Located on the Costa del Azahar (Orange Blossom Coast), north of the Serra d'Irta along the Mediterranean coast, Peniscola, often called the "Gibraltar of Valencia," and locally as "The City in the Sea", is a fortified seaport, built on a rocky headland about 67m high, and joined to the mainland by only a narrow strip of land. The history of the place goes back to the Iberians. Later the town became Phoenician, then Greek, and finally Carthaginian.
The present castle was built by the Knights Templar between 1294 and 1307. In the fourteenth century it was garrisoned by the Knights of Montesa, and in 1420 it reverted to the Crown of Aragon. From 1415 to 1423 it was the home of the schismatic Avignon pope Benedict XIII (Pedro de Luna), who is commemorated in the the name of the castle (Castell del Papa Luna). The castle was restored, improved and new walls were added in 1960 when Anthony Mann's film El Cid was partially filmed there.
The old town of Peniscola, grown around the castle, comprises a maze of narrow winding streets, lined with old white-walled houses, this area is surrounded by huge ramparts and entry is by way of two gateways - the San Pedro Gate and the Fosch Gate. Modern Peniscola is a popular holiday resort, with a superb marina. Its main beach to the north is 5km long and 44m wide, comprising both sandy and rocky areas, small beaches to the south are bounded by rocky coves and cliffs.
About the stamps
The first two stamps are part of the fifth definitive series with the portrait of the King Juan Carlos I, about which I wrote here.
The last stamp is part of the series Traditions and Customs, issued on March 16, 2016:
• Holy Week in Cuenca - It's on the postcard 2540
• Holy Week in Sevilla
• Holy Week in Lorca
• Holy Week in Tobarra
References
Peniscola - Wikipedia
Peniscola - Guide of the resort
Sender: Ana 2
Sent from Peniscola (Valencia / Spain), on 27.04.2016
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