Tourist guide of Extremadura

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GOBIERNO DE EXTREMADURA

TOURIST GUIDE OF

EXTREMADURA

GOBIERNO DE EXTREMADURAConsejería de Fomento, Vivienda,

Ordenación del Territorio y TurismoDirección General de Turismo

2015

PREFACE

There is an infallible method for making a place form part of our deepestmemories: walking it. The progressive change of the references in thehorizon, the perception of the dimension of a slope, the feeling of goingin a village for the first time… They are concepts whose meanings chan-ge completely when we feel them going on foot, when we are given thetime to be conscious of what we perceive. Then, it does not matter if theroute is short or long, because it becomes a slow trip, a special opportu-nity of paying attention to the details, for discovering what is around us.

The paths let us approach to unknown things in a privileged way wit-hout being a stranger. Walking consists of making places belong to our-selves, but at the same time, is making us belong to that place as well. Itis forming part of the nature, of the spot and mixing with the environ-ment. It is a way of always being welcome, of acceding to some of thesespecial places offered by those who has won its confidence.

Extremadura is a really worth visiting place on foot. This is a very spe-cial land, a unusual place in Europe. Only a few regions of the old con-tinent have reached to XXI century with a generalized state of environ-mental conservation like Extremadura. Thanks to its low populationdensity and the lack of big urban conglomerations, every Extremaduranregion offers close, accessible routes, compatible with other tourist acti-vities, involved in a spectacular nature, either to share it with those whocould meet in the way to it or enjoy ourselves in a privileged solitude.

The landscape richness of Extremadura and the varied orography of theland are only two of the numerous reasons that make each path sugges-ted in this Guide be a really different choice. The unforgettable taste ofevery region or the unavoidable change of the seasons are added to thedifferent possibilities of a land that can reward those who make up theirmind and breath it closely, a genuine area where it is still possible to livethat old, wise culture of the paths.

1 General Aspects1.1 Some details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

1.2 Ways of access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

2 Art and History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

3 Natural Spaces3.1 The Monfragüe National Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

3.2 The Cornalvo Natural Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

3.3 The Cedillo-Tajo Internacional Natural Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

3.4 Garganta de los Infiernos Nature Reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

3.5 Natural Monument of Los Barruecos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

3.6 Mine La Jayona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

3.7 Sca and Spa Sierra Grande de Hornachos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

3.8 SCA and Spa Sierra de San Pedro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

3.9 SCA and Spa Los Llanos de Cáceres and Sierra de Fuentes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

3.10 SCA and Spa Embalse de Orellana and Sierra de Pela . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

3.11 Other open Spaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48

4 Regions and Cities4.1 Sierra de Gata / Hurdes / Cáparra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54

4.2 Valle del Ambroz / Valle del Jerte / La Vera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

4.3 Plasencia / Monfragüe / Campo Arañuelo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62

4.4 Villuercas / Jara / Ibores . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66

4.5 Cáceres / Trujillo-Miajadas / Montánchez-Tamuja . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70

4.6 Sierra de San Pedro-Los Baldíos / Tajo-Salor-Almonte / Valle del Alagón . . . . . . . . . . .74

4.7 La Siberia / La Serena / Vegas Altas del Guadiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78

4.8 Campiña Sur / Tentudía / Jerez-Sierra Suroeste . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82

4.9 Olivenza/Badajoz / Comarca de Lácara / Mérida . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .86

4.10 Sierra Grande-Tierra de Barros / Zafra-Río Bodión . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90

5 Other aspects:5.1 Tourist Routes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .96

5.2 Festivities and Festivals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102

5.3 Handicrafts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108

5.4 Spas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110

5.5 Information of Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114

ÍNDEX

xtremadura, with an extension of 41,602 square kilo-metres, the 8% of the national territory, is located inthe easternmost part of the South Submeseta borde-ring on Sistema Central to the north, Sierra Morena tothe south, the nearby Portugal to the west and Casti-lla-La Mancha to the east.

Almost 1.100.000 people live in these lands, withapproximately 25 people / square kilometre whereasin Spain it is 80 people / square kilometre. Badajoz isthe most populous city of the region, after the capitalof Cáceres and Mérida, which is the autono-mouscapital. Plasencia, Trujillo, Coria, Navalmoral, Almen-dralejo, Don Benito, Villanueva de la Serena, Jerez delos Caballeros or Zafra are some of the most impor-tant nucleus of the autonomous region.

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1GENERAL ASPECTS

ETrujillo

General Aspects x Art and History x Natural Spaces x Regions and Cities x Other aspects

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The weather in the Extremaduran region is clearlyinfluenced by the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean and thelocation in the middle of the plain, in spite of the clear fea-tures of the Mediterranean weather, which is reflected inmost part of the landscapes. That makes it be differentfrom the typical “meseteño”, either in the milder tempera-tures or the vegetation, where the Mediterranean forest isthe main character.

The rain in Extremadura is frequent in autumn andspring, with mild temperatures almost all the year round,except for the summer months when the temperaturesrises and get milder at night, over all in north valleys andmountainous ranges.

Two main rivers cross these lands, Tajo and Guadiana.Their waters are used either for agricultural irrigation orfor the important hydroelectric production, thanks to thenumerous reservoirs such as Alcántara, Valdecañas, Gar-cía Sola, Orellana, Zújar and the impressive La Serena,the second one in capacity in Europe. These reservoirs pro-vide numerous kilometres of sweet coast very appropria-ted for nautical, sport activities.

SOME DETAILS1.1

Bath area. Reservoir of Garcia Sola

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T O U R I S T G U I D E O F E X T R E M A D U R A

Valle del Jerte


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WAYS OF ACCESS1.2

cha and the regions of Valencia and Murcia, throughCiudad Real, will become carriageways that will provi-de a most fluid traffic.

In addition to these national roads, we have the 110road that links Plasencia with Ávila through Valle delJerte and 521 road that goes from Cáceres to Valencia deAlcántara, bordering on Portugal.

A wide group of secondary roads give access to themain Extremaduran capitals and nucleus from anylocality of Extremadura, being well-preserved.

We can come into the Extremaduran region eitherfrom Madrid or from Seville and even Portugal, due tothe high-speed railways in the short term, thanks to theAVE (high- speed train), which will link Madrid withLisbon.

Cáceres is linked with Mérida and Badajoz throughregional trains that go to the south, east and north ofthe region as well.

Extremadura possesses an airport in Talavera laReal, close to Badajoz. Mérida and Cáceres are linkedby flights to other important Spanish cities such asMadrid or Barcelona.

This way of acceding to the Extremaduran regioncan be complemented with a complete offer of dailyregional buses, which link the two Extremaduran pro-vinces and their most outstanding nucleus, with mostof the rest of the Spanish regions and the main nearbycapitals, such as Salamanca, Toledo, Ciudad Real, Cor-doba, Seville, Huelva and Madrid.

Extremadura possesses a great group of roads welldistributed all around the region. We cannot forget thefact that the two Extremaduran provinces are the mostextensive ones in the whole peninsula and let us intro-duce in any place of its beautiful geography.

Badajoz, Cáceres and the autonomous capital ofMérida are linked with each other through some dualcarriageways, like the A-5, between Badajoz and Méri-da, or through the Ex-100 that links the two capitals ofprovince and the dual carriageway A-66, which bringsCáceres nearer Mérida.

According to these strategic, administrative points,the two main roads that cross the Extremaduran regionare used to link the north with the south thanks to, inone hand, the A-66 dual carriageway, which goes fromBaños de Montemayor to Monesterio following the rou-te of the historical Vía de la Plata (consequently it beco-mes a door towards Castilla – León and Andalusia); onthe other hand, the A-5 dual carriageway, which goesfrom the northeast to the west and coming from Madridand lands of Castilla - la Mancha. It crosses the regionfrom Navalmoral de la Mata to Badajoz going to thenearby Portugal and its capital, Lisbon.

Moreover, other two regional dual carriagewaysEX-A1, that links Navalmoral de la Mata with Plasenciaand Coria, and EX-A2, that brings A-5 to the importantzone of Vegas del Guadiana by the link between DonBenito and Miajadas.

Very important national roads like 432 from Badajoztowards Andalusia by Cordoba and Granada, and 430from the outskirts of Mérida towards Castilla- La Man-

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Lusitania Bridge.s

he geographic situation of the Extremaduran lands hasmade them be a zone of constant settlements of all thecultures and villages that have inhabited in the IberianPeninsula from Palaeolithic to the arrival of Roma.

Thanks to that, it is possible to know “in situ” theimportant artistic or architectonical examples ofunquestionable, hereditary value, many other thathave been brought to the display cabinet of theExtremaduran Museums, without forgetting aboutthose which are proudly on display in National andInternational Museums.

Roman troops and settles coming from the Romanprovince of Bética would arrive at the currentExtremadura trying to annex new lands to the RomanRepublic at the beginning of II b. C.

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2ART AND HISTORY

T

“Carlos V a caballo en Mühlberg” of Tiziano “Epifanía” of Isebrant in Guadalupes s


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Roman arch of Cáparra. Vía de la Plata.

ART AND HISTORY2

Dolmen of Valencia de Alcántara

Roman Museum. Mérida

After serious difficulties and bloody fights againstVeton and Lusitanian people, where the famous Viriatowould stand out in the middle of this century, Romawould expand its dominations to the lands in the north ofTajo river and founded a new province in Hispania, Lusi-tania, whose capital would be Emerita Augusta, the cur-rent Mérida.

A historical-artistic legacy, as wide as important, datesback to this long period of cultural, economic, military set-tlement: theatres, amphitheatres, temples, bridges, aque-ducts, dams, hot baths, funeral monuments, paved roadslike the famous “Vía de la Plata”, a Roman route thatlinked the lands of Itálica, passing by Emerita and whichgoes in this region from Monesterio in the south ofExtremadura that borders on Andalusia, to Baños de Mon-temayor, close to the nearby lands of Castilla y León.

The provincial museums of Cáceres and Badajoz, andover all, the National Museum of Roman Art of Méridaoffers the chance of knowing numerous archaeologicalpieces of work dated back to this time among the numer-ous ones preserved for visitants and researchers to enjoythemselves.

The Visigothic lands of Extremadura and particularlyof Mérida would turn it into a strategic centre of the Visig-othic Hispania since 469 and in an important focus, notonly political and religious, but also artistic. There areinteresting, artistic examples with clear Roman-Christianinfluences and beautiful Byzantine, Oriental, Africanshapes appeared, and at the same time they marked therest of the Visigothic Spanish reign stylistically and alsoknown as Hispanic-Visigothic art.

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The presence of the Arabs in Extremadura, started afew months after Guadalete ´s battle in 711 and finished in1248 when Montemolín, the last Muslim possession inExtremadura was conquered by troops of Christian reigns,will last more than 5 centuries.

The Extremaduran lands, very close to the influential,political, religious, artistic life of the Emirate and Caliphateof Cordoba, would have important administrative centresin Badajoz, Mérida and other nucleus, among which Bada-joz stands out among the rest in XI century, which willbecome an important Taifa reign after the decline ofOmeyas from Andalusia.

The following arrival of Almohads and Almoravidswill bring some changes and religious, artistic influencesto these lands which border on Tajo and Guadiana rivers,thus leaving a valuable artistic legacy in numerous locali-ties of the Extremaduran region as well as the predecessorsOmeyas did in the political power of the Muslim world inthe peninsula.

For centuries, the Muslim settlement in Extremaduraleft important folkloric–artistic examples dated back tothat time in numerous localities. Some former military for-tifications or settlements, sometimes conserved withoutmany changes and other times, transformed and appropri-ated by the nest dwellers.

In this artistic-historical time there are numerous dis-coveries, magnificently on display in some ExtremaduranMuseums, specially in the Provincial ArchaeologicalMuseum of Badajoz.

The fact that the Extremaduran lands were in Arabs´hands, over all in the southernmost part, caused a greatcurb for the European, artistic, cultural influences. There-fore, the Romanesque art would be late in these latitudes.


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Visigothic column found in Almendral

Among these artistic works, many of them with a reli-gious meaning, like the case of the basilicas or baptisteries,many cut sculptures are conserved as well as numerousarchitectonical elements belonging to religious buildingsand some from the capital of Mérida. There, you canadmire them either in the Visi-gothic Art Museum ofMérida or in the Provincial Museums of Cáceres andBadajoz.

Then, while the religious or civil constructions prolif-erated in this style in the north of the peninsula and mostpart of Castilla y León in XI, XII and XIII centuries, in themedieval Extremadura the Romanesque art did not leaveany mark until the end of XIII century, and even later,offering an obvious influence of Gothic style, very popularin Europe since that century, in most part of the conservedworks.

The Extremaduran lands are frontiers between thereigns of León and the Muslim territorial lands which willlast until the middle of XIII century. The repopulation ofthese regions will be carried out slowly and therefore, mostpart of the religious buildings, for example, was built overothers Muslim buildings, mosques, citadels, etc.

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General view of the Citadelin Badajoz

Moorish cistern in Cáceres

the houses, in palaces, fortifications and squares, even inbridges and over all, in towers and inside the churches.

The materials used in this kind of constructions ofMudejar style, where sobriety is always the main commonfeature, are masonry, granite ashlars and over all, bricks.This Islamic tradition would mix up with beautiful Gothictraceries, pointed arches, transversal group of arches, etc.

The two zones with most beautiful examples of Mude-jar style are situated in lands near other important nearbyMudejar focuses: Toledo, close to Guadalupe, Alía orValdecaballeros and Seville to the south of Extremadurawith Palomas, Puebla de la Reina, Hornachos, Azuaga orTentudía.

