Morella

Morella is a town of 2,400 people (2018) in Castellón. Tourism is a primary source of income, and the town has been actively taking steps to enable its eventual nomination for listing as a UNESCO world heritage site.

Understand
Morella (from Arabic: Maurela) has been inhabited since the earliest of times, as attested by nearby cave paintings and Bronze Age graves. The fortified hilltop which dominates the town has been controlled by many different groups through the ages, including the Iberians, Greeks, Romans, Moors, and finally Christians. Morella was the scene of fierce fighting during the Spanish War of Succession, the Napoleonic Wars, the Carlist Wars, and in the 1930s, the Spanish Civil War. In 1938 Franco's forces seized the town, but Republican guerillas remained active in the nearby mountains until 1956.

During Franco's dictatorship (1939-1975), the population declined dramatically as residents sought employment in the cities, but after the return of democracy it began to rebound.



By car
The easiest way to get to Morella is by car. The town lies on the regional motorway N-232, about an hour west of Vinaròs.

Parking in the town is severely limited, and unless you have access to a private parking area (e.g. adjacent to a hotel) you must park outside the city walls. The closest to the main entrance is located just outside the Porta de Sant Miquel, and a second, with more difficult access, is below the castle on the western side of town.

By bus
From Castellón, Autos Mediterráneo (, info@autosmediterraneo.com) runs a bus twice a day on weekdays and once on Saturdays. The journey takes two and a quarter hours; a full schedule can be downloaded here.

Get around
As the town is very small, the easiest way to get around is to walk.

Buy
Morella has a long tradition of herding sheep dating back to at least the 13th century, and is still today known for its woolen textiles. Although no longer produced on an industrial scale, the distinctive striped woolen blankets are still commonly sold throughout the town. Other worthwhile purchases include knitwear, black truffles, and honey.



Eat
Morella is known for its truffles, which are in season from February to early March. A local special pastry is the flaó (plural: flaons), made with cinnamon, cheese, and almonds.