Peñíscola is a small fishing village turned popular resort on the Costa del Azahar, dominated by a rocky promontory that juts into the Mediterranean. The medieval castle and walled old town perched on the headland make it one of the most visually striking towns on Spain's east coast — and one of the most photographed.
The town is best known as the refuge of Pedro de Luna, the Aragonese cardinal who was elected Pope Benedict XIII during the Western Schism and stubbornly refused to abdicate. He retreated to Peñíscola in 1415 and held court in the castle until his death in 1423, still insisting he was the legitimate pope. The castle, originally built by the Knights Templar in the 14th century, bears his mark throughout. Game of Thrones fans will recognise the rock as Meereen — the castle and old town walls stood in for the slave city in Seasons 5 and 6. The locations are immediately recognisable from the show.
On either side of the promontory there are beaches. Playa Sur is about 1 km and catches the afternoon sun; Playa Norte stretches 7 km and is where most of the resort hotels and tourism activity are concentrated. July and August are very busy. June and September offer better weather-to-crowds ratios.
Getting here is straightforward: the A-7 motorway and N-340 both pass close by with well-signed exits. The nearest train station is Benicarló-Peñíscola, about 8 km from town, with regular connections to Valencia and Barcelona.