Aragon Guide

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  Calanda's Easter celebrations

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  Morella, Maestrazgo

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  Iglesuela del Cid, Teruel

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  Sierra of Albarracin, Teruel

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  Albarracin medieval city

Albarracin (Bronchales, Orihuela), Teruel (Cella, Puebla de Valverde), Mora de Rubielos (Rubielos de Mora, Alcala de la Selva, Valdelinares), Cantavieja (Iglesuela del Cid, Villarluengo, Mirambel).

Area: The southernmost area of Aragon. From the Montes Universales, the source of the Tajo river which flows into the Atlantic, and the Serrania de Albarracin, the source of the Guadalaviar-Turia flowing to the Mediterranean sea, to the Sierra of Gudar, the source of the Guadalope which empties into the Ebro.

Between Javalambre and the Maestrazgo mountain range. Harsh lands where pureness and austerity are attractions in themselves. Beautiful gorges, such as the one in Albarracin, high plateaus, including the Muela de San Juan, interesting insects and fungi in the pine forests.

Javalambre is a massif with the highest peak in the province of Teruel (2,020 meters) and flora of scientific interest. Birds of prey and rivers full of trout abound.

The Sierra of Gudar is also a high mountain massif (Peñarroya 2,019 meters) with pine groves, gall oaks and maple trees. The Maestrazgo continues on to the Mediterranean sea with spectacular gorges, including the Organos de Montoro, whimsical walls that look like the tubes of a huge organ in which the clever visitor can find the organist.

The villages of the Maestrazgo still preserve their medieval appearance, such as Cantavieja, a stronghold in the Carlist wars of de 1800’s, Mirambel, Europa Nostra prize for historical and ancient walls, Iglesuela del Cid set over two ravines. Mora de Rubielos with an imposing medievan castle palace competes with Rubielos de Mora, a charming village with noble homes and palaces amidst the town walls.

In the low mountains of the Serrania de Albarracin, we find interesting towns with wrought iron grating and popular civil architecture. There are important cave paintings of Levantine art. In Cella there is a roman aqueduct tunnelled in the rock and the largest artesian well in Europe.

The entire village of Albarracin is a museum, with a Moorish castle, ancient walls, charming spots with special ambience, and delicious treats, such as almohabanas, an Arab dessert. Renaissance art in the parisk church and a recently restored Bishop’s Palace with a museum, old mansions and palaces are also worth visiting.

Winter sports can be enjoyed, along with mountaineering, hunting and excellent trout fishing. There is a wide variety of restaurants to enjoy the famous Teruel cured ham, cecina (dried beef) and pork products. Cheeses are made in Tronchon.

The local festivals draw big crowds. In some festivities, bulls are tied with a rope for control, and in others, they run freely through the streets with balls of fire on the tips of their horns.

In Mora de Rubielos, bulls are let loose every Saturday in July and august. In Albarracin, the arrival of spring is celebrated by singing Los Mayos on the night of April 30th through the steep medieval streets. In Teruel, the Fiestas del Angel or La Vaquilla during July and de Ham Festivals in September.