WEEKEND EXCURSIONS

A DAY OUT IN THE CÁCERES REGION

This itinerary takes in a good deal of the undulating plains of Trujillo and Cáceres and interesting areas around the banks of the Tagus and the neighbouring Alcántara reservoir. Geographically, the itinerary runs through the south of the province of Cáceres, somewhat to the north of Badajoz.

AN ITINERARY FOR TOURISTS

“Norba Caesarina” to the Romans, Cáceres was founded it would appear by Cayo Norbano Flaco. In medieval times it became a defensive stronghold for the Muslims until King Alfonso IX conquered it in April 1229. Admirably rich in monuments and a World Heritage Site, its majestic Plaza Mayor (Main Square) is particularly noteworthy. The square includes the City Hall, the Hermitage of La Paz, la Bujaco Tower and the 12th century almohade walls as well as the so called Balbos Forum.

                                                The Bujaco Tower

On our way to the old part of the city we pass through the Arco de la Estrella and the tower of the Pulpits or the Nueva Tower. In the old part of the city we must mention some buildings which are immensely beautiful either from an artistic or a historic point of view: the Casa de los Toledo Moctezuma, the Palace of Godoy, the Church of Santiago and the Casa de Carvajal.

The Concathedral of Santa María, designed in a markedly Romanic fashion, albeit in its transition to Gothic, it possesses traces of the Renaissance in its choir and in the tower. Opposite we see the Episcopal Palace and the Palace of Hernando de Ovando. Other Palaces in this area are the Mayoralgo Palace and the Golfines de Abajo Palace from the 16th century.

We can admire the church of San Francisco Javier and the ancient Residence of the Jesuits from the Plaza de San Jorge, the patron saint of Cáceres. As we walk towards the upper part of the medieval city we will come upon the Casa de los Becerra, the Casa de los Cáceres-Andrade and the so called Casa Mudejar, the only construction of this type in monumental Cáceres.

Around the Plaza de San Mateo we can see some houses of artistic interest as is the case of the Casa del Sol and that of the Águila as well as the Church of San Mateo and the Convent of San Pablo. Walking along the so called Calle Ancha which links the Plaza de San Mateo to the Puerta de Mérida gate, we can see other buildings of great interest, in particular the Casa de los Señores de Torreorgaz, today the Parador. Calle Ancha street leads to the small Plaza de Santa Clara square and the convent of the same name. Just beside the Plaza de San Mateo we find the Plaza de las Veletas which contains two interesting buildings, the Casa de las Cigüeñas and the Casa Palacio de los Aljibes Aljibes or “Las Veletas”, the home of the Military Government and the Provincial Museum respectively. In an annex to the museum known as the Casa de los Caballos, really interesting paintings and sculptures are exhibited.

From the Veletas Square we can either visit the Barrio de San Antonio quarter, Cáceres’ ancient Jewish Quarter, or else walk towards El Adarve which is just beside the Plaza Mayor (Main Square) visiting on the way the Casa Palacio de los Golfines de Arriba.

Beyond the walls of Cáceres we should mention the Church of San Juan, the Convent of San Francisco, currently the home of the El Brocense Cultural Institution and the Parish of El Espíritu Santo.The Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de la Montaña is an interesting ecclesiastical building and the place where the patron saint of the city is revered.

It is also interesting to visit the Maltravieso Cave Interpretation Centre where remains and paintings from the Palaeolithic period have been discovered. As well as the aforementioned Cáceres Provincial Museum the Museum of the Casa de Pedrilla, the Guayasamín and the Masa Solís museums are also highly interesting.

Nor should we forget the Castles of Arguijuela de Abajo and de Arriba, close to the A-66 motorway nor indeed the Castle of Las Seguras on the road to Badajoz.

Leaving Cáceres behind, we arrive at Valdesalor where treasure was discovered amongst the remains of Roman settlements. Further south we come to Casas de Don Antonio, set amongst the Montánchez and the San Pedro Mountain Ranges. There is an interesting parish temple, that of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción. Taking the A-66 we come to Rincón de Ballesteros, the only settlers’ village not to be established amidst irrigated lands.

In the direction of Mérida we pass by a place called Carmonita where the principal historic and artistic building is the Parish Church of La Magdalena. One of the best spas in Extremadura, the Balneario de Fuentes del Trampal, is to be found on the outskirts of this village.

Complete with an excellent reservoir for fishing, Cordobilla de Lácara is situated in the San Pedro Mountain range. From here we can visit Nava de Santiago which possesses an abundance of megalithic vestiges in its surrounding area. Close to Cáceres itself is Malpartida de Cáceres. The Barruecos Nature Monument is in this town land and here we can find the famous and well-visited Vostell Malpartida Museum which exhibits work by the deceased German artist and important avant-garde collections.

GASTRONOMY

In a good deal of the northern part of the itinerary, Extremadura tench can be had served in an endless variety of ways, from spring to autumn. Cold meats and hams throughout the itinerary, both to the north and to the south. Extremadura breadcrumbs “migas”, lamb and mountain goat stew in nearly all the villages along the itinerary. Excellent sheep’s cheese in Casar de Cáceres, known popularly as “tortas”, which has its own denomination of origin. Sweet cakes in the Convents of Cáceres and Garrovillas.

HANDICRAFTS

There are pottery workshops in Arroyo de la Luz. Leather crafts and wood work in Brozas. Ceramic in Cáceres.

FESTIVITIES

The Easter celebrations in Cáceres have been declared of interest as a Regional Tourist Attraction. Spring is when the well known WOMAD Festival takes place in Cáceres. The San Jorge celebrations are held in May and at the beginning of the summer Medieval Theatre Festivals occupy a good deal of the City’s historic quarter. The Feria de la Tenca (Tench Fair) alternates amongst the villages to the north of Cáceres.

Arroyo de la Luz holds Races (“Las Carreras”) on Easter Monday, declared of interest as a Regional Tourist Attraction.

                           Races (Las Carreras). Arroyo de la Luz

NATURE AND COUNTRYSIDE

Important masses of forest around the banks of the Tagus and its affluents which flow through medium sized mountain ranges and the undulating plains of Cáceres. These plains appear in much of the itinerary as do important tracts of granite, an excellent habitat for Egyptian vultures, cranes, black-winged kites etc.

The typical pasturelands of Extremadura mingle with important corn and holm oak groves although the region also possesses considerable extensions of traditional olive groves and vines.