Albarracín

[amboseli]

During our one month stay at the Costa Blanca (which isn't over yet), we visited some of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. Albarracín isn't yet on the list but it belongs there definitely. Albarracín has been declared national monument since 1961.

Albarracín is one of those hilltop towns in the province of Teruel/Aragón surrounded by the Sierra de Albarracín. Albarracín was once the capital of an 11th century Islamic state, later the scene of an independent Christian kingdom (it all happened during La Reconquista that lasted from the year 780 until the 15th century).

"Albarracín is an enchanted blend of earthy red, pink and terracotta set against dark stone and bouldered hillsides. The daily onslaught of summer day-trippers notwithstanding, there is something timeless about this place, never more so than when the sun dips behind the castle ramparts and envelops the village in a silence broken only by soft footfalls on cobblestones." (Source: www.bbc.com/travel/story/20110624-aragon-the-villages-time-forgot ).

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[tod2]

Great going Amboseli! I've never set foot in Spain but your photos evoke a lovely serene village that one can have all to yourself. No graffiti anywhere is such a lovely find.
I clicked on the link but it came up with an ERROR notice.

[amboseli]

Thank you tod2.
Spain is full of these 'forgotten' villages, mostly perched high on a rock with a castle (ruin, usually) on top to protect the village from the enemy.
The link should work now. There was a bracket at the end that didn't belong there.

[mossie]

Looks a good spot, not yet overrun with visitors or commercialised. Really like the hilltop battlements.

[kerouac2]

That village is so amazingly pink. I don't know if Spain has rules and regulations like in France for restricting outdoor paint to a certain palette of colours in certain places, but maybe they don't even need them because anybody who decided to paint their house yellow or green would probable be stoned to death.

[bixaorellana]

"... y aquí se canta la jotaaaaaaaaa" I enjoyed your visit to the gorgeous pink village so much, but you've given me a very persistent earworm! soundcloud.com/user-303344796/jota-de-la-dolores

It appears that there is no modern development surrounding the original town -- is that correct? Certainly the terrain there seems pretty forbidding. You all always find the most interesting places to explore. Did you go to Spain and rent a car or drive there all the way from Belgium? Glad to see you're enjoying yourselves!

[lagatta]

Yes, I was wondering if that cute little red car was yours.

On my last stay in Perugia (about 10 years ago) I found it utterly ringed in sprawl. No relation as while it isn't a "big city", it is at least 100 times larger than Albarracín, and a regional capital with two universities.

I was thinking that the name was from the Moorish world and indeed it is of Berber origin: "The town is named for the Hawwara Berber dynasty of the Banu Razin which was their capital from the early eleventh century until it was taken by the Almoravids in 1104".(wiki)

Did you stay there at least overnight, or was it a daytrip?

[amboseli]

Bixa,
There is indeed no modern development surrounding the original town of Albarracín. The town is really tucked away. The nearest town is Teruel which we also visited, as well as Cuenca, during a 3 day trip from the Costa Blanca where we rent a house for the month of October, as you may know. We came by plane and rented a car, as we always do. I cannot imagine not having a car for our trips here and there.

Lagatta,
Yes, that cute little red car (Fiat 500) is ours for this month. It's perfect for driving on narrow mountain roads and in cities.

[lugg]

What a gorgeous place. Parts of the landscape are tinged pink too which I guess accounts in some part for the colour of the buildings. I had not realised that Aragon was so huge when I looked at the link the part which relates to the Pyrenees really through me I had to go look at a map. Whereabouts are you staying Amboseli -anywhere near Valencia ?

[amboseli]

We are staying in Dénia, 100 kms south of Valencia. We daytripped to Valencia last week, one of my most favourite cities in Spain.

[cheerypeabrain]

Gorgeous photographs Amboselli...all of them beautifully composed! and they would transfer to an artist's canvass with ease Splendid place...it's on my list.

[lugg]

Thanks Amboseli, having now been Valencia is one of my favourites too .