As well as it happened with the ExtremaduranRomanesque art, the Gothic style in Extremaduraappeared lately in relation to the north of the Peninsula, inspite of the fact that its artistic influences were expandinguntil XVI century.


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Castle of Alburquerque

They are centuries of distributing lands between thenew owners of the zone and most part of the lands wereentrusted to Military Orders that will control these regionsabsolutely, such is the case of the ones of The Temple,Alcántara, Santiago or Calatrava, real introductories andcontrollers of any artistic or cultural movement, usuallycoming from the peninsular north.

Furthermore, it is hardly surprising the fact that themost important nucleus of the north of the Extremaduranregion are those which possess the best examples ofRomanesque or Proto-Gothic art, over all the ones inPlasencia and in its admirable cathedral and finding excel-lent examples in other localities, such as Trujillo, Alcántaraor Alburquerque.

In addition to that, the Romanesque statues have someexamples of artistic-historical interest, in which Virgen deGuadalupe, dated back to XII century or Virgen delSagrario in the cathedral of Plasencia stand out among therest.

The Muslim culture that had prevailed in Extremadu-ra, from VIII until XIII century, still kept on leaving itsinfluence in a discrete way in civil, military and religiousbuildings over all, thanks to an artistic style with unques-tionable Almohad features. We refer to the Mudejar art.

This style would appear in lands of Extremaduradeeply, lands dominated by the Order of Santiago in theprovinces of Badajoz and in the localities around theMonastery of Guadalupe. Therefore, there are not manyexamples of Mudejar art in the regions under the domina-tion of other Military Orders.

Then, since the end of XIII until XVI century, this beau-tiful artistic style, where wooden roofs, bevelled pillarsand tumid arches prevail, will be reflected in the facades of

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Mudejar cloister of Guadalupe

Façade of the Old Cathedral.Plasencia

During this artistic-historical period, Extremadura willbe frequently visited by the monarchs in that moment, likethe case of the Catholic Monarchs, Isabel and Fernando,pointing out the fact that the Emperor and king of Castilla,Carlos I, wanted to rest in the Monastery of Yuste in hislast days, as he considered it as a place for looking forpeace during his last years of life.

During these centuries the discoveries of the Americancontinent will have important characters who were born inthese Extremaduran lands. We refer to Hernán Cortés,Pizarro, Orellana and many others, who became the mainuniversal Extremaduran characters of the XVI century inSpain, helping to make the so-called “Meeting betweentwo worlds: Europe and America” come true.

The Renaissance trends will arrive at Extremadurawith some delay, as well as it occurred with theRomanesque and Gothic, and the Gothic influences, forexample in architecture, would exist until the first quarter


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The Gothic movement will be a continuity of theRomanesque and Proto-Gothic movements at the begin-ning and the most splendid centuries would be XV andXVI, even due to the artistic, stylistic production in Extre-madura, in the middle of XV century, when it wouldexpand to the rest of the peninsular Christian reigns.

Extremadura, which belonged to the reigns of Leónand Castilla during XV and XVI centuries, would belong tothe monarchs of Casa de Austria in XVI century, and as ithappened with Romanesque style, the Military Orders willbe the main promoters of the religious, civil and militaryconstructions, where the labour carried out by the Order ofSantiago and the one of Alcántara stand out.

The construction will be made of stone and granite,without forgetting about wood and adobe among the mostused materials. However, the cross vaults, real construc-tive symbol of this time and style, prevail in the biggestbuildings.

Piedad de Luis de Morales.Cathedral of Badajoz. Rocamador s church. Valencia de Alcántara

of XVI century andeven Gothic andRenaissance ele-ments coexisted dur-ing this period oftime. That fact can bedemonstrated whenobserving the picto-rial art where a per-sonal, admirable combination of the Italian and Flemishfeatures will be reflected on the person of Luis de Morales.

Once this delay was overcome, Extremadura willknow decades of a great Renaissance splendour, a stylewhich has left magnificent marks in our cultural heritage.Therefore, those years could be regarded as the best onesin the modern history in regards to the art.

Cathedrals and churches will renovate the medievalbuildings, getting as a result numerous works of a marvel-lous beauty, where the Renaissance influences of room andmonumentality will be repeated during this century. TheMilitary orders will have an important role in the expan-sion of this artistic style predominant in Europe with thepolitic authority of the Spanish Austrias.

The influence of artists coming from Salamanca,Andalusia and other places in the peninsula will be a con-stant aspect in XVI century and with them, the admiredRenaissance ideas approved either by civil or religiousauthorities.

Austrias and Borbones governed most part of thecountrymen and countrywomen in Spain and Extremadu-ra. They were Moorish people who were dependent on theMilitary Orders and had to leave their lands and houses,being expelled according to Felipe III´s wishes in 1609. Itwas the beautiful locality of Hornachos one of the mostaffected ones because of this expulsion which caused the

foundation of theRepublic of Salé, inthe north of Africaand near Rabat, bysome of the Moorishpeople from theselocalities.

The Baroquemovement will ap-

pear in XVII century with a certain reticence. Nevertheless,it developed brightly in XVIII century, in whose second partwould go hand with hand with the Neo-classical stream.

Furthermore, XVII and most part of XVIII centurieswill bring new artistic direction in the civil and religiousarchitecture, in the interesting statues and the importantpictorial examples, where an Extremaduran painter willshine like a real star. We refer to Francisco de Zurbarán,born in Fuentes de Cantos and whose admirable work canbe observed in the sacristy of the Monastery ofGuadalupe.

The Baroque artistic newness and some civil, militaryconstructions, all of them with clear mannerism influences,Austria style and the so-called Extremaduran “bajo Barro-co” will be captured in churches, convents and hermitages.Andalusia would be located in the southernmost partwhereas Castilla would do it in the northernmost part ofthe Extremaduran lands.

Moreover, XIX and XX centuries are two centuries withremarked changing features either in a social or politicaland cultural way, which has influenced in the architecton-ical, sculptural and pictorial styles of that time.

Centuries of important, transcendental, agricultural,industrial and social revolutions, some of them as a resultof the French Revolution in 1789, will affect Spain andExtremadura. Unquestionably, these influences would be

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A Zurbarán painting Cathedral of Plasencia

San Bartolomé s church. Jerez de los CaballerosExtremaduran and Latin American Museum of Contemporary Art.MEIAC. Badajoz

previous one: king Alfonso XII ´s abdication, the Civil War,period of military dictatorship, restoration of Monarchyand an important period of political, democratic freedomin the last quarter of this century.

All that will be reflected in the creative, cultural worldin Spain and in Extremadura locally, divided into twoprovinces since the very beginnings of XIX century andwhich will not be set up until 1983.

This XX century will bring Modernism and numer-ous artistic expressions of vanguard, some of themtogether with philosophical, cultural trends that willmark the numerous Extremaduran or foreign painters,sculptors or architects who have developed their work inthis region.

Many cities of Extremadura possess interesting worksdated back to this time, over all in architecture; there are


24

more powerful at the beginning of XIX century, whensome war confrontations took place with the nearbyFrench country in the so-called Independence War.

In addition to that, XIX is a century where the classi-cism inspired in the Greco-Latin world, started in the pre-vious century, will triumph and will appear in Extremadu-ra after a while, as well as it had happened before with oth-er artistic trends, a question that occurred in the middle ofXIX century.

This XIX century will have important, revolutionarypolitical changes: Fernando VII´s return, his daughterIsabel II coming to the throne and civil wars between herfollowers and Carlists, expulsion of the queen, Amadeo ofSaboya was proclaimed king, instauration of the FirstRepublic, loss of the last American colonies, etc.

Furthermore, XX century will be as changing as the

Vostell Museum. Malpartida de Cáceres

several regions proud of the avantguard works of the engi-neers, sculptors or architects who have inspired byExtremadura or part of Extremadura in the carrying out ofa decorative, functional or practical work.

Nonetheless, there are lots of architects and engineers,together with painters or sculptors, who have lived underthe inspiration by Extremadura, still coming from otherlatitudes of the world, such as Vostell, whose Museumlocated in Malpartida de Cáceres causes an unquestion-able, international admiration.

In Museums such as the Extremaduran and Latin-American Museum of Contemporary Art (MEIAC) andthose of Fine Arts and Casa de los Caballos in Cáceres, thevisitant can have a magnificent, wide view of theExtremaduran and avant – garde art of the last few cen-turies, with artist of international fame whose works of

arts are on display in their rooms and stand together withother foreign works of great prestige.

They are worth mentioning the original, attractiveEthnographic Museums standing in numerousExtremaduran nucleus, with obvious examples of a legacyadmired more and more, either among the Extremaduranvisitants or among those coming from other Spanishregions and who really appreciate the cultural, anthropo-logical value of these works, some of them with thousandsof didactic pieces on display in rooms that were formercastles, feudal houses, farming houses or avantgardebuildings in ancient times created for that.

Those situated in the localities of Olivenza, Don Beni-to, Plasencia and Huerta de Ánimas, in addition to theones in Trujillo, stand out among all of them.

25


27

3NATURAL SPACES

Extremadura is one of those rare places in Europewhere it is still possible to maintain a close relations-hip with nature at its purest on a daily basis. Its socio-demographic oddities, such as its low populationdensity or the traditional sustainable exploitation ofthe resources of the pastures, have enabled the regionto enter the 21st Century with an excellently preser-ved environmental heritage.

The biodiversity of Extremadura is surprising.The huge variety of ecosystems and landscape, fromthe mediterranean to deciduous forests, from semisteppe conditions to some of the greatest wetlands onthe European continent, today offer habitat and insome cases a last/final/remote refuge to numerousspecies of flora and fauna. It is for this reason thatalmost 30% of the region’s land is under some sort ofenvironmental protection scheme.

E

LOCATIONThe Monfragüe National Park takes up an area of

17852 hectares and its boundaries coincide with those ofthe Special Protection Area which has the same name. Thisprotected area spreads out from both sides of the Tajo riv-er, with the mouth and a valuable stretch of the Tiétar riv-er being included. With a privileged location, it borders onthe South of the natural region of Campo Arañuelo. Themountain ranges of this area form an arch which is thebackbone of the union between Las Villuercas and themountains which surround the fertile lowland of theAlagón River, thus acting as an ecological corridor.

RECOMMENDATIONSFOR VISITS

Any visit to Monfragüe must be initiated in the VisitorCentre, where we can gather information about routes,itineraries and activities as well as useful and accurateinformation.

As regards numerous groups of visitors, it is recom-mendable to previously make an appointment by callingthe National Park’s information number and pointing outthe type of activity to be carried out.

Due to the importance of the species that exist in thearea and their sensitivity to nuisance, visitors cannot takeroutes or itineraries other than those indicated by the StateEnvironment Office. Besides, camping is not allowed inthis area. In fact, there is a camping site near Villareal, bythe Cáceres-Trujillo road. Nonetheless, the stay at the hutsin Villareal is only for those groups which are to carry outan environmental education project after applying for it tothe National Park’s Management. It is recommendable tovisit it in spring, autumn and winter.


28

Declared Nature Reserve in 1979, it was the first pro-tected area. This urgent declaration was motivated by theserious threats that, at that time, meant a great danger forthe place which was already regarded as one of the mostvaluable enclaves in the Iberian Peninsula.

The construction of large dams in the Tajo and Tiétarrivers, with the subsequent destruction of all the plant lifeof their groves and their banks, as well as the massivereforestations with eucalypts in the 70s, threatened theconservation of the main protecting area for the variousendangered species and one of the most well-preservedarea of Mediterranean flora.

THE MONFRAGÜE NATIONAL PARK3.1

TORIL

29


View of the river Rajo

Raise to the Castle

Deer in the pasture

For nearly two millenniums the Cornalvo Roman Damcontinues to provide water to various towns. From a bird’seye view, it looks like a horn/antler: “cornus albus”, whitehorn…hence Cornalvo. Named a national monument in1912, the dam is constructed from blocks of stone that, inline with the gradient, divide the waters of the Las Muelasreservoir. The economic strength of the area was and con-tinues to be cattle exploitation. Within the area variousfarmhouses have been constructed including one belon-ging to the Count of Campomanes (18th Century), thegrandest of them all. Carlos III handed over the land for itsdevelopment and improvement and in 1795 Carlos IV sta-yed here during is journey to Badajoz.

LOCATIONThe Cornalvo Natural Park is approximately located in

the geographical centre of Extremadura, in Vegas del Gua-diana. It can be regarded as the vertex of two mountainousformations that meet at this peculiar enclave. On one hand,the mountainous alignments of Sierra de San Pedro; and onthe other hand , Sierras de Montanchez, a prolongation ofthe great mountain mass, thus being the last mountain bar-rier before crossing the valley of Guadiana.

Besides, the municipal terms of Mérida, Aljucén,Mirandilla, San Pedro de Mérida and Guareña are partlyincluded in its extension of 10,500 hectares. The locality ofTrujillanos, despite the fact of being the traditionalentrance to the Park, is not included inside the limits , butit possesses the magnificent Interpretation Centre.


Any visit to the park must be initiated in the InterpretationCentre, where some information about the most convenientitineraries and other recommendations will be offered. Op-


30

THE CORNALVO NATURAL PARK3.2

The uniformity of the landscape is the most significantfeature of Cornalvo. The raised area is almost completelydominated by flat granite pastures, and the spurs thatemerge from the sierras do not even reach 550m in height,for example, Sierra Bermeja and Sierra del Moro. This uni-formity is not altered by the presence of the berrocal,neatly integrated into the gentle undulating landscapewhich, together with the waterfalls and potholes of the LasMuelas creek, “El Rugidero”, reveal the interesting geo-morphologic features.

posite the Interpretation Centre, in the dehesa where SanIsidro´s hermitage is located, we can find a marvellous rest-ing area with big tables for large groups of visitants.

