Benicató Roman Villa in Nules is the first of its kind to be discovered in Plana Baixa. Nestled among the orange groves 700m south-east of El Caminàs, the site was discovered in 1888 during agricultural work in the pujol of Benicató. The villa was established in the 1st century BCE and was in use until 4th century AD.
Benicató Roman Villa is unique in that it was used for agricultural and residential purposes. In the centre, a quadrangular peristyle with a circular pond stands out among the 17 surrounding rooms. Two of these rooms have mosaics with geometric and vegetal patterns, highlighting the importance and sophistication of the villa.
The rural mansion has a porticoed patio with a central pond to collect rainwater. Some of the rooms have stuccoes and mosaics while others were used for domestic life. There are heating systems and wineries.
References:Sigmaringen Castle was first mentioned in the year 1077 in the chronicles of Petershausen monastery. The oldest parts of the castle are concealed beneath the alterations made during the 17th and the 19th centuries. The secret of the earliest settlement built on this defendable rock will never be fully revealed: large-scale excavation work would be necessary, which the extensive land development renders impossible. Judging from the many Roman remains unearthed in the area around Sigmaringen, the 12th century keep known as the 'Roman Tower' could be traced back to a Roman predecessor.
The castle remains that have been preserved (gate, great hall and keep) date back to the Staufer period around 1200. The castle remains were integrated into subsequent buildings. The foundations of the castle buildings are to a large extent identical to the surrounding castle wall.
These remains give us a good idea of how the castle might have looked during the 12th century.