Where do you go when you can’t process any more glorious Renaissance art? The Rice Museum.

Rice, as the exhibits noted, originated in China, but was introduced to Spain by the Moors, who planted it near Valencia in the 8th century. Since then it has become an absolutely integral part of life here, giving rise to the well known Valenciano Paella and many less well known arrozes, both wet and dry.

The museum is located in an old rice  mill and houses all the original and lovingly restored machinery accompanied explained by audio guide.

This particular mill was the first electrified mill in the area. As an early adopters of such a new fangled–and expensive–technology, the owners decided to buy only two motors. As a result, the mill is a 3 story marvel of gears, drive shafts, and belts. Rice entered as paddy rice, went through cleaning sieves, hullers, polishers, and baggers, and left as the makings of deliciousness.