The Twin Shadows of Xàtiva: The Borgia Birthright
📍 Xàtiva, Valencia
The Castle's Secret Perched majestically atop a rugged hill, Xàtiva Castle's ancient stones echo the whispers of countless ages past. From its dual fortifications, visitors can gaze out over the fertile plains of Valencia, where citrus groves stretch toward the horizon, painting the earth in hues of vibrant green and orange. Known for its strategic importance through the centuries, Xàtiva Castle today stands as a testament to its resilience and the stories that cling to its weathered walls like ivy. Here was the birthplace of Rodrigo Borgia, who ascended to the papacy as Alexander VI, and his cousin, Pope Calixtus III. Legend holds more than just the shadows of papal intrigue; it whispers of an ancient covenant, a pact forged in blood and ambition that echoes through time. In the early ye…