Weekend getaway
After the snowfall of the last days, the plan that I propose for the weekend is either to visit the ski resort of Javalambre (closest to the province of Valencia) or Valdelinares, but making a deserved stop at Mora de Rubielos, a small medieval town in the province of Teruel and the place where the Camino del Cid passes. In addition to the beauty of the architectural monuments it has, the whole of the term is striking for its surprising variety of landscapes where hiking trails can be done, if the weather conditions allow it: gorges in the Mijares and Rubielos rivers, high paramos in Las Muelas, farmhouses throughout the area. All this makes an area to visit of great wealth.
Therefore, the getaway joins sport, culture, architecture, nature, gastronomy … Come on, it has everything.
The first thing that catches our attention when we arrive at Mora de Rubielos is the impressive 14th century Gothic Castle, which can be visited from Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., on Saturdays from 10 p.m. : 00 to 14:00 and from 17:00 to 20:00 and on Sundays from 10:00 to 14:00.
Apart from the Castle, what I like the most is to be able to walk through its streets and imagine stories of knights, kings and princesses, as it is full of mansions, palaces and balconies and facades that evoke other times. Undoubtedly, it is one of those obligatory visits, and it is that in this town are not only important the Castle or the Excolegiata, but also its portals, which populate most of its streets, its houses, its squares and its hermitages.
Right on the hill in front of the castle you can also contemplate part of its walls and towers, which can give us an idea of the importance that this town must have had more than 500 years ago.
After wandering around and discover little corners, surely hunger begins to make an appearance and even more so when we know what may be waiting for us on the plate. Jamoncito D.O. of Teruel, or the famous ‘delights’ of Teruel (slices of bread with tomato, olive oil from Bajo Aragón, a little garlic and some good slices of ham) grilled meats, ternasco, rabbit gazpacho, porridge, soup garlic, the soup of Teruel … and if what you prefer is some fish dish you can also find, because in this area is also typical trout, which is prepared fried, and cod or haddock.
Ham of Teruel
Aragonese Lamb
Aragonese trout
One of the recommended places to eat is ‘El Riconcito’, a small restaurant with homemade and typical food. I recommend booking before you go, as it is small and it fills up very quickly. Another is the ‘Restaurant Melanosporum’, which is located within the Black Truffle more info, and whose prices range between 24 and 51 €, but also have cheaper menus.
After the feast and after having recovered strength, I recommend visiting Rubielos de Mora, another small medieval town that is only 12km from the previous one. Both are very similar, but unlike the previous one, its origin and splendor took place thanks to merchants and craftsmen of the Middle Ages. Wherever you look you will find a medieval palace, in fact, it is one of the towns with the most stately homes in Aragón! Without a doubt, another place to get lost and imagine comics.
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