Most part of the routes of the Nature Reserve passthrough exploitations dedicated to the extensive cattle farm-ing, that it the reason why we must be careful and close all thedoors and railings in order to avoid problems with the animals.

Furthermore, it is not allowed to have a bath in the

reservoir of Cornalvo because of being a dam of drinkingwater supply.

It is recommended the visit to the spot of Berrocal delRugidero after autumn to spring rain, when the low ofArroyo de las Muelas is higher and the sound of the waterin the holes of the granite is more spectacular. When therocks of granite are damp, you should be careful whenwalking over them due to the risk of falling down.

31


Aerial view of the reservoir Cornalvo

Cork

LOCATIONThe Cedillo-Tajo Internacional Natural Park is located

to the West of the province of Cáceres, bordering on Portu-gal. The boundaries of this area are parallel to the Tajo andSever Rivers, occupying a narrow strip of land whichincludes all the limits of their courses, except for the laststretch of the Tajo River, where limits widen and spreadout throughout the dehesas and slopes that fall towardsthe Sever, thus taking up the whole of Cedillo municipaldistrict.

The Natural Park is in contact with the protected areaof Portugal, where the Tajo River is regarded as a NatureReserve. In Extremadura, This Natural Park borders on theSpecial Area of Conservation known as “Sierra de SanPedro” as well as on the Sites of Community Importanceknown as “Río Erjas”, “Llanos de Brozas”, “Rivera deAurela” and “Riveras de Carbajo y Calatrucha”, thusrevealing the significance of the nature values that exist inthis privileged corner of the region.

Because of its flatness, the Natural Park of Cedillo-TajoInternacional only takes up 13263 hectares, which spreadthroughout the municipal districts of Cedillo, Herrera deAlcántara, Santiago de Alcántara, Valencia de Alcántara,Carbajo, Membrío and Alcántara.


Sailing in this reservoir is only possible between the 1stof January and the 31st of July, a measure that was takenespecially with a view to protecting the birds that nest bybanks, since they are very sensitive to the presence ofhuman beings.

The use of motorboats or boats without a motorrequires permission by the State Environment Office.


32

By virtue of the Wild Birds Directive (79/409/ECC),this valuable cross-border zone was declared a Special Pro-tection Area in 2000 by Decree 232/2000, by means ofwhich new areas were declared Special Protection Areas inExtremadura.

In 2006, this place has been declared as Natural Park.

SPA CEDILLO - TAJO INTERNACIONAL3.3

CEDILLO HERRERA DEALCÁNTARA

ALCÁNTARA

SANTIAGO DEALCÁNTARA

CARBAJO

MEMBRÍO

SALORINO

VALENCIA DEALCÁNTARA

ESPAÑA

PORTUGAL

RÍO TAJO

RÍO SALOR

SIERRA DE SAN PEDRO

RÍOALBURREL

RÍO SEVER

It is not allowed to follow routes that are differentfrom those that are recommended, especially nearbanks. Besides, it must be avoided to get near riverbanks especially from February up to June, a period inwhich the most sensitive species (the black stork, theBonelli’s eagle, the Egyptian vulture and the Goldeneagle) nest.

The Roman bridge of Alcántara is a must-see con-struction. This superb bridge was the first that wasbuilt to make it possible to cross the Tajo during anepoch in which its wild waters were not curbed by thereservoirs existing today.

33


Roman bridge of Alcántara

River Tajo

LOCATION

Garganta de los Infiernos Nature Reserve is located inthe region of Valle del Jerte, in the southeast slope of Sier-ra de Gredos. It is regarded as the door of entrance to theAutonomous Region of Extremadura from the province ofÁvila, a real balcony towards the valley that opens to theplain of Cáceres.

The small extension of the Reserve, 6,800 hectares, isdivided into three municipal terms: Tornavacas, Cabezueladel Valle and Jerte.


Due to the fact that the conditions of the mountain arereally hard and the sudden meteorological changes pro-duced that can catch the visitant, it is always recommend-ed to bring warm clothes and protection from the rain.

As regards the difficulty of certain routes, it is conven-ient to ask for information to the staff of the Reserve, whowill advise you about the most appropriate routes for eachgroup according to your preferences.

Many of the species of flora of the Reserve are strictlyprotected due to the fact that they are very scarce, thus it isbanned to recollect any plant.

Los Pilones, the zone which attracts the largest groupsof visitants, is the most vulnerable place due to that. There-fore, it is recommended to be specially careful in order toavoid the rubbish being thrown and help it to keep onbeing a beautiful place where the intensive use by the pub-lic and its conservation are compatible.


34

That is the only one Nature Reserve in the Group ofProtected Areas of Extremadura nowadays. Actually, itwas declared as such in 1994, through a Decree in whichthe precise description of its limits is reflected.

Regarding its nature values, specially the mountainhabitat, the Garganta de los Infiernos Nature Reserveforms part of the Site of Community Importance (LIC), theso-called “Sierra de Gredos and Valle del Jerte”, proposedby the Extremaduran Autonomous Region for it to beincluded in the future “Natura Network 2000”.

The LIC, with over 74,000 hectares of extension,includes the whole mountain mass of Gredos and the mainvalleys.

GARGANTA DE LOS INFIERNOS NATURE RESERVE3.4

35


“Los Pilones”

Griffon vulture

pasture zones and crops, as well as some isolated holm-oak woods, which provide more value to the zone.

The protected area stands totally in the municipal termof Malpartida de Cáceres and takes up 319 hectares.


In the visits to the zone of the granite, you must avoiddisturbing the storks that nest in the rocks, specially dur-ing the period of incubation and when the chickens areyounger, due to the fact that we can motivate the failure inthe reproduction. It is not convenient to approach to thenests where those animals could be incubating.

In the sandy banks, with rushes and grasses, certainbird species usually nest, therefore we must avoidapproaching to the water.

In the period of rain, and early in the morning, thegranite is very slippery and you can take the risk of fallingdown if you are not aware.

Besides, there are a group of guards who will give youinformation about the routes or any aspect of the NaturalMonument. The Vostell-Malpartida Museum, close to thedam of Charca del Barrueco de Abajo, is a must-see loca-tion. It was created in 1976, after the restoration of the for-mer washing place, and most part of the magnificentworks by the German artist Wolf Vostell are kept inside it.Moreover, in the zone of Peñas del Tesoro, some of hissculptures can also be contemplated.

In Malpartida, the Museum dedicated to the contem-porary painter Juan Narbón can be visited.


36

It was the first declared Natural Monument in thewhole region, whose Decree of creation was published in1996. Later, in the Law 8/98 of conservation of the natureand natural areas of Extremadura, it is recognized andintegrated in the Group of Natural Areas of Extremadura.

LOCATIONThe wide plains which spread out in most part of the

lands between Brozas and Trujillo, located on the plain ofCáceres, are surrounded by blocks of granite in someenclaves, but only a few are as spectacular as Los Barrue-cos. The surroundings of the Natural Monument possess

NATURAL MONUMENT OF LOS BARRUECOS3.5

CHARCA DELBARRUECO DE ARRIBA

CHARCA DELBARRUECO DE ABAJO

CHARCA DEFRASCO DÍEZ

PEÑAS DEL TESORO

LA CAÑADA

DEHESA DELAS TRESCIENTAS

MOLINO

MOLINO

MOLINO

MOLINO

MUSEO VOSTELL

CAMINODE ALDEA DEL CANO - TORREORGAZ

CAMINO

DEMONTÁNCHEZFUENTE DE

LOS BURGAÑOS

FUENTE DELA SERRANA

CENTRO DEINTERPRETACIÓN

DE LA NATURALEZA

CARRETERADEL LAVADERO

DE LANAS

37


“Charca del Lavadero”

Stork

Landscape


The whole route must be carried out with a helmet,which is given to the visitants before acceding to the dif-ferent stages. In the narrowest streets, you must avoidcausing crowds. Therefore, you must follow the indica-tions given by the guides who go with the groups and onlythose places where the access is allowed can be visited.

Despite the fact that the conditioning of the minemakes the route be totally safe, the caution is essential inorder to avoid accidents.


38

Declared Natural Monument through a Decree of Jun-ta de Extremadura in 1997 and later recognized as such inthe Law 8/98 of “Conservation of the Nature and NaturalAreas of Extremadura”, thus forming part of the Group ofProtected Areas of Extremadura.

LOCATIONThe Natural Monument of Mine La Jayona is located in

the southeast of the province of Badajoz, almost in the lim-it with the province of Seville.

This protected area includes the surrounding lands ofthe mine and has an extension of 80 hectares, thus beinginside the municipal term of Fuente del Arco.

MINE LA JAYONA3.6

PROVINCIADE BADAJOZ

FUENTE DEL ARCO

MINA DE LA JAYONA

ERMITA DELA VIRGEN

DEL ARA MONUMENTO AFÉLIX RODRÍGUEZDE LA FUENTE

SANTA CRUZCARRACA

LA CAPITANA

SIERRA DE SAN MIGUEL

SIERRA JAYONA

PROVINCIADE SEVILLA

Visit to the mine

39


Inside the mine

“Elanio azul”

region of Tierra de Barros, at the back of the locality of Hor-nachos, and built in one of its slopes, with a privilegedlocation. The central position of the mountainous range inthe region makes its water flow into several rivers, such asMatachel, Guadámez and Palomillas, which rise from therunoffs of these valleys. It borders on the reservoir of LosMolinos and with nearly treeless lands, where dry copsprevail, in the southeast. Nevertheless, in the southwest itslimits are steeper , thus bordering on other mountain for-mations, such as Sierra de Miradera, Sierra del Rincón andSierra de la Pedriza. Moreover, the region of Campiña Sur,with dehesas and extensive dry cultivations, spreads out tothe south.

It is the southernmost part of the central mountainousranges, forming part of a group of mountain relieves thatstarts in Sierra de Arroyo, continue by Sierra de PeñasBlancas and ends in the one of Hornachos, giving a mar-vellous corridor that emerge in the wide surroundingplains.

The protected area has an extension of 12,190 hectares,all of them inside the municipal term of Hornachos.


Camping is not allowed in this place, but visitants canstay at the huts typical from the Recreational Area “LaFuentecita”.

Due to the presence of numerous birds that nest there,it is not recommendable to do the routes which are notsignposted as well as going up to the rocks or going deepinto the slopes without ways.

In the Town hall of Hornachos you can gather infor-mation about routes and activities in addition to othertourist resources.


40

In 1989, after applying the Directive of Birds (79/409/CEE), it is classified as Special Protection Area (ZEPA),thus according to the compulsory European rules.

Later, after publicizing the Law 8/98 of “Conservationof Nature and Natural Areas of Extremadura” is includedin the Group of Protected Areas of Extremadura with thefigure of Special Conservation Area (SCA), having thesame limits as ZEPA.

LOCATIONThe Sierra Grande Special Conservation Area of Hor-

nachos is one of the mountain enclaves that stand in the

SAC AND SPA SIERRA GRANDE DE HORNACHOS3.7

RÍO PALOMILLAS

HORNACHOS

MIRADOR DELA MAGRERA

SIERRA DE

LOS PINOS

SIERRA GRANDESIERRA DE LAMIJAR

CENTRO DERECUPERACIÓN

ADENEX

41


Sierra Grande

Rockrose

LOCATION

The SCA takes up most part of the mountain formationsof Sierra de San Pedro which, together with Sierra de Mon-tanchez and the mountain mass of Villuercas, form the in-verted arch that establishes the dividing line between thebasins of Guadiana and Tajo rivers. The nucleus of this pro-tected area is made up of low-height mountain ranges fac-ing northeast that stand out because of being surrounded bylow height lands, such as Llanos de Olivenza and Cáceres.

The easternmost limit is located in Sierra de Enmedio,in the vicinity of Cordobilla de Lácara, and continue withSierras de los Pajonales, Sierra del Aljibe and Sierra de laUmbría, between the localities of Aliseda, Alburquerque,Herreruela, Salorino and Puebla de Obando. The west lim-it, nearly in the frontier with Portugal, is located in Sierrade Santiago, in Santiago de Alcántara. The less abrupt zoneof the area stands in the southwest meeting the dehesasover lands of the valley of Río Zapatón and of the reservoirof Peña del Águila, in Villar del Rey.

It is one of the protected areas with most extension andthe 115,032 hectares are divided into the municipal termsof Badajoz, Villar del Rey, Alburquerque, San Vicente deAlcántara, Valencia de Alcántara, Santiago de Alcántara,Salorino, Herreruela and Aliseda.


It is necessary that the visitant only use the recom-mended routes or those which are signposted, not ventur-ing by ways or paths due to the presence of numerousnests of protected species. The success in the reproductionof these birds depends on the calmness and lack of nui-sances, as involuntary, irreparable damages can be caused.The access to the private states needs a previous permis-sion of the owners.


42



SCA AND SPA SIERRA DE SAN PEDRO3.8

CÁCERES

MALPARTIDADE CÁCERES

ARROYODE LA LUZ

ALISEDAHERRERUELA

SALORINO

MEMBRÍO

VALENCIA DEALCÁNTARA

LOS LAPONES

SAN VICENTEDE ALCÁNTARA

ALBURQUERQUE

VILLAR DEL REY

PIEDRABUENA

CASTILLODE MAYORGA

CASTILLODE AZUGALA

PUEBLA DEOBANDO CORDOBILLA

DE LÁCARA

SIERRA

DE SAN PEDRO

PALOMASSALTILLO

EMBALSE PEÑADEL ÁGUILA

RÍO DELGAVILÁN

The importance of the hunting activity in the zone,especially of the hunting of deer and wild boar, make nec-essary to be extremely careful in the months betweenNovember and January in order to avoid getting surprisedwhile doing the route in a hunting day. Nonetheless, theways or accesses to the states are usually signposted onhunting days.

