Teruel, one of the Spanish provinces more not knowing, in all the senses, counts on a region that has managed to conserve its sociocultural signs of identity, thanks to the fervor of its people, over the time and the space. One is the Matarraña, paradise of 932.4 kilometers square lived by 11,000 people, who distribute themselves in 18 municipalities, in whose center raises the local capital: Valderrobres, city that maintains also its emblematic medieval helmet.
Thanks, indeed to the love of the people by their region, these towns have managed to maintain city-planning and architectonic integrity (with stone houses nonsingle, sometimes with lime - of target or blue indigo and covers of Arab roofing tile aged by the action of the elements), but also have worried about the popular conservation of the regional gastronomy, celebrations, the traditional protection of natural means, cultures and the characteristic crafts; to the time that, with unamimity, has been bet by a quality tourism. In this sense, we must congratulate to the private initiative that has not doubted in transforming ruined religious, industrial and civil buildings, in attractive hotel establishments of rural vocation of the highest category.
"The Populations of the Matarraña are based in high lands and present/display a high index of constructive density. One is constructions of two or three floors, smooth covers of one or two waters with the typical Arab roofing tile, great inner patio and, sometimes, salient eaves. To the south of the region, with greater altitude, the constructions provided with great pointed arcs and average point are numerous that are continued throughout streets and seats constituting arcades ".
"In the last years the creation of the Mancomunidad of Municipalities of the Matarraña has given rise to the germ of the present region - created and regulated by Law in April of 2002 -, that, with an open will and of clear unit between all his members, it admits one double capitalidad; administrative in Valderrobres and the cultural one in Calaceite ".
María Teresa Thomson
To the northeast of the province of Teruel, between the High Terra (Tarragona), the Ports of Beceite, the castellonense Maestrazgo and the Low Aragón, a territory not known for the great public extends; the villa of Calaceite is the Matarraña - that has like administrative capital the city of Valderrobres, and cultural -, a region created by homonym river and its tributarys, where the olive grove and the almond tree combs their valleys, besides to put a note of resistance to the brown one of the rock. Their towns are arrogant, proud of a medieval past that created to them surrounded by strong walls, doors and a superior roc castle.