Castell de Xàtiva
Stretching along a limestone ridge above the city, Xàtiva's castle is one of the longest in Spain — a two-kilometre chain of towers, ramparts and gardens with jaw-dropping views over the Valencian plain. Two thousand years of history, from Iberian settlers to the Borgia popes, are embedded in every stone.
Two castles in one
The complex is actually split into two linked fortresses: the older Castell Menor, with Iberian and Roman foundations, and the larger Castell Major built up by the Moors and later expanded by Aragonese kings. Walking between them along the ridge path, with wild herbs scenting the air and kestrels riding thermals overhead, feels genuinely cinematic.
Look out for the portrait of Felipe V hanging upside down in the municipal museum at the castle entrance — a defiant gesture by locals who have never forgiven the king for burning their city to the ground in 1707 during the War of the Spanish Succession.
Practical tips for the climb
You can walk up from the old town via the Camí del Castell, a shaded path that takes about 25 minutes, or take the small tourist train that departs from Plaça de l'Almudí. Carry water: the ridge is exposed and the sun is fierce from May onwards.
The best light for photography is early morning, when mist sometimes fills the valley below the walls and the stone glows amber. Arrive before 10 am in summer to beat both the heat and the tour groups.
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