In the autonomous community of Aragón, northeastern Spain

 "Stop and take your time to notice things and make those things you notice matter." -- Cecelia Ahern

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(in eastern Aragón, Spain) The autonomous community of Aragón), a historical region of northeastern Spain, is bounded by France to the north and Catalonia to the east, Valencia to the southeast, Castile–La Mancha to the southwest, and Castile-León, La Rioja, and Navarra to the west. Aragón offers great attractions wherever you might roam, from the crusader-like castles and Romanesque churches of the north to the outstanding Mudéjar architecture of Teruel in the south. The regional capital, Zaragoza, is a major Spanish city of culture (e.g., as reflected in the work of local artist Francisco de Goya), while dozens of lovely medieval villages dot the serrated landscape, from pink-hued Albarracín to stone-covered Sos del Rey Católico. What sets Aragón apart, however, is the majesty of the central Pyrenees along its northern fringe. The highest section of that mountain range, it is a delightful sight for sore eyes and a natural adventure playground, with not just Spain's finest hiking and climbing, but also much of its best skiing, canyoning, rafting, and paragliding. Featured here is Matarraña, is a comarca (county) in eastern Aragón -- located in Teruel Province, in the mountainous Sistema Ibérico area, it is nestled among the Aragón, Catalonia and Valencia counties, with its capital located in the lovely town of Valderrobres. Not far from the Mediterranean Sea, the comarca was named after the Matarraña River that flows through it, in the Catalan-speaking strip in eastern Aragón known as La Franja. Far from the maddening (tourist) crowds, Matarraña is a great destination for a quiet weekend getaway. Indeed, you probably should embrace slower modes of travel when visiting Matarraña. The region is often compared to the Italian region of Tuscany for its tranquility and serene atmosphere, with nice, rural accommodation options, and singular spots in the middle of a lovely natural environment that still remains off the beaten path and is among the Starlight Tourist Destinations for its clean sky and ideal conditions for observing the stars, The Matarraña region is home to picture perfect medieval towns with wonderful examples of Baroque architecture. The best way to explore Calaceite, Fresneda, and Valderrobres, which are among the most interesting towns, is by walking around their old quarters: you’ll stumble upon historical places such as churches, town halls and hermitages that reflect their rich architectural legacy from the 18th and 19th centuries. In addition, a trip from Calaceite to Mazaleón makes a great tour for archaeological enthusiasts, with unique cave paintings and Iberian settlements along the way. In addition, the Picasso Center in Horta de Sant Joan showcases reproductions of the works that the great Spanish artist produced in this town, where he spent time in 1898/99 (and later in 1909).