Podcast Summary: Cuerpos Especiales – Venta del Moro (Valencia)

Host: EuropaFM (Eva Soriano, Nacho García, Lalachús)
Date: January 30, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of Cuerpos Especiales dives into the charms and traditions of Venta del Moro, a small town in Valencia, as part of the "Pueblos Especiales" segment. The hosts chat with local ambassador Nuria, who celebrates the town's unique heritage, festivities, natural surroundings, and its quirky walking dictionary. The episode aims to showcase why Venta del Moro should be crowned the week's most special pueblo on EuropaFM.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to Venta del Moro

• Location & Population:

  • Nuria introduces Venta del Moro as a town of about 1,100 residents, including its outlying hamlets.
  • "Estamos ubicados en el Parque Natural de las Hoces del Cabriel, que además es Reserva Natural de la Biosfera." [00:45]
  • The town is located in the interior of Valencia and forms part of a protected biosphere reserve.

• Defining a Biosphere Reserve:

  • Host Eva admits confusion about the designation—whether it relates to fauna, flora, or something seasonal.
  • Nuria clarifies: "Es más que un parque natural, es fauna, es flora, está protegido y es súper importante que se mantengan los bosques." [01:15]

2. Local Traditions and Celebrations

• Major Festivities:
  • Venta del Moro has three main annual festivities, recognized as locally significant intangible heritage.
  • The most notable is in December, honoring the town's patron, the Virgen de Loreto.
  • This includes the presentation of queens and their courts, offerings, and the "Día de la Hoguera"—a bonfire gathering involving the whole community:
    • "El día más importante es el día de la hoguera, que es cuando participamos todo el pueblo, desde los más pequeños hasta los más mayores." [01:31]
  • The hosts joke about the Valencian penchant for fire, with added Manchego influence making it even "more intense."

3. Unique Village Features

• The Walking Dictionary:

  • Venta del Moro boasts a "diccionario andante," with hand-painted tiles (azulejos) featuring local vocabulary displayed on house facades:

    • "En todas las fachadas de las casas... hay unos azulejos pintados a mano donde están plasmados nuestro vocabulario autóctono." [02:48]

  • Examples include:

    • Tazón = tejón (badger)
    • Cantero = bocadillo (sandwich):
      • "Un cantero es un bocadillo de pan, de lo que tú quieras." [03:18]

  • The hosts express their admiration for these local expressions and joke about using "cantero" outside the village.

4. Nuria's Final Pitch

• Why Vote for Venta del Moro?
  • Nuria gives an enthusiastic speech to promote her town:
    • "Estamos ubicados en un sitio clave de influencia tanto valenciana como manchega. Además es que estamos situados en el parque natural de las Hoces del Cabriel, que además es el río más limpio de España... Nuestras fiestas declaradas de bien inmaterial de relevancia local, cuentan con tradición de siglos y además es que pasan de generación en generación..." [04:00]
  • She highlights the local cuisine, traditions, and the interactive walking dictionary as points of pride.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On what makes Venta del Moro special:

  • "Somos un pueblo muy especial, tiene que ser el mejor de España. Si vienes y nos conoces, pues no sólo vas a comer bien, sino que además te puedes dar un paseo y aprender nuestro vocabulario autóctono." – Nuria [04:28]

• Host banter about setting things on fire:

  • "Ni un pueblo en Valencia en el que no se le prenda fuego a algo." – Eva [02:01]

• On adopting local slang:

  • "Voy a empezar a usar esa palabra. Me comía un cantero yo ahora." – Eva [03:32]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:28 – Nuria introduced as town ambassador
• 00:45 – Town’s location and population
• 01:15 – Explanation of a Biosphere Reserve
• 01:31 – Overview of key local festivities
• 02:48 – "Walking dictionary" of local vocabulary explained
• 03:18 – Fun with the word "cantero"
• 04:00 – Nuria's passionate final pitch for Venta del Moro

Tone & Style

True to Cuerpos Especiales style, the episode is light-hearted, playful, and brimming with local pride. The hosts engage Nuria with inquisitive warmth and comedic interjections, making for a lively portrait of Venta del Moro and its customs.

Takeaway

This episode paints Venta del Moro as a jewel of rural Valencia, defined by its natural beauty, hybrid cultural influences, fire-lit traditions, and unique effort to preserve local language. Nuria's pride and enthusiasm make it clear why her pueblo deserves a vote for "Pueblos Especiales" on EuropaFM.