Perhaps you’re thinking of buying an apartment by the beach and aren’t sure whether it’s a good idea or not, because people tend to think you’ll be cut off from everything. Etc.
Nothing could be further from the truth!
Living in Oropesa del Mar is the smartest decision you could make, as it’s surrounded by amenities, transport links and activities for the whole family, and is right next to Marina d'Or Ciudad de Vacaciones.
In this article, we’ll tell you about nearby places you can visit if you decide to buy an apartment by the beach in Oropesa del Mar. Let’s start with the provincial capital, Castellón.
The City of Castellón
Some of the most interesting places in the city of Castellón include:
- Plaça Major: This is the city’s main square and is considered the heart of Castellón. It’s the perfect spot to sit and enjoy a coffee or a beer whilst taking in the city’s atmosphere.
- Santa María Cathedral: This is an impressive Gothic cathedral built in the 13th century, with a stunning façade and an interior decorated with frescoes and sculptures.
- The Museum of Fine Arts: This museum houses an important collection of Spanish and international art, including works by local and national artists.
- Ribalta Park: This park is a popular spot for a stroll and enjoying nature in the heart of the city.
- The Central Market: A large covered market offering a wide variety of fresh produce, including fruit, vegetables, meat, fish and local specialities.
- Santa Ana Castle: A medieval castle situated on a hilltop in the city centre, offering stunning panoramic views of the city and the coast.
- El Grao Beach: This urban beach is just a few minutes from the city centre and is a great place to enjoy the sun and the sea.
Just 15 minutes from Castellón and 25 minutes from Oropesa del Mar, lies the most populous municipality in the province of Castellón, after the provincial capital itself.
Villarreal
With a population of 51,369 (INE 2022), it is the most populous town in the province of Castellón and the fifteenth most populous in the Valencian Community.
Villarreal, or as it is officially known, Vila-real, is a dynamic, open and welcoming city that holds the title of ‘City of Science and Innovation’.
It is home to a major ceramics and stoneware industry (led by Porcelanosa and Pamesa Cerámica), and the top-flight football club Villarreal Club de Fútbol.
What are the most beautiful places to visit in Villarreal?
- José Manuel Llaneza Sports Complex: the regular training ground for the first team and the other teams that make up Villarreal CF. Enjoy a match from the café on the second floor of the building right next to the pitch.
- Estadio de la Cerámica (Madrigal): This city landmark, which has been completely refurbished, has a capacity of 23,500 spectators. You can book a table at its haute cuisine restaurant, El Ceramista, where you can enjoy high-quality seasonal produce. Its private events area offers direct views of the football pitch.
- Plaza de la Vila: declared a Site of Cultural Interest in 1974 and regarded as a historic-artistic monument, it is the heart of the city. On one of its corners, opposite Calle Mayor San Jaime, stands the building that used to be the Hostal del Rey Jaume I.
- This square, surrounded by restaurants and cafés where you can stop for a bite to eat, has a 24-hour car park offering the first 30 minutes of parking free of charge.
- Archpriest’s Church of San Jaime: A monumental church, the largest of its kind in Spain, dedicated to the apostle Saint James, the town’s former patron saint.
- San Pascual Baylón Sanctuary: A 16th-century convent where Saint Pascual Baylón lived, died and was buried. In the centre of the chapel stands out the dark granite sarcophagus, upon which rests the silver statue of the saint. You can visit the adjoining museum, ‘Pouet del Sant’.
- Rafael Beltrán Moner Municipal Music Auditorium: the cultural heart of the town, hosting numerous music, dance and theatre performances throughout the year. This season will feature appearances by actors such as Lola Herrera and Rafael Álvarez ‘el Brujo’.
- The Hermitage of the Virgin of Gracia and the natural setting of the Termet area: the municipality’s ‘green lung’, where you can stroll amongst the trees and enjoy the River Mijares. This natural area is home to the Hermitage of the Virgin of Gracia and the Ethnological Museum.
- Casa Polo City Museum: a 19th-century farmhouse converted into a museum, dedicated to Vila-Real’s most internationally renowned artists, in particular the composer and guitarist Francisco Tàrrega. It also boasts a significant gallery for temporary exhibitions.
And how many people live in Oropesa del Mar? We look at it with INE data in how many people live in Oropesa del Mar.