SC&C 5-night trip: Castles, Witches & Wine!
Monday 6th-Saturday 11th September 2027
If you are interested in joining this new 5-night tour, with no commitment at this stage until the price is published, please send an email to the group leader, Angela Chantry: spanish.culture.cuisine@gmail.com
History and myth combine as you wander through medieval towns such as Borja, which gave its name to the famous Borja (Borgia) noble family; explore castles, learn the story of Trasmoz, famously known as the only officially excommunicated and cursed village in the world, during a tour centered around the village’s dark history and natural magic; and taste some of the excellent wines from Aragón (Borja, Calatayud, Cariñena) – the spiritual birthplace of the Garnacha and Cariñena grape.
Day 1 Monday 6th September: Jávea / Sarrión (226 km) / Tarazona (250 km)
08.30 hrs: Departure from Golden Star Apartments, Calle Bruselas, Jávea Arenal.
08.45 hrs: Departure from Interiors, Avda Ausias March, Jávea Port.
09.05 hrs: Pickup up at Mas y Mas, N332, if required.
11.30 hrs: Refreshment break in Sarrión.
Sarrión is located at the foot of the Javalambre mountain range, on a plain, bordered by extensive areas of cereal crops, at an altitude of 991 metres. Its strategic location allowed it to serve as a defensive stronghold for the Alto Mijares region during the Middle Ages. Today, Sarrión is the world capital of the black truffle.
13.30 hrs: Reboard our coach and travel to Tarazona, with a refreshment break enroute.
17.00 hrs: Check into the 3* Hotel Brujas de Irués (2 nights bed & breakfast).
All rooms feature central heating and air conditioning, telephone, television, and a full bathroom.
Hotel Brujas has a large café/bar open from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm, serving a daily set menu throughout the week, as well as a restaurant where you can enjoy the Brujas Menu or choose from a varied à la carte menu. All rooms feature central heating and air conditioning, telephone, television, and a full bathroom.
Free evening.
Day 2 Tuesday 7th September: Tarazona / Bureta (28 km) / Borja (6 km) /Tarizona (22 km)
Breakfast.
09.15 hrs: Departure for Bureta. 10.00 hrs: Guided tour of the Casa Palacio de Los Condes de Bureta, (occasionally given by the current Count of Bureta, Don Mariano López Fernández de Heredia Izquierdo), duration 1¼hrs.
Built in the 18th century on the main tower of the old castle constructed by the Moriscos between the 9th and 10th centuries, remnants of whose walls remain.
11.15 hrs: Refreshment break in the café bar located on the ground floor. 12.00 hrs: Travel to the nearby Santuario de Misericordia, where the infamous “Ecce Homo” painting is located. Painted by Elías García Martínez in 1930, it became an international viral sensation in 2012 when local parishioner, Cecilia Giménez, attempted a highly distorted, albeit well-meaning, restoration.
12.30 hrs: Visit to the Santuario de Misericordia.
The Church & Ecce Homo: View the botched fresco and listen to the brief historical introduction provided by the staff.
The Interpretation Centre & Museum: dedicated to Cecilia Giménez, the global media reaction, and various artistic tributes.
The “Caserón” & Traditional Kitchen: the preserved 19th-century Aragonese building attached to the chapel.
13.15 hrs: Travel the short distance to Borja. Free time to have lunch and to wander around its historic centre: Casa de Aguilar, Casa de las Conchas, the Town Hall and the Collegiate Church of Santa María.
15.00 hrs: Return to our hotel.
16.30 hrs: Optional 1.5 hrs walking tour of Tarazona: Discover the Cathedral of Santa María de la Huerta, a beautiful mosaic of architectural styles whose origins date back to the 13th century. Gothic, Mudéjar, and Renaissance styles overlap in what is considered one of the finest examples of Gothic cathedrals in Spain.
Followed by a tour of the Episcopal Palace of Tarazona.
Includes: Noble Zone (courtyard of ringed columns, grand staircase with dome, throne room or Bishops’ Hall), residential area (former Bishop’s apartment), administrative area (secretariat, printing press and safe), baroque prisons (with a large amount of prison graffiti) and stables of the medieval building (with interpretation panels, well, display of goods and audiovisual).
OR free time to explore on your own.
Visit the original octagonal bullring, built in the 18th century and of which there are few examples in Spain, and the impressive Renaissance façade of the Town Hall. Have a wander through the historic centre, and the streets of the old Jewish quarter – part of the Network of Jewish Quarters of Spain – and the Moorish quarter, both testaments to the coexistence of cultures that once thrived in this city.
Day 3 Wednesday 8th September: Tarazona / El Monasterio de Veruela (13 km) / Trasmoz (5 km) / Pedrola (49 km)
Breakfast
10.00 hrs: Check out and departure for El Monasterio de Veruela.
11.00 hrs: Guided visit to El Monasterio de Veruela. At the foot of Moncayo, this 12th-century Cistercian monastery blends fortified walls with tranquil Gothic cloisters.
- The 12th-century Cistercian church, cloister, and chapter house.
- Entry to the Wine Museum which offers insight into the Campo de Borja winemaking heritage, and the Olive Oil Museum.
- Entry to the Espacio Bécquer, which details the historic stay of the romantic poet Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer.
The Monastery de Veruela is being transformed into a Parador hotel, expected to open sometime in 2027, and will be the 100th Parador in Spain.
12.30 hrs: Free time for lunch in one of the café bars near the Monastery or take a short walk into the town of Vera de Moncayo.
