Matarraña - Teruel - Aragon - Spain

With its traditional, unspoiled country towns, well-tended olive groves and terraced vineyards, Matarraña (Matarranya in Catalan) often draws comparisons with Tuscany. However, unlike its Italian counterpart, this remote part of Aragon is relatively unknown to foreign travellers.

Situated within the province of Teruel, in eastern Aragon, the Matarraña district has a labyrinth of dirt trails winding through an area where small-time fruit production still continues as in the past. Seemingly frozen in time, Matarraña gives us the best of riding and a spectacular location to see traditional Spain.

Matarraña borders with the Terra Alta, Els Ports and Bajo Aragon districts. Terra Alta, with it's highly regarded wine production, traditional country towns and villages, and onetime home of Picasso is picture-postcard Spanish countryside. Els Ports Natural Park, in contrast, with it's steep mountain passes has practically no human inhabitants, and where it's more likely we'll see Spanish Ibex, red squirrels, eagles, and if they don't hear us coming, the odd wild boar.

Bajo Aragon, on the western side of Matarraña, is where Motorland, the motoGP racing circuit is located. The dirt trails in the area also play host to the annual Baja Espana, one of the biggest offroad events in Spain.