The visit to Sierra de San Pedro is recommended in anyseason of the year. In September it is especially spectacularthe rut of the deers and in winter, from the highest pointsand at dusk, you can contemplate the big flocks of dovesflying towards the sleeping places.

43


Eagle

Acorns Dolmen of Valencia de Alcántara

CASTILLEJO

CASARDE CÁCERES

ATALAYÓN

TARRAQUERRA

EL MATO

PIE DE VILLA

SANTA MARTADE MAGASCA

CÁCERES

ALDEAMORET SIERRA

DE FUENTESERMITA DESTA. LUCÍA

VIRGEN DELA MONTAÑA

EMBALSEDEL GALLO

TORREORGAZ

TORREQUEMADA

TORREMOCHABOTIJA

PLASENZUELA

VALDESALOR

ALDEA DEL CANO

ERMITA DESTA. EULALIA

ERMITA

EMBALSE DEVALDESALOR

EMBALSE DEALCÁNTARA II

EMBALSE DEGUADILOBA

LOCATION

It is a wide area of plains that spreads out from Brozasto Trujillo, settled on the plain of Cáceres and surroundedby the mountain formations of Sierra de San Pedro, natu-ral closing of Los Llanos. To the north, Almonte and Tajorivers stand in the foothills of the mountain ranges that risein Gredos and Villuercas, thus giving way to less abruptlands. Sierra de Fuentes is the main mountain formation inthe plain and stands out as a big isle immersed in the pas-ture lands. In the middle of Los Llanos, the peculiar drag-on-shaped reservoir of Guadiloba stands out.

The protected area possesses the best zones for birdsbut mostly limited by the banks of Tamuja and Almonterivers.

The area of Special protection area has over 70,000hectares belonging to the municipal terms of Cáceres, Sier-ra de Fuentes, Torreorgaz, Torrequemada, Torremocha andAldea del Cano.


It is not recommended to carry out routes other thanthose signposted for it, avoiding to disturb the fauna.

Most part of the private states are dedicated to cattlefarming and the lattice-gates have to be always closed inorder to avoid the animals escaping.

Nonetheless, it is recommended the visit in spring,specially when the rut of the great bustard starts and formsthe famous “ruedas” around the females, showing theirnuptial plumage.

Due to the predominance of the plains and the undu-lations, it is easier to go around this area by bike, even it isrecommended this means of transport for most of theroutes, instead of going by car.


44



Los Llanos de Trujillo and the zone of “CuatroLugares”, located to the north of the area, possess enoughornithological values to be included in ZEPA.

SAC AND SPA LOS LLANOS DE CÁCERES AND SIERRA DE FUENTES3.9

45


“Los Llanos”

LOCATION

The reservoir of Orellana is the biggest in the halfwaythrough the Guadiana river, thus being regulated by thereservoirs of García Sola and Cíjara rivers further up.

La Sierra de Pela is a huge mountainous range-isle inthe middle of a varied landscape of fertile lowlands andplains where the crops that need irrigation, cereal lands,dehesas and thickets mix. Therefore, it is one of theenclaves with most biodiversity in Extremadura. To thesouth, the wide pastures of La Serena enhance the silhou-ette of the mountainous range which rises from the plain.

It has an extension of 42,600 hectares, including themunicipal terms of Orellana la Vieja, Orellana de la Sierra,Acedera, Navalvillar de Pela, Casas de Don Pedro, Talar-rubias, Puebla de Alcocer, Esparragosa de Lares and Cam-panario.


The navigation in the reservoir is limited in somestretches from 1st January to 31st July in order to protectthe birds which nest in the isles, very sensitive to anyhuman presence.

It is recommended not to use other routes apart fromthose suggested, specially in the zones of the mountainousrange. You must avoid going up to the rocky places ofquartzite, specially from January to June, period when themost sensitive species (Black Stork, Spanish ImperialEagle, Egyptian Vulture, Bonelli ´s Eagle) are nesting, inorder not to cause a failure in the reproduction.

Going camping is not allowed in Extremadura. How-ever, there is a big campsite in Puerto Peña.


46



The reservoir of Orellana, completely included in theprotected area, is the only one humid zone of Extremadu-ra which belongs to a list of wetlands of internationalimportance established in the Agreement of Ramsar, inaddition to other well-known places such as Las Tablas deDaimiel, Doñana or Delta del Ebro.

SAC AND SPA EMBALSE DE ORELLANA AND SIERRA DE SAN PEDRO3.10

EMBALSE DE ORELLANA

NAVALVILLARDE PELA

ORELLANADE LA SIERRA

ORELLANALA VIEJA

PUEBLADE ALCOCER

ESPARRAGOSADE LARES

TALARRUBIAS

CASAS DEDON PEDRO

LA CIMURGA

OBSERVATORIO

OBSERVATORIOPUERTO PEÑA

CAMPING

CASTILLO DELA PUEBLA

PEÑÓN DELMORRÓN

OBSERVATORIOPRIMILLAS

PEDRIZA VIEJAACEDERA

47


Puerto Peña

Cheese “D.O. La Serena”

Reservoir of Orellana

Canchos de Ramiro


48

Other interesting open spaces in our region are theSpecial Protection Areas of La Serena, Dehesas de Jerez,Puerto Peña-Los Golondrinos, Villuercas-Los Ibores,Canchos de Ramiro, Sierra de Siruela, Sierra de LaMoraleja, Cuevas de Castañar de Ibor and Cuevas deFuentes de León.

There are attractive visits to some of the trees declaredas Singular Trees in Extremadura, such as the holm oaks ofLa Terrona, near Zarza de Montánchez, or La Marquesa,close to Talayuela and Navalmoral de la Mata, the Robledel Acarreadero, between Cabezabellosa and El Torno,and the Enebro de las Mestas, in this locality from LasHurdes. This region also offers the possibility of visitingTejos del Cerejal. In Valle del Ambroz, we can also visitthe chestnuts of El Temblar and Corbiche, close to Segurade Toros and Casas del Monte, respectively, as well as theAlcornoque de la Fresneda, in the surroundings ofAldeanueva del Camino.

There are certain places that are perfect to observe birdslike cranes. Some of these places are the Moheda Alta Con-servation and Leisure Surrounding Reserve Park, which isnear Navalvillar de Pela and Obando, without forgetting thesingular Ecological Biodiversity Corridor of the Aclar-rache River, located in the lands of Barcarrota, Salvaleónand in the South of Villanueva del Fresno.

OTHER OPEN SPACES3.11

49


“La Terrona” Holm-Oak Villuercas Caves in Castañar de Ibor

Los Ibores

Alcarrache river

“Dehesas de Jerez”

“La Marquesa” Holm-Oak

51

4REGIONS AND CITIES

Provincial Capital

Autonomus Capital

Localities with a population over 20.000 h.

Localities with a population from 5.000 a 20.000 h.

Localities with a population from 1.000 a 5.000 h.

Localities with a population under de 1.000 h.

Carriageways

National roads

Other roads

FRegional Tourist Interest Festivity

MMuseum

Protected Zone Z P

Natural monument M N

Singular tree A S

Vía de La Plata

USED SYMBOLS

MAArchaelogical monument

PBridge of interest

iTourist Information

CHArtistic-Historical Group

CCathedral

IReligious monument

MCivil o Military monument

AAqueduct

MRRoman monument

Spa B

ParadorP

Rural AccommodationAR

Hospice of Extremadura H

Camping C

GGolf

Private Hunting Reserve - Private Fishing Reserve CP

4.1

4.2

4.3

4.4

4.5

4.7

4.10

4.8

4.9

4.6

SIERRA DE GATA / HURDES / CÁPARRA

VALLE DEL AMBROZ / VALLE DEL JERTE / LA VERA

PLASENCIA / MONFRAGÜE / CAMPO ARAÑUELO

VILLUERCAS / JARA / IBORES

CÁCERES / TRUJILLO-MIAJADAS / MONTÁNCHEZ-TAMUJA

SIERRA DE SAN PEDRO-LOS BALDÍOS / TAJO-SALOR-ALMONTE / VALLE DEL ALAGÓN

LA SIBERIA / LA SERENA / VEGAS ALTAS DEL GUADIANA

CAMPIÑA SUR / TENTUDÍA / JEREZ-SIERRA SUROESTE

OLIVENZA/BADAJOZ / COMARCA DE LÁCARA / MÉRIDA

SIERRA GRANDE-TIERRA DE BARROS / ZAFRA-RÍO BODIÓN

4.1

4.2

4.3

4.4

4.5

4.6

4.7

4.8

4.9

4.10

REGIONS

EX-2

04

EX-204

EX-205

EX-1

08


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These regions from the North of Extremadura are placed in the westernmostpart of this autonomous region. They border on the province of Salamanca andthe neighbouring lands of Portugal. Two distinguishing orographical aspectscharacterise these lands, namely the mountain ranges of Sierra de Gata andHurdes and the dehesas and plains of Trasierra-Tierras de Granadilla.

There are two ways of accessing this northern part of the region. One ofthem is the Ex-109, which originates in the carriageway A-66 not far fromCáceres and crosses Sierra de Gata from the South to the North, going throughCoria. It is in this city that the Ex-204 originates. It runs as a main road throughthe region of Las Hurdes to Ríomalo de Abajo.

SIERRA DE GATA / HURDES / TRASIERRA (CÁPARRA)4.1

55


Cilleros (Sierra de Gata)

La Fragosa (Hurdes)

Roman arch of Cáparra

Other must-see places are the Ethnographic Museumof Cilleros, the Hurdes Documentation Museum inPinofranqueado, the Gabriel y Galán Museum in Guijo deGranadilla and the General Interpretation Centre of Víade la Plata in Cáparra. There are many interesting festivi-ties throughout the whole year. For instance, La Enramá,held in Pinofranqueado on the 23rd of August, stands outin Las Hurdes. It was declared Fiesta de Interés TurísticoRegional (Regional Tourist Interest Festivity). As regardsTrasierra-Tierras de Granadilla, the festivity of “Cristu Ben-ditu” is celebrated in Guijo de Granadilla and another fes-tivity of this region, known as Fiesta Mayor de la comarca,is held on the last Saturday in the village of the Gabriel yGalán Reservoir.


56

The other communication route that joins Sierra de Gataand Trasierra-Tierras de Granadilla is the Ex-205, which goesfrom Valverde del Fresno in Sierra de Gata to Zarza deGranadilla, near the N-630 in its last stretch to the North ofExtremadura.

The Roman epoch shows the Roman administration’s in-terest in these regions, which were rich in gold and tin. Theywere an strategic place for one of the most important commu-nication routes in the Roman Spain, namely the Vía de la Pla-ta, which joined Augusta Emérita with the lands of the Northof the Peninsula and which crossed the region of Trasierra-Tier-ras de Granadilla with important centres such as Cáparra.

Regarding gastronomic customs, the geographical situ-ation and historical heritage of this region have given rise toan interesting and rich gastronomy. The natural products fromthe family orchards combine with delicious cold sausages fromthe well-known “pig-killings”, roast meat and kid stew, whichabound in Hurdes and Gata.

The oil from Sierra de Gata and Hurdes has Guaranteeof Origin, which corroborates its delicious taste. Likewise, thetasteful “pitarra” wines from Sierra de Gata, kept in vaults,acquire regional reputation, especially those from Cilleros andRobledillo de Gata. Besides, the honey and pollen from LasHurdes, highly appreciated, should not be forgotten either.In order to get to know the processes of wine or oil produc-tion in depth , it would be worth visiting the Oil and WineRural Museum in San Martín de Trevejo.

There are wonderful examples of folk architecture notonly thanks to original constructions but also thanks to thecare and conservation of many of the nuclei of these areas. Thisis the case of Ríomalo de Arriba, La Fragosa or El Gasco inHurdes. Besides, four localities declared Artistic HistoricalGroups (Conjuntos Históricos Artísticos) stand out in Gata.These localities are Robledillo de Gata, San Martín de Treve-jo, Trevejo and Gata.

Cervigona stream

57


Bobbin lace

Natural Products: jam and honey

Hurdano river (meander)

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VÍA DE LA PLATA


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VALLE DEL AMBROZ / JERTE / LA VERA4.2

59


Around Tornavacas

Panoramic view of Garganta la Olla

Valley of Ambroz. Around Hervas


60

These three regions comprise the northernmost part ofExtremadura. They are crossed by three tributaries of the Tajo,namely the Ambroz, the Jerte and the Tiétar, which watertheir valleys and flow among the rises of Tras la Sierra andTormantos, authentic natural divides with narrow passes.These narrow passes make it possible to go from one regionto another either through the Honduras pass, which joins theJerte region with Ambroz, or through the Piornal pass, in or-der to go from the Jerte area to La Vera.

We can access these regions from Plasencia eitherthrough the dual carriageway A-66 and N-630 road, theN-110 or the Ex-203 (which goes through La Vera to Madri-gal de la Vera). Besides, these three regions have been linkedwith the Madrid-Lisboa A-5 dual carriageway by means ofthe regional one, which joins Plasencia with Navalmoral dela Mata.