14.15 hrs: Reboard the coach and travel to nearbyTrasmoz.
14.30 hrs: Guided tour of Trasmoz and local tastings.
The village of Trasmoz remains officially excommunicated due to historical disputes over the collection of tithes, resources (firewood and water) and control of the territory with the Monastery of Veruela. The conflict reached its peak between the 13th and 16th centuries. The monks of the monastery accused the inhabitants and their lords of heresy, witchcraft, and counterfeiting to discredit them and avoid paying taxes. As punishment, the Catholic Church excommunicated the entire village and issued a curse that remains in effect, as it was never revoked by the Pope. The years that followed were not easy for Trasmoz. The castle burned to the ground in 1520 and remained in ruins for centuries. After the Jews were expelled from Spain in the 15th Century, Trasmoz fell into decline, from about 10,000 inhabitants to a population of just 62, only half of which live there permanently.
16.00 hrs: Reboard our coach and travel to Pedrola.
17.00 hrs: Check into the 3* Hotel Castillo Bonavía (1 night, dinner + breakfast). While it looks like a medieval fortress, the hotel was custom-built with theatrical, medieval-inspired architecture to serve as a unique event venue and lodging experience.
The hotel features a bar and restaurant known for a counter packed with pintxos (Northern Spanish tapas), great breakfasts, and a menu focusing on traditional Aragonese and Mediterranean cuisine. 20.00 hrs: Dinner included.
Day 4 Thursday 9th September: Pedrola / Cariñena (82 km) / Calatayud (57 km)
Breakfast
09.30 hrs: Check out and load luggage onto the coach.
10.00 hrs: Guided walking tour of Pedrola’s key highlights: the 16th-century Palacio de los Duques de Villahermosa, the art-filled Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, and the historic area (2 hours).
12.15 hrs: Return to the hotel to board our coach.
12.30 hrs: Travel to Cariñena.
14.00 hrs: Included lunch at the Bodegas Care restaurant with Garnacha wine.
16.00 hrs: Reboard our coach and travel to Calatayud.
17.00 hrs: Check into the 4* Hotel Monasterio Benedictino (2 nights bed & breakfast).
Located 150 metres from Santo Sepulcro Church, in the historic centre, Hotel Monasterio Benedictino is a restored 16th-century. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout. Each room is air-conditioned and has a private bathroom with a shower or bath, hairdryer and free toiletries. The hotel offers a restaurant with restored alabaster arches, columns and internal patio. There is also a chapel of an early Gothic church.
Free evening.
Day 5 Friday 10th September – FREE DAY
Breakfast.
Optional morning guided walking tour.
Calatayud is an historic city, famous for its UNESCO World Heritage-listed Mudéjar architecture and ancient fortifications.
Free evening.
In the Arabian fashion, most of the houses in the old town are made of adobe (uncooked clay bricks typically mixed with straw). With the passage of time, these bricks lose their shape, making houses acquire unusual shapes or very crooked balconies. Additionally, houses in the region are typically painted in different bright colours, giving the town a very quaint appearance.
Day 6 Saturday 11th September: Calatayud / Calamocha (69 km) / Sarrión (106 km) / Javea (216 km)
Breakfast.
09.00 hrs: Checkout and load luggage onto the coach. Travel to Calamocha.
10.30 hrs: Arrival in Calamocha; refreshment break.
11.30 hrs: Guided tour of the Museo del Jamón.
Ground Floor (Traditional Jiloca Home): Recreates a traditional three-story rural house from the Jiloca region, featuring an historic entrance hall, old kitchen, pantry, and farm animal stables. It highlights domestic life and rural customs.
Second Floor (Jamón D.O. Teruel): Focuses on the product—Jamón de Teruel (Denominación de Origen). It details both traditional and modern methods of salting, curing, and producing local sausages and preserves.
Third Floor (Granary & Exhibitions): A spacious open-plan attic used as a temporary exhibition and cultural space.
12.30 hrs: Continue to Sarrión.
14.00 hrs: Included lunch at the Restaurante Asador Vía Verde, Sarrión.
16.00 hrs: Continue our journey back to Jávea; comfort stop enroute.
18.45 hrs: Approximate time of arrival back in Jávea.
What is included-Please note the itinerary is provisional until all elements have been confirmed.
Coach transport, meals and accommodation for the driver.
3* Hotel Brujas de Irués (2 nights bed & breakfast).
Guided tour of the Casa Palacio de Los Condes de Bureta.
Visit to the Santuario de Misericordia.
Guided visit to El Monasterio de Veruela.
Guided tour of Trasmoz and local tastings.
3* Hotel Castillo Bonavía (1 night, dinner + breakfast).
Guided walking tour of Pedrola’s key highlights.
Lunch at the Bodegas Care restaurant with Garnacha wine.
4* Hotel Monasterio Benedictino (2 nights bed & breakfast).
Guided tour of the Museo del Jamón.
Lunch at the Restaurante Asador Vía Verde, Sarrión.
Gratuities.
Optional (cost depending on numbers) 1.5 hrs walking tour of Tarazona.
Optional (cost depending on numbers) morning guided walking tour of Calatayud.
PRICE tbc soon.
Sharing twin/double room
Supplement for sole occupancy
Cancellation
Please note that should you subsequently cancel your booking, refunds can only be made if your reservation is taken over by another member. Members are required to have travel insurance appropriate to their own personal needs.
Group Leader: Angela Chantry
spanish.culture.cuisine@gmail.com
- 06 – 11 Sep 2027
- 08:00 – 19:30
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