The city of Vila-real
Vila-real, the home of the Villarreal Club de Fútbol since 1923, is a city located in the province of Castellón within the Valencian Community (region of Valencia). The name is only official in its original Valencian form, Vila-real, which translates to “Royal Village.”
The town itself, which was founded in 1274, is now prominently known for its successful top-tier football club, Villarreal CF. With approximately 51,000 inhabitants, it is the second smallest city (behind Monaco) to produce a football club that has competed in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. A truly remarkable achievement. Outside of football, the town is also known for its thriving ceramics industry.
The town itself prides itself on being a dynamic, open and welcoming city. Its rich gastronomy, cultural and sports activities, and a year-round pleasant climate can appeal to any visitor. Vila-real is also home to a number of different cultural jewels, including historical religious sites. The natural surroundings of Vila-real offer visitors a number of different places to explore.
Here are the top places to visit in Vila-real:
Estadio de la Cerámica
The home of Villarreal CF, the Estadio de la Cerámica, which means the Ceramic Stadium in English, showcases the local ceramic industry. Villarreal CF’s owner and president, Fernando Roig, is a businessman in the ceramics industry as owner and president of Pamesa Cerámica. Villarreal CF renamed the stadium in 2017 to feature and represent the local businesses that support the club.
The stadium holds 23,500 fans. That means at full capacity, the stadium is holding nearly half of the city’s population. The sight of the Yellow Submarine on match day is truly a sight to behold.
Plaça Major (Main Square)
Vila-real’s Plaça Major is one of the liveliest places in Vila-real. The main square is located near the centre of Vila-real and contains a number of small shops and restaurants, including an official Villarreal CF store. A number of local events take place here as well, including a weekly farmer’s market.
Església de Sant Jaume de Vila-real (Saint James’ Church)
Located adjacent to the Plaça Major, the Església de Sant Jaume de Vila-real is a monumental church dedicated to the apostle San Jaime that was built between 1752 and 1779. The church is one of the largest of its kind in Spain and features neoclassical ornamentation and the work of famous Valencian artist José Vergara.
Basílica de Sant Pasqual (Saint Paschal’s Basilica)
The Basílica de Sant Pasqual is a reconstruction of the original convent that was built in the 16th century. The original building was destroyed by a fire during the Spanish Civil war in 1936. The chapel was proclaimed a minor basilica by Pope John Paul II and has been home to a number of royal visits and pilgrimages.
Also located near the basilica is the Casa de Polo city museum and a monument in honour of Vila-real native and esteemed musician Francisco Tárrega. Tárrega is a classical guitarist who was born in 1852 and raised in Vila-real. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest guitarists of all time.