The significance of these regions in the Roman epoch issuggested by the itinerary of one of the most important Ro-man means of communication in Hispania, the so-called Víade la Plata, through the region of Valle del Ambroz. This itin-erary went through the province of Lusitania up to the landsof León, with important cities and “mansio” where the usersof this Roman paved road rested in their journey through theWest of the Peninsula.

It was across Tornavacas, the first village in the North ofthe region of Valle del Jerte, that Emperor Carlos V went atthe end of his life seeking for the rest he would eventually findamong the walls of the Monastery of Yuste in Cuacos in theregion of La Vera after several months of stay in Jarandilla.

As a result of its historical heritage and, above all, as aresult of its excellent geographical location, it is not surprisingthat, for several centuries, the gastronomy of the regions ofValle del Ambroz, Valle del Jerte and La Vera has been offeringa peculiar and varied cuisine in which natural products playan important role.

Among the festivities that have been declared as TouristInterest Festivity of Extremadura are El Jarramplas in Pior-nal in January, Carlos V Route in La Vera in February, theOtoño Mágico in Valle del Ambroz in autumn, with inter-esting hiking routes, El Peropalo in Villanueva de la Vera dur-ing Carnival, Los Empalaos in Valverde de la Vera in the HolyWeek, El Cerezo en Flor in Valle del Jerte in spring and LosEscobazos in Jarandilla de la Vera during the night betweenthe 7th and the 8th of December.

61


“Los Pilones”

Carlos V

“Peropalo”, Villanueva de la Vera

Flowering cherry tree

“Empalao”.Valverde de la Vera

ss

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62

The characteristic landscape of these lands irrigated bythe Tajo river and its tributaries Jerte, Amonte and Tiétar isthe dehesa in its best exponent, with wide extensions ofholm oak and cork oak woods, where a very abundant,special fauna coexists. The fluvial thickets formed aroundthe beds of the rivers we named before stand out due to itsoutstanding beauty.

As a result of the excellent weather of these latitudes,you can observe a characteristic flora of the Extremadurandehesa, as well as some other species typical from the

Campo Arañuelo makes up this zone in the east of Ex-tremadura, in the middle of the Monfragüe National Parkand the localities around the carriageway A-66 and N-630road to the west, from Cañaveral to Plasencia, whose routemeets most part of the historical Vía de la Plata.

The most importat communication ways of Ex-tremadura, the dual carriageways A-5 and A-66, that linksthe whole west of Estremadura with Andalusia and Castilla-León, pass by them.

PLASENCIA / MONFRAGÜE / CAMPO ARAÑUELO4.3

63


Panoramic view of the Cathedral of Plasencia

Monfragüe.River Tajo

Campo Arañuelo


64

Mediterranean forest whose biggest exponent can be foundin Monfragüe National Park. It is a real paradise for the na-ture lovers who come around to enjoy observing either thelandscape or the fauna.

Its most important localities are Malpartida de Plasen-cia, Villareal de San Carlos, Monroy, Serradilla, etc.

The gastronomy typical from these localities is veryinfluenced by the local, cattle economy, the secular supportof the villages and dwellers. Moreover, we can clearlyobserve the migrating origins in some dishes made of lambor kid or the famous “migas”. We must bear in mind thatthe Royal cattle tracks of Trujillo, León and of La Plata orVizana cross these latitudes.

Among the festivities hold in this region and declared asTourist Interest Festivity of Extremadura, are the Carnivalin Navalmoral de la Mata (Campo Arañuelo), Martes Mayor,on the first Tuesday of August, and Easter in Plasencia

The reigns of the Austrias and Borbones and the huge in-fluence the lords from Plasencia and bishops of this city hadover the rest of the nearby localities, thus observing impor-tant, religious buildings such as the Cathedral of Plasenciaor palaces and feudal houses as impressive as the Palace ofMirabel or of Monroy.

65


“Martes Mayor”. Plasencia

Castle Belvís de Monroy

Castle Monfragüe

Roast kid

Carnival in Navalmoral de la Mata

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Situated in the easternmost part of theExtremaduran region, Las Villuercas, LaJara and Los Ibores border on Castilla-LaMancha and make up a beautiful range ofgeographic contrasts, where we can find1,200 metres-high mountainous rangesand wide forests with tree species such asoak trees, cork oaks, pines, chestnuts orholm oaks. At the same time, the beautifulvalleys and wide zones of scrubland whe-re real flood of rockroses, heathers andother species stands.

LAS VILLUERCAS / JARA / LOS IBORES4.4

67


Panoramic view of Las Villuercas

Los Ibores

Monastery of Guadalupe


68

The mountainous ranges ordered in northeast andsoutheast direction, Altamira, natural limit with Toledo,Deleitosa, Palomera, Villuercas with Villuercas Peak, thehighest in the zone with 1,689 metres.

The group of roads that exists in the zone makes theaccess to this region easier either from the A-5 dual carria-geway, through Ex-118 that links Navalmoral de la Matawith Guadalupe, crossing Los Ibores and Las Villuercas, orfrom Trujillo through Ex-102 that goes deep into this regionfrom west to east.

It was the place where big flocks of sheeps passed byfor centuries, the famous cattle track of Segovia crosses thisland and will cause the route of some communicationways which even were used in the Middle Ages and laterby the pilgrims who came to the Monastery of Guadalupein order to fulfil the devotion towards the Virgin, whosediscovery and the later construction of the Royal Monas-tery marked, beyond a doubt, the history of this region.

This Royal Monastery is declared World Heritage Siteby UNESCO and we can admire, in addition to the imageof the patron saint of Extremadura, an interesting historic

example of books illustrated with miniatures, paintings,sculptures, embroideries or ceramics that mostly reflect thehistory and art of Extremadura dated back to Middle Agesand the following centuries.

Among the most interesting festivities celebrated in thisregion, the feast of Virgen de Guadalupe on 8th Septemberand Hispanidad in October, both in La Puebla de Guadalu-pe. Hispanidad is declared Extremadura Tourist InterestFestivity. It attracts crowded groups of pilgrims and visi-tants who come to the Royal Monastery of Guadalupe. LasCandelas and Carnival are hold, among other localities, inAlía, Deleitosa, Navezuela, Valdelacasa or Bohonal de Ibor.

The use of the good, natural products of the zone andthe abundance of hunting species have provided a culi-nary fame to the restaurants and cooks of these lands sin-ce ancient times, some of them with a secular tradition anda monastic influence. These lands are also well-known dueto other gastronomic reasons, the delicious chesses fromLos Ibores and the marvellous honey, both with Guaranteeof Origin and Quality.

69


Mudejar cloister of the Monastery of Guadalupe

Crafts in forging

Crafts Rockrose and lavender Architecture

EX-106

EX-102

EX-206

EX-100

EX-100

N-630

A-66

N-521

A-66

A-58


70

CÁCERES / MIAJADAS - TRUJILLO / MONTÁNCHEZ - TAMUJA4.5

The main communication ways are the dual carriage-way A-66, from Alcuescar to Cáceres, the dual carriagewayA-58, from Cáceres to Trujillo and the dual carriagewayA-5, which also crosses these lands from south to north in di-rection towards Madrid from Miajadas to Jaricejo.

The localities situated around the plain of Trujillo andCáceres and the mountainous range of Montanchez, thehighest level of these latitudes, are located in this zone of Ex-tremadura, in the southernmost part of Alta Extremadura.

These localities stand between the geographic verticesthat mark to the north the cities of Cáceres and Trujillo andto the south, Miajadas and the foothills of Sierra de San Pe-dro, in the northernmost part.

At the same time, these wetlands are the favourite placesof numerous migratory birds, such as the great bustards orthe cranes. Therefore, most part of the regions of Miajadas-Trujillo and Montanchez-Tamuja have become ZEPA (Spe-cial Protection Area) with special mention to Llanos deCáceres and Sierra de Fuentes, which even posses a BirdRecuperation centre, very didactic and with the possibilityof being visited.

In such a special forest of holm-oaks, three tree speciesdeclared “Singular trees of Extremadura” stand out. We re-fer to the impressive, centenary Encina Terrona, near Zarzade Montanchez; Encina la Solana or of Sebastián in Valde-fuentes and Encina la Nieta in Torre de Santa María.

The presence of Roma can be found in Norba Caesarinaor Turgalium, the current Cáceres and Trujillo and in someof the localities crossed by Via de la Plata, such as Casas deDon Antonio, Aldea de Cano, with abundant miliariums,bridges and even the discoveries of interesting treasureslike the case of Valdesalor.

71


Cáceres. “Arco de la Estrella” “El Chíviri”. Trujillo

Castle Montánchez


72

Cáceres. Concathedral and Santa María’s square Road roman t

The following centuries left a legacy with the impressiveexample of feudal architecture that can be found in the cen-tre of Cáceres, declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The most famous, typical festivities of these localities areEaster, El Chíviri, hold on Easter Sunday, both in Trujillo,and Easter in Cáceres. All of them are declared ExtremaduraTourist Interest Festivity. They are worth mentioning Car-nival in Montánchez, where the famous Jurromachos standout. An annual event of unquestionable value for the zoneis the Cheese Fair of Trujillo.

Some rests and discoveries dated back to Roman timeare also in Salvatierra de Santiago, Montanchez or Ibaher-nando. In addition to other nearby localities, they were oc-cupied by Visigoths some centuries later, who left beautifulexamples of Hispanic-Visigothic basilicas, such as the one inSanta Lucía del Trampal in Alcuéscar and the one in SantaMaria, dated back to VII century in Ibahernando.

In addition to the Roman culture, the Muslim is themost influential one in the history of the localities in thiszone, with obvious examples in Hizn Qazris and Torrejuela,Moorish names of Cáceres and Trujillo. Montanchez still hasits beautiful castle dated back to this time, as well as Trujillo.

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Stew tench

Basilic of Santa Lucía del Trampal. Alcuéscar

Parochial Church of Santiago in Miajadas

N-521

EX-108

EX-117

EX

-117

EX-110

EX

-110

EX

-110

EX-109

EX-1

17

EX-109

N-6

30

A-6

6


74

VALLE DEL ALAGÓN / TAJO - SALOR - ALMONTE/ SIERRA DE SAN PEDRO - LOS BALDÍOS

4.6

Salor, Almonte and Tajo, before forming theimpressive Alcántara reservoir, and in the south, inSierra de San Pedro and Los Baldíos, we can alsofind a wide range of important nucleus full of his-tory and surrounded by an exceptional nature.

This wide zone takes up most part ofthe west of Extremadura, from the south ofSierra de Gata to the surroundings of thecapital of Badajoz, including most part ofthe frontier localities with the nearby Por-tugal which are located in the so-calledRaya.

As a prolongation of this frontier zone,we can find to the north the localities andlands belonging to Valle del río Alagón, inthe middle those which are watered by

75


Tajo river

Roman bridge of Alcántara

Puerto Cañaveral.Plains of Caceres


76

The main communication ways of this zone are thenational road 521, which links the lands around Valenciade Alcántara with Cáceres, and the Ex-110 and Ex-117,whose routes cover all the west of this zone that borders onPortugal. The Ex-108 and 109 cross Valle del Alagón in thenorth.

There are numerous festivities celebrated all aroundthe year in these localities declared as Tourist Interest Fes-tivity of Extremadura, like San Isidro Labrador y CorpusChristi in Valencia de Alcántara, Dia de la Tenca in theunion Tajo- Salor-Almonte, Los Negritos in Monte-hermoso, Toros de San Juan in Coria, Las Carantoñas inAcehúche, Las Carreras in Arroyo de la Luz and theMedieval Festival in Alburquerque.

It`s very interesting the Theatre Festival hold in Alcán-tara in summer.

The delicious cheeses of Casar de Cáceres, known asTortas which posses Guarantee of origin and Quality arewell-known all around the world.

The tench, very abundant among the ponds of the vil-lages of these regions, have become a very appreciateddish in the region.

Furthermore, there are archaeological vestiges in thesurroundings of localities such as Valencia de Alcántara orSan Vicente de Alcántara, where numerous well sign-post-ed dolmens can be found, or in La Hijadilla, close to theSalor river, in Malpartida de Cáceres or the schematic cavepaintings of Santiago de Alcántara.

The arrival of Roma will influence notably in the westof the peninsula as a result, over all, of the creation ofEmerita Augusta as capital of Lusitania, specially because

of the communication ways built inmost part of the lands and localitiesof these regions from this city, overall with the so-called Via de la Platawhich became in the way of Mozara-bic pilgrimage towards Santiago deCompostela, as years went on, inMiddle Ages.

From this Roman time, we stillconserve some hydraulic works suchas the Roman Bridge of Alcántaraover the Tajo river, defensive con-structions like the wall of the city ofCoria in the riverside of the Alagónriver or villages like the one excavat-ed in the surroundings of Monroy.

“Las Carantoñas” in Acehúche

Treasure of Aliseda

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Typical granitic formations in “Los Barruecos”

Dolmen “La Tapada del Anta”Torta del Casar

Cathedral of Coria

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SIBERIA / LA SERENA / VEGAS ALTAS DEL GUADIANA4.7

Among other regional roads, These regionsare crossed by the the EX-103, EX-A2, dual car-riageway Don Benito-Miajadas, and by the N-430,which runs through Las Vegas del Guadiana fromthe A-5 dual carriageway and reaches La Siberiaonce it has gone through Santa Amalia orNavalvillar de Pela. Its itinerary continues to-wards the lands of Ciudad Real.

La Siberia and La Serena are placed inthe easternmost part of Extremadura. Thisarea has the largest concentration of reser-voirs that hold back the valued water fromthe main river in the province of Badajoz,the Guadiana River. It is around this riverand in an East/West direction that the re-gion of Las Vegas del Guadiana is set.

