Morella
The city that grew at the foot of the castle
Morella is impressive even from afar, when travelers approaching it glimpse the monumentality of its impressive castle in the distance. Built on a stone hill more than a thousand meters high, the Castle of Morella is a true natural fortress, as beautiful as it is impenetrable. In fact, it is one of the most important fortresses in the entire Mediterranean, with a castle that seems to come from the imagination of the most fanciful writer, where you can stroll through the parade ground, the keep, watchtowers, and the museumized Governor’s Palace. Erected on an enclave already inhabited in the Neolithic period, the castle was built following the precepts of Islamic architecture and was renovated during the medieval period. Its appearance is no accident: many battles and other historical episodes of great interest have been fought here, with protagonists as relevant as Abderraman III, El Cid, Jaume I, King Fernando de Antequera, Pope Luna, San Vicente Ferrer, the Prince of Viana, and General Cabrera. And despite being a nucleus with few inhabitants, the town of Morella has been an enclave of great geopolitical importance throughout the centuries, especially during the time of the Crown of Aragon.
From this splendid medieval past, Morella still preserves jewels such as its 2 kilometers of walls and the unique Blasco de Alagón street, the most characteristic of the town for its medieval stone and wood arcades, and currently, one of the most lively streets. Also unique is The Dance of Death, one of the oldest examples of Spanish macabre art. These 15th-century paintings can be visited in the Convent of Sant Francesc, another must-see in the municipality, along with the two sculpted doors of the Basilica of Santa María la Mayor. The San Miquel Towers, the Prison, the Aqueduct, and the Town Hall and its Gothic halls are other of Morella’s countless attractions.
Morella is beautiful, very beautiful. So much so that it has been recognized as one of the Most Beautiful Villages in Spain and one of the 44 best tourist villages in the world (according to the UNWTO). But Morella is also interesting, very interesting. A unique enclave where you can get carried away by a present full of charm and a past that will not only stop us in the medieval era, but also invites us to travel much further back in time, inviting us to discover remains of the first settlers through the Cave Paintings of Morella La Vella and the Time of Dinosaurs museum, where you can meet one of the most unique residents of the municipality: the Iguanodon, the most prolific dinosaur in the area.
The Sexenni, festivals of singular beauty
But if we talk about Morella, it is essential to also talk about the Fiestas del Sexenni, a unique celebration that is held every 6 years and during the second half of August to thank the Virgin of Vallivana for saving the town from a terrible plague in 1672. In fact, the arrival of this virgin to the town, accompanied by hundreds of pilgrims, is the central axis of the festival. From here, processions and dances of complicated execution follow one another, filling the city with celebration and emotion wrapped in incredible paper decorations. The year 2024 will be a year of Sexenni (and 2030, 2036, 2042…), a celebration cataloged as Asset of Cultural Interest and Festival of National Tourist Interest. One year before the Sexenni, and to remember that it is approaching, the Announcement is celebrated, a fun battle where about 60 tons of confetti are thrown in the middle of a parade of incredible floats, in whose execution has been worked for a whole year.
The celebration of Sant Antoni (pagan heritage of the fire festival) is one of the many proposals that recall the splendid medieval past of the municipality, as are the festivals of Corpus; the Early Music, a medieval and Renaissance music festival that is held at the end of July and has achieved international relevance; and the Agricultural and Livestock Fair (in September) that has been organized for more than 750 years.
Walks for the calm and the brave
After so much hustle and bustle, the visitor may want to escape to enjoy nature. Wise decision. The 413.5 km2 of the municipality offer the possibility of getting lost among forests of pines, holm oaks, and Mediterranean flora, such as those that can be seen visiting the Pereroles mountain. The more adventurous can get on their bicycles and enjoy the paths recovered and adapted by Morella Singletracks, while those who do not want to move away from the urban center can enjoy the Paseo de la Alameda, an urban and accessible route that connects the Puerta de los Estudios with the Puerta de la Nevera and offers magnificent views of the castle and the mountains of the Els Ports massif.
After so much walking, one last essential: sit down at the table and discover why Morella has become the ideal place to enjoy black truffle. We cannot finish this presentation without giving you the best advice… forget about the map and go for a walk without direction through a town where magic is hidden behind every corner!
Festivals and festivities
Festivals of National Tourist Interest and an intense cultural calendar