The first name this city got was Arse, a city which was attacked by General Anibal. Later under the Roman Empire it was called Saguntum and, during a time of great splendor, became a Islamic, Christian and Jewish city, and here was installed one of the most important Jewish communities of the Iberian Peninsula. The footprint of all these civilizations remain indelible in Sagunto, as an added charm to its beautiful beaches making it an ideal destination for your holidays.

Sagunto is a town of 65,000 inhabitants located in the province of Valencia and is known for its exceptional old town and the number of archaeological sites that are in it. The municipality is well connected as the aeropuerto internacional de Valencia is only 35 km away.

 

Areal view of Sagunto and the Colegiata church of Santa Maria

 

Sagunto and its historical legacy

You will find much to see here. Walking through its streets is a chance to travel in time and move to the past. The old town and the historic center are a succession of corridors, steep cobbled streets, a maze of streets to get lost enjoying an urban layout of another era. A good idea is to hire one of the guided tours organized by the municipality to know more deeply all that Sagunto has to offer, such as the “Un día de romanos en Sagunto” (a roman day in the city) tour.

 

Photo collage Sagunto old town

 

You can divide the city into two towns: the old town and Puerto de Sagunto which is 5 km from the historic center. Sagunto was an important Iberian and later a Roman settlement which was later taken over by the Muslims in the year 713 and finally the Christians reconquered it in 1239. The imprint is that all they have left is present in every corner of the city, a good example is the walled castle of the V century BC. It is a fortress that extends over 1 kilometer in the highest part of the city and the Roman Teather.

 

Aereal view of Sagunto castle in Costa Valenciana

 

Located on the top of the village is the Jewish quarter where we will discover the important legacy of the Jewish community in Sagunto, which became the most important of Spain. It is accessed through the Portal de la Sang, from there you will find a maze of narrow streets, cobbled streets and buildings laden with centuries of history. Strolling through it, you can discover an urban fabric that is preserved as in medieval times, where Jews lived until their expulsion in 1492.

 

Roman Theater in SaguntoEnjoy the beaches of Sagunto

 

There is no better way to see the coast than in a tour of cycling to enjoy its long beaches and dunes through traditional breeding soils. Sagunto has 13 km of coast where we highlight three wonderful beaches: playa del Puerto de Sagunto which is the main and busiest city, the quiet beach Playa de Almardá and the beautiful Playa Malvarrosa.

 

Panoramic photo of Sagunto beachNature in Sagunto

Hikers and nature fans can do any of the routes through Parque Natural de Sierra de Calderón. It is a natural area of great environmental wealth with large forest and many species of animals such as foxes, wild boars or wildcat. With names related to colors such as Ruta amarilla, Ruta Roja, Ruta Verde and Ruta Azul, excursions by the Sierra, with a great trekking tradition, are organized. Another curiosity of the city is that it holds part of the trekking path of the 1st phase of the Via Augusta, the original roman way which runs between mountains to the south of the peninsula.

 

 

 

Here’s a nice video of Sagunto

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