Nuévalos

Turn north in Molina de Aragón, first along a flat road through farmland, then on a more scenic drive through rugged countryside toward Nuévalos, and the Monasterio de Piedra, a monastery founded in 1195 that was by the 18^th century a vast monastic establishment. You can tour the older portion of the buildings: the chapter house, the refectory, the Cistercian monks’ cellars and the kitchen that was allegedly the first place in Europe where drinking chocolate, from Mexico, was prepared. A hotel is located within the monastic buildings—see listing. Surrounding the monastery is a lush park watered by the river that flows through the grounds in capricious ways, forming waterfalls and pools of great beauty. Be sure to visit the series of waterfalls La Caprichosa (the whimsical lady) and the 52-meter Cola de Caballo (horse’s tail)—you can see both from a vista point and from underneath in the Iris Grotto. In contrast to the rushing cascades, the lake properly carries the name of Mirror Lake, a truly spectacular natural sight. Buy a ticket at the entrance and follow the arrows for an unforgettable stroll. Nearby the pretty little town of Nuévalos sits in a valley at the head of a vast reservoir surrounded by the deep-red hills. (Scenery lovers should take a side trip to the spa of Jaraba, reached by going south to the tiny village of Campillo de Aragón and turning right. You have a 12-kilometer drive through a red, green, and gold patchwork quilt of fields as you go over the Campillo Pass, then you descend into steep canyons lined with dark-red cliffs. This is a dramatic excursion.)