The small Spanish town of Alcañiz sits on the river Guadalope in the Teruel province, which is part of the wider autonomous community of Aragon. The town is 113km from the provincial capital Teruel, is home to just over 16,000 people and boasts centuries of history, as you will note from the ancient buildings in the old town centre. The Teruel province is one of Spain’s quieter regions, but that makes it all the more special to visit, with its sometimes deserted landscape, strong rural culture, fine local Spanish food and its beautiful provincial capital, the town of the same name – Teruel. The town and its surrounding region are known in other parts of Spain for the harsh local climate which is very hot in the summer and cold in the winter, whilst its famous Spanish cured ham (jamón serrano) should not be missed

Alcañiz and Teruel are principally served by two airports, Zaragoza and Reus, but Barcelona and Madrid are not a million miles away. Train and bus links to some of the smaller towns in the Teruel province are limited, so the best way to get around is by car or motorbike. English is not as widely spoken in Teruel or wider Aragon as in other parts of Spain, so having a Spanish phrasebook to hand will serve you well and ordering a meal in Spanish will enhance your experience. As in general in Spain lunch for locals is 2pm-4pm and dinnertime is after 9pm, which is worth noting unless you want to eat in an empty restaurant. Meals and good Spanish wine are very reasonably priced throughout Aragon, many restaurants offer set menus of three courses with a drink included for under €10 at lunchtime and tips are not expected but are always welcomed.