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Troy Nahumko is an award-winning author based in Caceres, Spain. His recent work focuses on travels around the Mediterranean, from Tangier to Istanbul. As a writer and photographer he has contributed to newspapers and media such as Lonely Planet, The Globe and Mail, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Toronto Star, Counterpunch,The Irish World, The Straits Times, The Calgary Herald, Khaleej Times, DW-World, Rabble and El Pais. He also writes a bi-weekly op-ed column 'Camino a Ítaca' for the Spanish newspaper HOY. His book, Stories Left in Stone, Trails and Traces in Cáceres, Spain is published by the University of Alberta Press. As an ESL materials writer he has worked with publishers such as Macmillan and CUP.

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Ibn Marwan on the Lamb in Alange, Spain


Imagine the Caliph's entire army hot on your tail and you with around a hundred guys on your side. Where would you want to hole up? The answer is here. High atop a mountain smack in the middle of one of Spain's most productive wine regions lies the ruins of a castle where, back in the 9th century, a Christian convert to Islam, Ibn Marwan, held off all the Caliph's men for three months only to be forced to surrender due to lack of water. History has its irony as today the castle ruins overlook one of Spain's largest reservoirs. Climb to the top to enjoy the spectacular views and then come down and pamper yourself in another unexpected quirk, the luxurious spa, Balneario de Alange at the bottom of the hill, which has been soaking tired bones since togas were the local fashion.

#spa #history #religion #reservoir #lake #hiking #view #mountain #castle #getaway #ruins #medieval #muslim #muslimarchitecture #rural #islam #winecountry #soaking #roman #irony #9thcentury #siege #balneario #ancientrome #medievalcastle #spanishhistory #caliph

Originally published on Trazzler

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