De Salses a Guardamar i de Fraga a l’Alguer: les comarques de parla catalana una a una. 64/88: la Safor (Central Valencian Country).
La Safor is a costal shire whose capital city is Gandia, where the famous Borgia family had their palace. The Borgia family are amongst the most famous Valencians in history and some of its memebers are some of the most famous people in the Renaissance. Two of them became Popes (Callixtus III and Alexander VI), one was proclaimed a saint (Saint Francis Borgia), and the rivalries of Renaissance Rome created all sorts of rumours and dark stories about them that are still told nowadays in books, TV shows, and movies.
There are many other interesting historical places, like the Valldigna Monastery (built in Gothic and Baroque style between the 14th and 18th centuries), the Sant Jeroni de Cotalba Monastery (built in Renaissance style in the 15th century), 16th-century watchtowers to watch out for pirates, historical towns, and archaeological remains of castles.
La Safor is known for its delicious food, including fideuà (noodles casserole with seafood), figatells (similar to a burger made of pork liver), shrimp with chards, or coca de dacsa (corn flatbread similar to a small Mexican tortilla, which is filled with different ingredients, most commonly tuna, egg, tomato, anchovies, sardines, fried spinach...), among others.
Photos from alicia71benavent, Safor turisme, Comunitat Valenciana, Tejas Borja, cervezaturia, Mª José tastantelmón (cookpad).