79


Panoramic view of La SiberiaReservoir of La Serena

Castle and Bridge of Medellin


80

The Vegas del Guadiana areas are also joined by meansof the Ex-105 and the Ex-104, which go across the main nu-clei in this region such as Guareña, Don Benito, Villanuevade la Serena and reach Cabeza del Buey in La Serena andeven the Easternmost part of this region.

These regions that border on Córdoba and Ciudad Realare characterised by eye-catching mountainous areas thatrise over large dehesas, in which the waters from the reser-voirs of El Cíjara, García Sola, Orellana, La Serena and Zú-jar give rise to beautiful landscapes.

We can find some places and corners of great beauty inthe Cíjara Regional Hunting Reserve, in the Peloche moun-tainous region, in the already-mentioned reservoirs of Cí-jara, Orellana, La Serena, Zújar or García Sola and in themountainous regions of Almorchón, la Nava, Benquerencia,Helechal, Peñalsordo or Capilla.

Among the festivities and customs of these regions, whichare not only large but also attractive, the ones that stand outare the celebration of Virgen de Piedraescrita’s day in Cam-

La Mesta Bridge. Villarta de Los Montes

panario, “La Octava del Corpus” in Peñalsordo and “La En-camisá de San Antón” in Navalvillar de Pela, the well-known“Carrerita” in Villanueva de la Serena at Easter, all of whichhave been declared as Tourist Interest Festivity of Ex-tremadura

Likewise, other festivities of religious nature that standout are the celebration of Virgen de Belén’s day in Cabezadel Buey, the festivity of Virgen de Nazaret in Garlitos.

The well-known “tortas de la Serena”, a type of piemade of sheep’s milk, are highly appreciated inside and out-side Extremadura. They have Guarantee of Origin, a dis-tinction that is also attributed to the oil of Monterrubio dela Serena.

The Megalithic age also left its mark, which becomes ev-ident through the presence of dolmens such as the one ofMagacela. Besides, as regards the centuries prior to the Ro-mans’ arrival, there are idols such as the ones found inRena and especially the temple and site of Cancho Roano,close to Zalamea de la Serena. These findings are essentialto get to know this historical period in the Iberian Peninsula.

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“La Octava del Corpus”

Typical landscape of “La Serena”

Cheeses from La Serena

Site in Cancho Roano

EX

-103

EX

-103

EX-1

03

EX

-111

EX-101

N-432

EX-112

N-6

30

N-432

N-435


82

CAMPIÑA SUR / TENTUDÍA / SIERRA SUROESTE4.8

Campiña Sur region from the West to the East going throughimportant localities and the A-66 dual carriageway.

Typically, dehesas prevail in these lands and they aredecked with low hills, except for the Tentudía mountainousregion. The peak which has the same name is 1104 metreshigh, thus becoming the highest rise in Badajoz. This land-scape, not only beautiful but also characteristic of the Ex-tremaduran South, is a peculiar as well as especial habitatfor the Iberian pig, fed with acorns and beechnuts. The Iber-ian pig produces hams and cold sausages which are well-known all over the world.

This Southern area of Extremadura bor-ders on the Andalusian provinces of Cór-doba, Sevilla and Huelva, which are sepa-rated by the Extremaduran Sierra Morena.The lands of the neighbouring region of Por-tuguese Alentejo lie to the West of Sierra SurSuroeste.

There are three main roads to access theseregions, namely the N-435, which joins SierraSur Suroeste with the capital of Badajoz andHuelva, the N-432, which crosses the

83


Sierras del Sur

Monastery of TentudíaSierra Suroeste


84

Such an especial habitat has contributed to the ap-pointment of several areas as Special Protection Areas. Thisis the case of the so-called Dehesas de Jerez or even the dec-laration of the Mina de la Jayona as a Monumento Naturalde Extremadura (Natural Monument of Extremadura) inFuente del Arco and Cuevas de Fuente de León. The naturereserve known as Parque de las Quinientas is an illustrativeexample of the way nature can be shown in a didactic way.

There are many festivities that draw our attention inthese Southern areas of Extremadura. Many of them havebeen declared Fiesta de Interés Turístico Regional de Ex-tremadura. Some examples are the celebration of SanIsidro’s day and La Chanfaina in Fuente de Cantos, Easterin Jerez de los Caballeros, the Living Passion, enacted by theinhabitants of Oliva de la Frontera, Las Capeas in Segura deLeón, Día del Jamón in Monesterio and The MountainRange International Festival in Fregenal de la Sierra.

The gastronomy of this area has become a reference formany of the visitors who come from neighbouring regionsto enjoy the delicious taste of dishes and stews. This hasbeen fostered somehow by the products derived from theIberian pig, internationally well-known, and other prod-ucts generously provided by the land. This is the case ofwild asparaguses or mushrooms.

The history of these lands suggests examples of theMegalithic age as well as examples of human settlements

that had already taken place in the Pre-Roman epoch. Oneof the most illustrative examples is the dolmen of “ElToriñuelo”, located near Jerez de los Caballeros and de-clared Monumento Histórico Artístico Nacional. Likewise,the remains of the village of “Nertobriga”, placed betweenFuentes de León and Fregenal de la Sierra, are worth men-tioning as well.

Apart from the important Roman paved way known asVía de la Plata, which joined Emérita Augusta with Itálica,other roads joined these provinces through Sierra Morena aswell. One of them went across the present-day Campiña Surand reached Córdoba, going through the locality of Regina,in the surroundings of Casas Reina. It was close to this localitythat an important Roman theatre was built. This theatre, whichhad room for 1000 spectators, has been recently restored.

In the course of the centuries, many religious construc-tions have been built in the Mudejar, Gothic, Renaissance orBaroque styles in these regions. Some examples are the Con-ventual construction of Calera de León, the Sanctuary ofSanta María de Tentudía, the churches and towers of Jerezde los Caballeros, the church of Nuestra Señora de laGranada in Llerena, Nuestra Señora de la Consolación’parish church in Azuaga or Purísima Concepción’s churchin Granja de Torrehermosa. In addition, the ceramics andpottery from Salvatierra de los Barros are wonderful.

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Conventual in Calera de León

Products made of pork

Roman Theatre of Regina

Baroque tower of the church of

San Bartolomé

EX-100

EX

-110

EX

-107 EX-105

EX-107

EX-112

A-66

A-5

N-432N

-435

N-V

A-6

6


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LLANOS DE OLIVENZA / BADAJOZ / LÁCARA - MÉRIDA4.9

The main communication ways to accede tothese localities are the dual carriageway A-5. thatlinks the autonomous capital, Mérida, with Bada-joz, from which the Ex-107 road rises and goes fromthe zone of llanos de Olivenza to Villanueva delFresno in the limits with Portugal.

This zone of Extremadura is made up of the localitiesaround Olivenza and Badajoz, some of them bordering onthe nearby Portugal and forming part of the so-calledRaya in the southernmost part, as well as the locali-ties which belong to the region of Lácara and someothers close to Mérida and watered by theAljucén, Lácara rivers and over all by Guadi-ana river, in its last part in lands of Bada-joz, from Mérida to Badajoz.

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Mountain landscape of “la raya”, near Táliga

Cultivation of sunflower

Puerta Palmas(Badajoz)


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tridge stews are made thanks to the abundant hunting inthese lands. The “tecula macula” from Olivenza hasbecome a sweet emblem for the whole region.

The Iberian pig takes up most part of these regions,providing magnificent hams, cold meat and pork togetherwith the typical “gazpachos”, “salmorejos de boga”,scrambled eggs with wild asparagus or the appreciatedExtremaduran “migas”.

There are numerous pre historical sites that demon-strate the settlement of the human being, either in highlands and mountainous ranges and in the refuges ofArroyo de San Serván or in the abundant megalithic buri-als, like the case of the dolmen of Lácara between La Navade Santiago and Aljucén.

The arrival of Roma in the Peninsula would mean aradical change for all these Extremaduran localities, in avery special way the case of Mérida, turned into the cap-ital of the Roman province of the Lusitania from whichits domination will radiate to the localities which belongto these regions, thus building the most important com-munication ways for that, like the case of the mostimportant one in the west of Extremadura, the Via de laPlata, which will link it with the north and south of theIberian peninsula.

The most impressive, civil, religious, military orhydraulic Roman works date back to this time, one of themost important Archaeological Groups of the Romanworld. Therefore, it was declared World Heritage Site byUNESCO.

With the Muslim invasion, Badajoz would become onof the main nucleus of Moorish domination in these lands,a situation which will last even after the fall of theCaliphate of Cordoba, when the capital of Badajoz, found-ed in 875 by Ibn Marwan, will turn into an independentreign of Taifa until the arrival of Almoravids.

To the north, between Los Llanos de Olivenza andBadajoz, the Guadiana river is the main character andfunctions as a natural, hydraulic frontier close to thisstrategic city, a door and a link between Extremadura andPortugal. Olivenza is a special case, a real Extremaduranmuseum of Portuguese manueline art. Some of these local-ities such as Villanueva del Fresno, Táliga, Alconchel oCheles also possess magnificent examples of works of artwhere the Portuguese influence can be clearly observed.

Parallel to A-5 dual carriageway, to the east of Méridaand near it, the Cornalvo Nature Park is located, with anextension of 11,600 hectares, between the fertile lowlandsof the Guadiana river, the foothills of Sierra de San Pedro,Sierra de Montanchez and crossed by the route of Via de laPlata. This Reserve has a charming, didactic InterpretationCentre dedicated to the water and a beautiful, Mediter-ranean forest.

Parallel to A-5 carriageway, the road that crosses mostpart of the riverside localities to Guadiana river, also linksBadajoz with Mérida. From it, you can accede to the local-ities belonging to the region of Lácara, through Ex 100 andother regional roads.

Among the festivities hold in these localities, they areworth mentioning Easter and Carnival in Badajoz, Easterin Merida, all of them declared Regional and NationalTourist Interest Festivities. It is very interesting Easter inOlivenza, delcared Tourist Interest Festivity of Extremadu-ra. It is famous around the world the International Festivalof Classical Theatre, whixh is hold every summer in theRoman Theatre o Mérida.

The gastronomy, in such an extensive zone like that,offers the visitant an interesting culinary variety and qual-ity, with excellent stews and dishes whose main ingredientis the lamb, to cook the famous stew known as “caldereta”,among others. Moreover, exquisite hare, rabbit or par-

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Roman bridge over Guadiana river. Mérida

Products from the vegetable garden

Carnival in Badajoz

Inside La Magdalena s church. Olivenza

EX-105

EX-105R

EX-105

EX-101

EX-112

N-432

N-6

30


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TIERRA DE BARROS / SIERRA GRANDE / ZAFRA - RÍO BODIÓN4.10

riageway that meets in some parts of it the his-torical route of the former Roman paved road ofVia de la Plata that liked Emerita Augusta, thecurrent Mérida, with Hispalis, the current Seville.

These regions are located in the heart ofthe Extremaduran province of Badajoz,crossed from north to south by the A-66,dual carriageway, and turned into a car-

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Puebla del Prior

Tierra de Barros

Feria


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esting colonies of monk vultures nest. Therefore, we can findthe favourite and protected place for birds in the ZEPASierra Grande of Hornachos, a real paradise for the or-nithology ´s lovers with an exceptional landscape.

Beyond a doubt, during the Roman domination these re-gions will have the highest historical flowering and mean-ing, whose lands would belong then either to the Romanprovince of the Lusitania or the Bética, both of them linkedwith each other by the important Roman paved road of theso-called Via de la Plata.

This important paved road passes through ContributaIulia Ugulyuniacum, the current Medina de las Torres;Restituta Iulia Imperial, the current Zafra; Segeda Au-gurian, Los Santos de Maimona; or the Roman “mansio” ofPerceina in Villafranca de los Barros, among other importantRoman centres.

Numerous villages and valuable discoveries date backto this time, standing out the beautiful Spa of Alange, a mar-vellous thermal place that, together with the Spa of El Ra-poso, which stands close to Puebla de Sancho Pérez, showthe magnificent health tourist offered in the zone.

The access to these regions has as main route the old, Ro-man itinerary of Via de la Plata, the N-630 which links An-dalusia with these Extremaduran regions in its way towardsMérida, turned into a carriageway A-66 today when passingthrough these localities and that links with the A-5, theMadrid- Lisbon carriageway, in Mérida. Other main road isthe N-432 that links the capital Badajoz with Zafra and passesthrough the regions of Tierra de Barros and Zafra-Río Bodión.

Grapevines and olive trees are the base of the main in-dustries, and in the case of Tierra de Barros, the fact of be-ing regarded as one of the most important wine lands of Ex-tremadura and the Iberian Peninsula, without forgettingabout the very common oil in these regions, appreciated dueto its excellent quality and the neatly done production.

As regards its gastronomy, mostly based in some of themain agricultural and cattle products, the abundant andesteemed hunting and the Iberian pig breeding, some au-tochthonous dishes such as the the “migas”, the ratatoulle,the lamb stew, the cheap stew, the hare, rabbit or partridgestews and over all, the excellent hams, cold meat and porkare well-known.

The virgin olive oil from these regions is really appreciateddue to its flavour and quality, as well as the excellent wineswith Guarantee of Origin and Quality Ribera del Guadiana.Furthermore, there are abundant wineries in the localitieswhere very appreciated spirits and aniseeds are also made.

The most important festivities are The commemoration ofthe Albuera Battle, in this locality of Badajoz, Las Candelasin Almendralejo, La Vendimia in Villafranca de los Barros, DeLa Luna al Fuego in Zafra and Cruz de Mayo in Feria, all ofthem declared as Tourist Interest Festivity of Extremadura.

