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Vinaròs is the northernmost coastal city of the province, a fishing port with centuries of sea behind it. It began as a farmstead dependent on Peñíscola and grew with its harbour, its fishing and its scares from pirates.
The oldest remains are those of the Iberian settlement of El Puig, though continuity with today's town is not proven. The name is thought to come from Arabic, and in the 13th century a coastal farmstead of Peñíscola was known as Beni-Al-Arus.
After James I conquered Peñíscola in 1233, the founding charter was granted on 29 September 1241 and the Christian settlement was named Bynalaroç. For a time it depended on Peñíscola castle, like Benicarló, until it became independent.
In the 16th century Vinaròs took part in the Germanías on the side of the Crown, and in 1540 it was made a villa. Its harbour was important, with shipyards where large vessels were built, and in 1609 part of the more than 15,000 Moriscos expelled from the Kingdom embarked there. For centuries it suffered raids by Barbary pirates, hence watchtowers such as the «torreta de los moros», now in ruins.
Around 1850 it had 9,341 inhabitants. Isabella II gave it the title Muy Noble y Leal Villa in 1862 and Alfonso XII made it a city in 1881. The first stone of the present harbour was laid on 9 February 1866 and it opened in 1875. On 15 April 1938 the rebel side occupied it.
Notable sights include the archpriest church of the Asunción (16th century), San Agustín, now an auditorium, the hermitage of San Gregorio (18th century) and the Casa Membrillera fishing museum.
Text written by Zona Zero TV from public sources; early dates vary between authors. Sources: Vinaroz (Hispanopedia, basado en Wikipedia, CC BY-SA) · Historia, Turisme Vinaròs. Checked on 1/11/2026.
