attraction for tourists. This is located at the highest part of Príncipe Street, a road that leads to Peñíscola Old Town via the Sant Pere Gate, and which runs parallel to the walls. From the square in front of the museum you can enjoy a stunning panoramic view of the port of Peñíscola and the Mediterranean sea.
As early as 1956, Luis García Berlanga had his eye on this location for his film “Calabuch”. It is also one of the most recognised locations from the show 'Pepe's Beach Bar', as this is where many of the scenes and plot-lines linked to the 'Taona de Laura' (the bakery) are filmed.