When talking about the history of these regions, theabundance of the schematic, cave paintings in Hornachos,Alanage, La Zarza and Oliva de Mérida really stand out. Itis in these places where numerous birds of prey and inter-

“Salón del Vino”. Almendralejo

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Traditional pottery

Oil

“Rincón de la Cruz”.Feria

“Plaza Grande”. Zafra

ss

s

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5OTHER ASPECTS


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TOURIST ROUTES5.1

Visitors who wish to get to know Extremadura in greaterdepth as well as calmly enjoy their stay here have a great dealof possibilities at their disposal. Most of such possibilities areclosely connected with routes that pass through natural spots,localities, cities or well-signposted historical places, which arenot lacking in interesting local indications about the place thatis being visited or important tourist information pointsamong those which abound in this region with this aim.

The Vía de la Plata Route coincides with the historicalitinerary of the Roman paved road, which was built with aview to linking the lands of the Roman province of La Lusi-tania with those in the North and South of the Peninsula,reaching even the lands of Andalusia and Castilla-León.

In the course of 300 kilometres from Monesterio to Bañosde Montemayor, the visitor has the opportunity of travelling

across the same path followed by Roman troops and mer-chants. It would eventually be used as the Mozarabic Routetowards Santiago Apóstol’s tomb as an alternative to theFrench Route, which goes through the North of the Peninsula.

Monesterio, Fuente de Cantos, Zafra, Almendralejo,Mérida, Cáceres, Malpartida de Cáceres, Cañaveral, Plasen-cia, Cáparra, Aldeanueva del Camino or Baños de Mon-temayor are some examples of historical places and locali-ties crossed by this Roman itinerary, which is rich inarchaeological findings that are well-preserved in manystretches and always crossing admirable landscapes.

Besides, pilgrims’ hostels, interpretation centres andhistorical places of great importance are not missing eitherin this route. They suggest the presence of ancient mansiosor resting places already in the Roman epoch as well as mile-

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Trecking in Valle del Jerte Via de la Plata. Roman arch of Cáparra

t

Valle del Jerte region, through paths at a medium altitude,to the region of La Vera, where there are beautiful land-scapes, a superb folk architecture and an incredible artistichistorical heritage.

The World Her-itage Site Route, anunbelievable artistichistorical and cultur-al triangle consistingof the localities ofCáceres, Guadalupeand Mérida, makesit possible for us toget to know one ofthe most well-pre-served ancient cen-tral area of a town inEurope, namely thatof Cáceres, as well asthe Royal Monasteryof Guadalupe, an au-thentic museumamong museums,and Mérida, with anarchaeological groupfrom the Romanepoch, regarded asone of the best-pre-served from the Ro-man world.

Three cultural centres of great historical and artisticvalue have been brilliantly preserved, thus giving rise to thepleasure of visitors, who love the history and culture of theIberian Peninsula in the last millenniums: Cáceres,Guadalupe and Mérida.


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stones, funereal monuments, bridges and other hydraulicconstructions, without forgetting to mention the importantartistic historical heritage from the Roman age and subse-quent ages. Such heritage is present in cities such as Méridaor Cáceres, declaredWorld Heritage Sitesby UNESCO.

The Route ofCarlos V, declaredTourist Interest Fes-tivity of Extremadu-ra, is an impresiveitinerary which linkssome lands fromValle del Jerte withLa Vera throughmountainous regionsand ancient historicalpaths. It was thisarea that was crossedby Emperor CarlosV several monthsprior to his death inmid-sixteenth centu-ry while seeking forthe Monastery ofYuste in order to restand await his deathin the calm of an em-blematic spot.

Tornavacas, Guijo de Santa Bárbara, Jarandilla de laVera, Aldeanueva de la Vera and Cuacos de Yuste are someof the localities crossed by this route. Such a route is annu-ally followed by thousands of hikers who surmount thedifficulties present in this itinerary that takes them from the

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Trecking by MonfragüeNational Park

Carlos V s route

t

“Templo de Diana”. Mérida “Plaza de San Jorge”. Cáceres

ings. Besides, it is surprising how its ancient districts havebeen conserved. Most of them were built from the 15th cen-tury on, in line with its Roman and Moorish past. In fact, for-tified walls and singular constructions, which date from theseages, are still preserved.

The royal Monastery of Guadalupe, in La Puebla deGuadalupe, is beyond doubt the masterpiece of the Mude-


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As regards Mérida, the visitor will take delight in watch-ing a large part of the great Roman heritage preserved in thislocality, by visiting the theatre, the amphitheatre, the circus, tem-ples, bridges or museums, all of which suggest Roma’s sig-nificant presence in the capital of the province of La Lusitania.

In Cáceres there is a historical centre that is unique inSpain. There are impressive civil, military and religious build-

jar Gothic style in Extremadura. Visitors are amazed by itsbeauty and its Museums, which hold embroideries, illumi-nated books, pictorial works such as those painted by the dis-tinguished Extremaduran painter Zurbarán, sculptures andother artistic jewels. All of them are kept inside a Monasterywhere the image of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, the pa-tron saint of Extremadura and of great religious influence inAmérica, is venerated.

Besides, there are other interesting itineraries that areworth mentioning. Some of them are the DescubridoresRoute, which goes through those localities closely connect-ed with the Extremaduran people who were involved in theAmerican adventure of the 15th and 16th centuries, or the Em-balses Route, which contributes to visitors’ acquaintance withthe thousands of kilometres of fresh-water rivers thanks toits reservoirs, authentic sport and faunal paradises.

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Reservoir of OrellanaMajor altarpiece of Monastery of Guadalupe


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FESTIVITIES AND FESTIVALS5.2

They are worth mentioning the Tourist Interest Fes-tivities of Extremadura, popular festivities, some of themof ancient origins, which are hold in different localities ofExtremadura and are recognized, appreciated anddeclared as such by Dirección General de Turismo ofGobierno de Extremadura due to the marvellous touristattraction.

Among the attractions offered by these feast, we canfind the crowded attendance of visitants, the originality ofthe so-called feasts and the direct participation of the peo-

ple in them, either the dwellers or the foreign people whovisit these places of Extremadura.

During all the seasons of the year, we will find festivi-ties with this regional recognition. most part of the feastsdeclared of Tourist Interest of Extremadura are celebratedin winter and summer.

The year begins with three festivities in differentplaces: El Jarramplas in Piornal, La Encamisá or Carrerade san Antón in Navalvillar de Pela and Las Carantoñas inAcehúche.

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Semana Santa. Cáceres

“Los Empalos”. Valverde de la Vera

“El Peropalo”. Villanueva de la Vera

t

June first Valencia de Alcántara celebrates El Corpus Christi,Coria El Toro de San Juan, aproximately on al 21st june, andZafra its feast De la Luna al Fuego.

On the first Tuesday in August Plasencia offers its MartesMayor. In the same month wecan know the feast of La Tenca inTajo- Salor, La Enramá inPinofranqueado, el Festival de LaSierra in Fregenal, The FestivalMedieval de Alburquerque andZalamea de la Serena presents tous “El Alcalde de Zalamea”,whereas in September Segurade León celebrates Las Capeas,Monesterio El Día del Jamón,Villafranca de los Barros LaVendimia y la tradicional Velá dela Virgen Coronada and in Oc-tober we can admire inGuadalupe la Hispanidad and inAmbroz Valley El Otoño Mági-co.

In December we can enjoyourselves in the two festivities de-clared as Tourist Interest Festiv-ities of Extremadura: Los Es-cobazos in Jarandilla de la Veraand La Encamisá in Torrejoncil-lo.

In addition to the declaration as “Tourist Interest Festiv-ity of Extremadura”, Los Carnavales in Badajoz, Easter inCáceres, Badajoz y Mérida, Cerezo en Flor in Valle del Jerteand El Jarramplas in Piornal, are declared “National TouristInterest Festivity”. Easter in Cáceres is also “InternationalTourist Interest Festivity”.


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From February to March, you can admire Ruta de CarlosV in La Vera, Las Candelas in Almendralejo, Los Negritos deSan Blas in Montehermoso, El Peropalo in Villanueva de laVera, Carnival in Badajoz and Carnivals of Campo Arañue-lo in Navalmoral de la Mata.

Valle de Jerte celebrates thestart of spring with the magnifi-cent feast called Cerezo en Flor inMarch. Also in march takes placeLa Feria del Toro in Olivenza.

Easter is declared as TouristInterest Festivity of Extremadurain Badajoz, Cáceres, Jerez de losCaballeros, Mérida, Plasencia yTrujillo. Also at Easter we can vis-it Los Empalaos in Valverde de laVera and La Pasión Viviente inOliva de la Frontera.

When Easter is finished,Campanario celebrates Romeríade Piedraescrita, Villanueva de laSerena La Carrerita, Arroyo de laLuz Las Carreras and Trujillo ElChíviri.

In April and on its last sun-day Fuente de Cantos celebratesLa Chanfaina, Feria La SantaCruz and on the 15th of the samemonth is the San IsidroLabrador`s Celebration Day in the country, either in Valenciade Alcántara or in Fuente de Cantos.

La Octava del Corpus in Peñalsordo is hold according tothe dates in which Easter is celebrated.

In the locality of la Albuera, on 16th May and the follow-ing weekend, is hold La Batalla de la Albuera.

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“Los Toros de San Juan”.Coria

“Octava del Corpus”.Peñalsordo

t

one celebrated in the Theatre of Cáceres (in June), the oneof Classical Theatre in Alcántara (in August), the one ofContemporary Music in Alburquerque (in July) in addi-tion to the so-called Festival of Medieval Theatre declaredTourist Interest Festivity of Extremadura.


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FESTIVALSAmong the numerous festivals we can know in the

Extremaduran region, we point out the most eye-catchingones due to their originality and the crowded affluence tothem, most of them being hold in summer, like the case ofthe crowded Festival of Classical Theatre in Mérida; the

Classical theatre Festival in Mérida

Moreover, Villanueva de la Serena celebrates its Festi-val de Teatro en la Calle in July and in Orellana la Vieja wecan enjoy Futurvision during August.

Furthermore, Cáceres receive thousands of visitantsevery year during the celebration of the international, mul-tiracial WOMAD Festival.

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International Festival of La Sierra. Fregenal de la Sierra WOMAD. Cáceres


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HANDICRAFTS5.3

Potter

The Extremaduran handicrafts take on numerous jobs,most of them inherited generation by generation. They stillexist thanks to the tradition and the familiar perseverance oras a the result of investigation and recovery works carriedout by associations and local groups.

The most part of these jobs refer to localities inExtremadura that have preserved these handicrafts jobs,thus keeping on with a worthy fame that has been won forcenturies. That made some Extremaduran localities be realhandmade referents for other nearby regions.

Some of them are even thousand-year-old craft jobs,such as pottery and ceramics with marvellous examples andworkshops with very particular styles, in one hand, special-ly in Salvatierra de los Barros, Fregenal de la Sierra, Badajozand Mérida in the province of Badajoz. On the other hand, inthe province of Cáceres, in the localities of Ceclavín, Torrej-oncillo, Trujillo or Casatejada.

They are very well-known the crochet works fromCheles and Badajoz, the embroideries from Villafranca delos Barros, Ribera del Fresno, Aceuchal, Badajo, Cáceres,Jaraíz de la Vera and the beautiful laces made in Acebo, Zafraand Almendralejo.

Furthermore, we can find excellent wicker and rushworks in Mérida, Villarta de los Montes, Cáceres, Baños deMontemayor, Malpartida de Plasencia, Malpartida dePlasencia, Trujillo and Hervás and those made of wood inMérida, Castuera, Zafra, Monesterio, Alcántara, Plasencia,Valverde del Fresno, Guijo de Santa Bárbara and Piornal.

The bell-ringers from Montehermoso and the boiler-makers from Casar de Cáceres, Guadalupe and Monte-hermoso. The are wrought-iron works in localities such asDon Benito, Cáceres or La Pesga and the weavers in Riberadel Fresno, la Haba and Torrejoncillo.

The gold or silver works has excellent representatives inCeclavín, Cáceres, Badajoz, Mérida, Torrecilla de la Tiesa and

Talayuela, and the mosaics have magnificent craftsmen andcrafts-women in Mérida, where the cork also stands out aswell as it happens in San Vicente de Alcántara. The glass iscraftily worked in Almendralejo.

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Objects made of brass

Bobbin lace


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SPAS5.4

Spa of Baños de Montemayor

There are eight current spas in Extremadura that opentheir doors almost all the year round in order to receivethe users and visitants of this health tourism more andmore numerous and attractive.

Located in emblematic places, they offer some buil-dings built thanks to the discoveries dated back to Romantime or even the hereditary conservation of the thousand-year-old hot baths, like those in Alange, El Salugral andBaños de Montemayor.

Others are located in the heart of nature surroundedby holm-oaks and cork-oaks, forming part of the incredi-ble environment of these Mediterranean forests of Extre-madura conserved in a magnificently way for visitants toenjoy themselves.

Therefore, the spas of Valdefernando in Valdecaballe-ros, Fuente del Trampal near Carmonita, El Raposo in Pue-bla de Sancho Pérez close to the historical route of Via de laPlata, the spa of Valle del Jerte and the spa of Baños de SanGregorio in the historical Brozas, near Alcántara and Por-tugal, stand in this typical landscape of Extremadura.

