Benicàssim
Benicàssim (Valencian pronunciation: [beniˈkasim], Spanish: Benicasim Spanish pronunciation: [benikaˈsim], Arabic: بنو قاسم according to numismatic findings)[2] is a municipality and beach resort located in the province of Castelló, on the Costa del Azahar in Spain. The Desert de les Palmes mountain range further inland shelters the town from the north wind. The name is derived from the Banu Qasim tribe, a segment of the Kutama Berbers that settled the area during the 8th century Moorish conquest of Spain.
Benicàssim | |
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Benicàssim and Desert de les Palmes mountains from the air, 2011. | |
Flag Coat of arms | |
Benicàssim Location in Spain | |
Coordinates: 40°03′19″N 0°03′51″E | |
Country | |
Autonomous community | |
Province | Castelló |
Comarca | Plana Alta |
Judicial district | Castelló de la Plana |
Government | |
• Alcalde | Francesc Colomer Sánchez (2007) (PSOE) |
Area | |
• Total | 36.1 km2 (13.9 sq mi) |
Elevation | 15 m (49 ft) |
Population (2018)[1] | |
• Total | 18,055 |
• Density | 500/km2 (1,300/sq mi) |
Demonym(s) | Benicassut, benicassuda |
Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
Postal code | 12560 |
Official language(s) | Spanish and Valencian |
Website | Official website |
Benicassim is located 13 km north of the town of Castelló de la Plana, at the north end of the Valencian Community. The town has a population of 18,098. Its economy is largely based on tourism; the town is well known for its beaches and its music festivals such as Festival Internacional de Benicàssim (FIB) and the Rototom Sunsplash.
Beaches
Benicassim has 6 kilometers of sandy beaches linked by a promenade. The five beaches in this stretch of coast are named
- Voramar
- Heliòpolis
- Torreón
- Almadraba
- Els Terrers
The beaches have been awarded the Blue Flag quality certification since 1987.
Desert of the Palms
Just inland from Benicàssim lies the Desert of the Palms (Valencian: Desert de les Palmes; Spanish: Desierto de las Palmas). The area is not a literal desert, but a protected natural area and a small mountain range with a maximum elevation of 729 meters (at the peak of Mount Bartolo). The Columbretes Islands are visible from the top of the range on clear days.
Vía Verde
The ”Vía Verde” (green way) is a 5.5 km long cycle and walking path along the rugged coast between the resort towns of Benicassim and Oropesa del Mar.
Notes
- Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
- "benicassim.org/es/Historia.htm". Archived from the original on 2005-04-04. Retrieved 2006-06-12.
- INVATTUR Archived September 20, 2013, at the Wayback Machine , Instituto Valenciano de Tecnologías Turísticas.
External links
- Benicàssim town council
- Benicassim Costa Azahar
- Benicassim Description
- Muestra de Arte de Benicàssim MABE
- Benicassim culture
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Benicàssim. |