Drawing From Nature                                Fine Art Drawings by      Philip J. Leonard iii

Peniscola

The fortified old town of Peniscola is composed of a cluster of white houses and narrow, winding streets encircling the base of a castle built upon a rocky promintory surrounded on three sides by the sea. Castell del Papa Luna was built on the foundations of an Arab fortress in the late 13th century by the Knights Templar. It later became the residence of the papal pretender Pedro de Luna, cardinal of Aragon. The modern sections of Peniscola have expanded into the hills and along the shore. The city is now a major Spanish resort.

   

Panoramic views from the top of the fort. The battlements at the top of the fort on the right are false, added for a scene in the film El Cid.

 

Inside the fort, as without, the walls and floors are stone. It is a cold and truly Medieval space.

In Peniscola Jason and I met up with a friend Javier Carrete (below right). He started a business creating 360 degree, navigable images for primarily internet use. He spent a couple of hours photographing the view from the top of the fort. We even appeared in several of the shots.