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Spa of Alange

Spa of Fuentes del Trampal

Spa of Baños de Montemayor


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BALNEARIO DE ALANGEC/ Baños, 56 • 06840 Alange (Badajoz)Tlf.: 924 36 51 06 Fax: 924 36 51 [email protected]

BALNEARIO DE BAÑOS DE MONTEMAYORAvenida de las Termas, 5210750 Baños de Montemayor (Cáceres)Tlf.: 927 48 80 05 [email protected]

BALNEARIO EL RAPOSOBalneario El Raposo, s/n 06392 Puebla de Sancho Pérez (Badajoz)Tlf.: 924 57 04 10 / 924 57 04 29Fax: 924 57 04 [email protected]

BALNEARIO DE FUENTES DEL TRAMPALCtera. de Carmonita, km. 3,210170 Montánchez (Cáceres)Tlf.: 924 12 30 18 / 608 92 27 85Fax: 924 25 91 [email protected]

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BALNEARIO DE BROZAS (Baños de San Gregorio)Ctra. San Gregorio, s/n10950 BrozasTlf.: 927 19 10 50 / 927 19 10 [email protected]

BALNEARIO EL SALUGRALCtra. N-630, km. 434 • 10740 Hervás (Cáceres)Finca El SalugralTlf.: 927 47 48 50Fax: 927 47 48 [email protected]

BALNEARIO DEL VALLE DEL JERTECtra. N-110, km. 38310164 Valdastillas (Cáceres)Tlf.: 927 63 30 [email protected]


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INFORMATION OF INTEREST5.5

CONSEJERÍA DE FOMENTO, VIVIENDA, ORDENACIÓN DEL TERRITORIO Y TURISMOAvda. de Las Comunidades, s/n06800 Mérida.Tel.: 924 33 20 00

Dirección General de TurismoAvda. de Las Comunidades, s/n06800 Mérida.Tel.: 924 33 24 66.Fax: 924 33 24 87

INSPECCIÓN TERRITORIAL DE TURISMO DE BADAJOZAvda. de Huelva, 2.06071 BadajozTel.: 924 01 20 99Fax: 924 01 20 96.

INSPECCIÓN TERRITORIAL DE TURISMO DE CÁCERESAvda. de Primo de Rivera, 2, 8ª planta.10001 Cáceres.Tel.: 927 00 56 30Fax: 927 00 56 33

DIPUTACIÓN PROVINCIAL DE BADAJOZC/ Felipe Checa, 23.06001 Badajoz.Tel.: 924 21 24 00.Fax: 924 22 47 [email protected]

PATRONATO PROVINCIAL DE TURISMO DE BADAJOZC/ Felipe Checa, 23.06001 Badajoz.Tel.: 924 21 25 79Fax: 924 21 24 [email protected]

DIPUTACIÓN PROVINCIAL DE CÁCERESPlaza de Santa María, s/n.10071 CáceresTel.: 927 25 55 00Fax: 927 22 54 [email protected]

ÁREA DE TURISMO DE LA DIPUTACIÓN PROVINCIAL DE CÁCERESPalacio de CarvajalC/ Amargura, 1.10003 CáceresTel.: 927 25 55 97Fax: 927 25 54 67.www.turismocaceres.orginformadoresturisticos@dip_caceres.es

OTHER ADMINISTRATIONS


TOURIST INFORMATION OFFICES IN EXTREMADURA

ALBURQUERQUEPlaza de España, s/n06510 AlburquerqueTel. 924 40 12 02Fax: 924 40 12 02 [email protected]

ALISEDAC/ Gabriel y Galán, 8 A10550 AlisedaTel : 606 30 62 [email protected]

ALMENDRALEJOPlaza de la Iglesia, 16.06200 AlmendralejoTel.: 924 66 69 67 www.almendralejo.es [email protected]

ARROYO DE LA LUZPlaza de la Constitución, 2110900 Arroyo de la LuzTel.: 927 27 04 37www.arroyodelaluz.es [email protected]

ARROYOMOLINOSC/ Hernán Cortés, 610.161 ArroyomolinosTel: 927 38 53 06 / 927 38 50 02 (Ayto)[email protected]

AZUAGA Casa de la Cultura, plaza de la Merced, 1206920 AzuagaTel. 924 13 78 38www.azuaga.es [email protected]

BADAJOZ (Oficina Municipal)Pasaje de San Juan, s/n.Tel.: 924 22 49 [email protected]

BADAJOZ- C.I.T.A.V. (Centro de InformaciónTurística y Acogida de Visitantes)Plaza de San José, 1806001 – BadajozTel.924 20 13 [email protected]

BAÑOS DE MONTEMAYORvda. de las Termas, 4910750 Baños de MontemayorTel. 927 488285www.valledelambroz.com [email protected]

CÁCERESC/ Tiendas, 110003 CáceresTel.: 927 01 08 34 [email protected]

CAMINOMORISCOCasa de la CulturaAvda. de las Hurdes, s/n10620 Caminomorisco Tel.: 927 43 53 29/ 927 43 52 12www.mancomunidadhurdes.orgoficinadeturismo@ayto-caminomorisco.com


CASARES DE HURDESPlaza Lindón, s/n (Ayuntamiento)10628 Casares de HurdesTeléfono: 927 67 61 91 / 639 48 97 16www.mancomunidadhurdes.org [email protected]

CORIAPlaza de San Pedro, 1.10800 CoriaTel. 927 50 80 00- Ext. 290 (Ayuntamiento) http://turismo.coria.org/[email protected]

DON BENITOPlaza del Museo s/n06400 Don BenitoTel: 924 80 80 84 [email protected]

FREGENAL DE LA SIERRAC/ El Rollo, 106340 Fregenal de la SierraTel. 924700000 Ext. 120www.fregenaldelasierra.es [email protected]

FUENTES DE LEÓNPlaza de España, 306280 Fuentes de LeónTel: 924 72 41 74 www.fuentesdeleon.es [email protected]

GUADALUPEPlaza de Santa María de Guadalupe, s/n10140 Guadalupe Tel.:927 15 41 28 / 927 36 71 36oficinadeturismoguadalupe.blogspot.com [email protected]

HERRERA DEL DUQUEC/ La Feria, 5606670 Herrera del DuqueTel.: 924 64 22 [email protected]

HERVÁSC/ Braulio Navas, 610700 HervásTel: 927 47 36 18 / 47 49 63www.turismodehervas.com [email protected]

HIGUERA LA REALC/ Fuente, 12.06350 Higuera la RealTel.: 924 72 33 28 [email protected]

HORNACHOSC/ Felipe Trigo, 1 (Casa de la Cultura)06228 – Hornachos Tel: 924 53 35 33 [email protected]

JARAÍZ DE LA VERA Av. Constitución, 16710400 Jaraíz de la VeraTel.: 927 17 05 87www.ayto-jaraiz.com [email protected]


JARANDILLA DE LA VERAAvda. Soledad Vega Ortiz10450 Jarandilla de la VeraTel.: 927 56 04 [email protected]

JEREZ DE LOS CABALLEROSPlaza de la Constitución, nº 406380 Jerez de los CaballerosTel: 924 73 03 [email protected]

JERTEAvda. Ramón y Cajal, s/n.10612 JerteTel: 927 47 04 [email protected]

LLERENAC/ Aurora, 206900 LlerenaTel.: 924 87 05 [email protected]

LOS SANTOS DE MAIMONAPlaza de España, 9(Casa de la Cultura)06230 Los Santos de MaimonaTel.: 924 54 48 [email protected]

MALPARTIDA DE CÁCERESC/ Santa María, 4.10910.- Malpartida de CáceresTel.: 927 27 67 23www.malpartidadecaceres.es [email protected]

MANCOMUNIDAD DE LA SERENA EN CASTUERAPalacio de los Condes de AyalaPlaza de España, s/n06420 CastueraTel.: 924 77 38 [email protected]

MANCOMUNIDAD DE LA SERENA EN ZALAMEA DE LA SERENAHermanas de la Cruz, s/n06430 Zalamea de la SerenaTel.: 690 665 [email protected]

MANCOMUNIDAD DE TRASIERRA-TIERRAS DE GRANADILLAPza. Poblado Gabriel y Galán10712 Pantano Gabriel y GalánTel.: 927 02 43 90www.mancomunidadtrasierratierrasdegranadilla.es [email protected]

MANCOMUNIDAD DEL VALLE DEL JERTEParaje de Peñas Albas, s/n10610 Cabezuela del ValleTel: 927 47 25 58www.turismovalledeljerte.comturismo@mancomunidadvalledeljerte.com

MEDELLÍNPlaza de Hernán Cortes, s/n06411 MedellínTel: 924 82 24 38 / [email protected]

MÉRIDA Oficina de Turismo del Teatro RomanoPaseo José Álvarez Sáenz de Buruaga, s/n06800 MéridaTel.: 924 33 07 22www.turismomerida.org [email protected] / [email protected]

MÉRIDA Oficina de Turismo de la Puerta de la VillaC/ Santa Eulalia, 62Tel.: 924 38 01 91www.turismomerida.org [email protected] / [email protected] (Marta Acosta)

MONESTERIOPaseo de Extremadura, 205, Izq.06260 MonesterioTel.: 924 51 67 [email protected]

MONTEHERMOSO Plaza de la Constitución s/n10810 MontehermosoTel.: 927 43 06 [email protected]

MORALEJAC/ Plaza de Toros, 510840 MoralejaTel.: 927 14 70 [email protected]

OLIVENZAPlaza de Santa María del Castillo, 15 06100 OlivenzaTel.: 924 49 01 51www.ayuntamientodeolivenza.com [email protected]

PLASENCIA Pza. de Torre de Lucía s/n.10600 PlasenciaTel.: 927 01 78 40 [email protected] [email protected]

PLASENCIA (Oficina Municipal)C/ Santa Clara, 8Tel.: 927 42 38 [email protected] www.plasencia.es

TALARRUBIASCentro de Interpretación de la Fauna Rupícola Ctra. N-430 Km. 167 (frente al camping) Embalse de Puerto Peña 06640 Talarrubias (Badajoz) Teléfono 924631151www.talarrubias.net [email protected]

TORREJÓN EL RUBIOC/ Madroño, 1 (Urb. Cerca del Olivo)10694 Torrejón el RubioTel: 927 45 52 [email protected]

TRUJILLOPlaza Mayor, s/n10200 TrujilloTel. 927 32 26 77 www.turismotrujillo.com [email protected]

VALENCIA DE ALCÁNTARAConventual de Santa Clara, Plaza Gregorio Bravo.10500 Valencia de AlcántaraTel. 927 58 21 84www.valenciadealcantara.es [email protected]

VILLAFRANCA DE LOS BARROSPlaza de España, 11 06220 Villafranca de los BarrosTel. 924 52 08 35Fax: 924 52 08 35www.villafrancadelosbarros.es [email protected]

VILLANUEVA DE LA SERENAPlaza de España, 1 (Ayto.).06700 Villanueva de la SerenaTel.: 924 84 60 10 Extensión 41126 www.villanuevadelaserena.esoficinaturismo@villanuevadelaserena.es

VILLANUEVA DE LA VERAAvda. de la Vera, s/n

10470 Villanueva de la Vera

Tel: 927 56 70 31

[email protected]

VILLARREAL DE SAN CARLOSCentro de Información del Parque Nacional de Monfragüe.

10695 – Villarreal de San Carlos.

Tel : 927 19 91 34

[email protected]

ZAFRAPlaza de España, s/n

06300 Zafra

Tel. 924 55 10 36

http://www.turismodezafra.blogspot.com.es/

[email protected]

MAPS AND GENERAL GUIDES

Tourist Guide Of Extremadura

Professional Guide of Extremadura

Rural Lodging Guide

Camp Sites and Bungalows Guide

Vía de la Plata Guide

Tourist Map of Extremadura

Ornithological Tourism Guide

Green Way Map

Active Nature Map

Tourist Caves Leaflet

Green Way Leaflet

TERRITORIAL GUIDES

I- Sierra de Gata / Hurdes / Cáparra

II- Valle del Ambroz / Valle del Jerte / La Vera

III- Plasencia / Monfragüe / Campo Arañuelo

IV- Villuercas / Jara / Ibores

V- Cáceres / Trujillo-Miajadas / Montánchez-Tamuja

VI- Sierra de San Pedro-Los Baldíos / Tajo-Salor-Almonte /

Valle del Alagón

VII- La Siberia / La Serena / Vegas Altas del Guadiana

VIII- Campiña Sur / Tentudía / Jerez-Sierra Suroeste

IX- Comarca de Olivenza / Badajoz / Comarca de Lácara / Mérida

X- Sierra Grande-Tierra de Barros / Zafra-Río Bodión

LOCAL GUIDES

Badajoz - Cáceres - Mérida - Plasencia - Zafra - Trujillo -

Guadalupe - Coria - Valencia de Alcántara - Jerez de los Caballeros -

Olivenza - Llerena

THEMATIC GUIDES

Museums and Collections Guide

Artistic-Historical Routes Guide

Gastronomical Routes Guide

Regional Tourist Interest Festivities Guide

Tracks Guide

Ecotourism Guide

Weekend Routes Guide

Spa Guide

Active Nature Guide

Archaeological Sites Guide

OTHER PUBLICATIONS BY THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF TOURISM

© GOBIERNO DE EXTREMADURAConsejería de Fomento, Vivienda,

Ordenación del Territorio y Turismo

Coordinación General:Dirección General de Turismo

Fotografías: Julián Blasco Fuerte / Foto-Video Patón

Preimpresión: XXI Estudio Gráfico

Impresión: Artes Gráficas Rejas

Depósito Legal: BA- 464 - 99

GOBIERNO DE EXTREMADURA

www.turismoextremadura.com

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Tourist guide of Extremadura

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