User Reviews
Dating back to the times of Al-Andalus, Vilafamés Castle perches above the village. The original structure is still standing with its oldest parts dating to the 14th century. There are, additionally, ruins from the Roman, Muslim and Christian periods as well as examples of rock art.
The fortress acquired its current appearance during the Carlist Wars in the 19th century. At this time, the central circular tower was built, making it one of the few examples of Carlist architecture in the Region of Valencia.
The Castle, sections of the walls and La Sangre Church site in Vilafamés includes a stretch of the walls that once encircled the town. These were once the destination’s first defence enclosure. The curtain walls surrounding the castle, however, are still practically intact.
La Sangre Church was the first monument to be built in Vilafamés following Jaume I’s Conquest. In later periods, a number of features in different architectural styles were added to the place of worship.
References:Herceg Novi was founded (on a former small fishing village, existing since Roman Empire times) as a fortress in 1382 by first Bosnian King Stjepan Tvrtko I and was called Sveti Stefan or Castelnuovo. The Turks conquered Herceg Novi in 1482, and ruled for 200 years, until 1687. However, there was a short pause between 1538 and 1539 when it was held by the Spaniards before they were defeated in the Siege of Castelnuovo. Turkey ruled again until 1687, from then until 1797, the town was ruled by the Venetian Republic.
The Herceg Novi old town is amazing. It is on a fairly steep hill that leads all the way down to the sea. Wandering through the small stairways to the various plazas and fortresses is a many hour adventure.