An old saying goes that curiosity killed the cat, but if it hadn't been for its sacrifice, its desire to go further, perhaps the rest of the cats would never have left their comfort zone and would have nothing to tell.
Therefore, as in the case of the cat, curiosity is also a driving force that propels the traveler to leave their comfort zone and embrace, without distinction, the joys and failures of any worthwhile adventure.
On this occasion, the traveler returns to that area of Art, History, Mystery, and cultural heritage that is the fortunate region of Aragon known as the Cinco Villas (Five Villages) and stops in a town that still retains much of its medieval essence: El Frago.
Occasionally, he leaves behind the enigmas of its imposing 12th-century church, dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Bari, and although he cannot resist the seductive spell that still lingers in the mysterious lamps of its old Jewish Quarter, he immerses himself in the echoes and silence of a peaceful morning.
Unexpectedly, he encounters an extraordinary curiosity that reminds him once again of the enduring power of the oldest means of communication in the world: stone.
Seeing these same stones, sculpted by time, water, and wind into the most unique shapes, receiving the blessing of paint to create—as medieval stonemasons did with the corbels and capitals of churches—fragments of joyful and powerful narratives, is not only fascinating but also motivates him to continue exploring these historic alleyways, following the trail of creativity.
And the traveler, as one might expect, relives the old tale of Chickpea, collecting traces and evidence on door frames and window sills, feeling, like the cat, curious not to miss a single one of these picturesque details.
Another way, certainly, to feel and experience the magical essence of these villages, which, seemingly removed from the noise of the outside world, still attract attention and fascinate with their own charm.
NOTICE: Both the text and the accompanying photographs are my exclusive intellectual property and are therefore subject to my copyright.
