Sagunto

Sagunto (Valencian: Sagunt) is a city of 66,000 people (2018) in Valencia (province). It is best known for the remains of the ancient Iberian and Roman city of Saguntum, which played a significant part in the Second Punic War between the Carthaginians and the Romans.

Understand
Modern Sagunto is divided into two sections: the modern port with good beaches, and the historic centre, near the original Iberian hilltop fortifications.

The original town was established in the 5th century BCE by the Celtiberians, and eventually developed strong trade relations with nearby Greek and Phoenician colonies. In 219 BCE the city sided with the Roman Empire against the Carthaginians and was subjected to the eight-month 'Siege of Saguntum', resulting in Hannibal's capture of the town and becoming Rome's casus belli for the Second Punic War. Later the city fell under Roman, then Visigothic, and later Moorish control before finally being conquered by Jaime I of Aragon in the early 13th century. Modern visitors can appreciate remains from each of these periods.

In the early 20th century the port area saw a large population growth due to manufacturing and the steel industry. For visitors the draw here is the excellent beaches.



By foot
The easiest way to get around the historic centre of the city is by foot.

By bus
AVSA operates three bus routes in Sagunto. Line 1 traverses the historic centre, Line 2 covers the port area, and Line 102, possibly the most useful for travellers, connects the historic centre with the port area and its beaches. A single journey costs €1.45 (no transfers); timetables (in Spanish) can be viewed here, and detailed route maps can be viewed here.

By taxi
A taxi stand is located in front of the train station.

Beaches
Sagunto has 13km of excellent beaches, including (Playa del Puerto),  (Playa de L'Almardá),  (Playa Corinto), and  (Playa Malvarrosa). Between 15 June and 15 September all beaches maintain lifeguard stations, first aid stations, showers, and public toilets. Platja del Port, being closest to the city, has the most facilities but is also the most crowded; Platja de la Malvarosa, being the furthest, is the least developed and also has a nudist section.