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to get off to the country at any opportunity especially during the summer months. Whereas nowadays people head out to their “pueblos”, to the beach or up to the mountains, under the Moors the countryside was closer to home. “Munyas” or country retreats were set up within a few kilometres of the city walls, many of which would today be within the city’s boundaries. There were famous Munyas near the channels of Mestalla and Algiros and the royal retreat was where the Viveros gardens are now. Further up the river, near the Escuela official de Idiomas the gateway to the country retreat of Princess Zaydia still stands on a roundabout by the side of the main drag. Once a quiet place to get away from it all, it is now surrounded by sixties apartment blocks and heavy traffic. One of the most famous Munyas was Ruzafa, built for Prince Omeya Abd Allah al Balansi whose lands extended throughout the region and into Murcia and Catalonia. As well as the landscape and make up of Valencia, the Moors left their mark on many aspects of Valencian life. Twenty five per cent of words in Spanish (like “aceite” and “alfombra”) have Moorish roots, place names like Benidorm or Albufera and surnames like Albelda or Alborch also come directly from ancient Arabic. Horchata, turron, oranges, rice and, some claim, customs such as shared dishes like paella and Valencia’s bustling street life can also be traced back to the Moorish way of life. Even that most Valencian of expressions “Xe!” has its roots in Arabic. The Chinese invented paper and the Moors introduced paper to Europe via a paper mill in Xativa, Valencia. That’s quite a legacy. David Rhead and José Marín Article © 2019 24/7 Valencia