Facilitated by the work of an entire fang

 Well we are in Valencia, the community, not the city - unless a lot of regreening has taken place since last year and we will soon move away from the border so let us make progress, nipping off the road to make a quick visit to the narrow streets of La Mata de Morella.



Blasco de Alagon was the chap who took the village from the Moors and incorporated it into the crown of Aragon. The place seems to have been a livestock centre and today about a quarter of its inhabitants were not born in Spain.  196 people dwell here today. 716 did in 1910.  It had been 804 in 1877 but was down to 547 ten years later, I don’t know why. 





Up we go and on to El Forn, a cafe. It opens from 9am to midnight except Friday and Saturday, when you can drink till 2am.  A week ago Paco wrote ‘I heard great things about this place, and they weren't wrong. A fantastic weekend menu for €25. It includes salad and two set starters, a choice of main course, a drink, and dessert. The grilled skirt steak and the roasted pork knuckle we tried were absolutely delicious. The portions are generous, so it's best to come hungry. The restaurant, right on the church square, is an old stone house with a very pleasant atmosphere, and the owner and staff were incredibly friendly. The pork loin and the Iberian pork cut are also definitely worth trying.’




Over the square is the Parròquia Mare de Déu de les Neus. It is a church with a single review. Seven years ago Manuel gave it three stars. History has not requested why.  Google translates the town website and informs us ‘The oldest part of the building is the one formed by the apse, the sacristy and the two side chapels, together with the triumphal arch and the bell tower, dating from the end of the 16th century, the most modern part was built from 1862 onwards, differentiating from the fact that it was facilitated by the work of the entire fang. The interior is of great interest, due to its paintings, the elevated core and the combination of mosaic and original shaft earth of the main ship.’




The website also mentions this place where I am not sure is.  ‘- The cremated house. The grand dels d'Alp house. The house of the Valley.


Along the 17th and 18th centuries, La Mata will be accompanied by a notable name of personalities of the Valencian nobility and the most famous are the various palau cases that appear throughout the city centre, such as the Palau de la Figuera, from the 18th century, the Palau de l'Ajuntament, the Casa Cremada or the Palau del Vallés.’


On our way out of town we will pass El Peiron.  What it is the only review does not say.





That’s it. Think nice things and be kind to one another.














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