- Vinaròs
Vinaròs is a town and
municipality in easternSpain , in the province of Castellón, part of the autonomous community of Valencia (population 26.251 [2006] ). The town, on the shore of the Mediterranean sea, is an important fishing port.History
The first historical record of Vinaròs is the Moorish hamlet of Vinalaroz, captured by King
James I of Aragon in 1233. It was under rule of the templar order between 1294 and 1311, and of the order of Montesa during the 14th century. The town grew during the 16th and 17th centuries, when fortifications and navy yards were built, and attained great prosperity during the following two centuries, due to its involvement in ship building and wine trade. The town suffered a strong decline in the early 20th century as a consequence of a plague ofphylloxera which ruined the wine farming.Today, the prosperity of the town is bound to tourism and fishing (Vinaròs is renowned for its tasty
prawns ).Sights
The most interesting sight in Vinaròs is the fortress-like Església Arciprestal de l'Assumpció (Archpriestal Church of Mary's Assumption), built in 1583-1596 in Renaissance style, but with a Baroque portal (1698-1702).
External links
* [http://www.vinaros.org Ayuntamiento de Vinaroz]
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