WEEKEND EXCURSIONS

A DAY OUT FROM MONTÁNCHEZ TO TRUJILLO

This itinerary takes in a good part of the undulating lowlands of Trujillo and Cáceres, in the centre of the region, amongst the Montánchez Mountains and the San Pedro Mountain Range.

AN ITINERARY FOR TOURISTS

The first village that we visit in this itinerary is Alcúescar near to which is one of the Peninsula’s most important examples of Visigoth religious art, the Hispanic-Visigoth Basilica of Santa Lucía del Trampal. The late 15th century Parish Church of the Assumption stands in Alcuéscar, barely a few kilometres away from the A-66 motorway.

                                Basilica of Santa Lucía del Trampal

Nearby at the feet of the Montánchez Mountain Range we come to Arroyomolinos de Montánchez where there is no lack of buildings with the classical aroma of popular architecture. The Parish Church is dedicated to Nuestra Señora de la Consolación and was built from masonry and ashlar. The Castle of Montánchez watches us as we pass by on our way to discovering the beautiful village which spreads out beneath its attentive gaze. The origins of Montánchez can be traced back to pre-Roman times and it was of great strategic importance during the period of Muslim domination. The 12th century castle, almohade in origin, was later reformed in the Christian period and provides an ideal vantage point from which to contemplate the region’s countryside. The village’s Parish Church of San Mateo is from the 18th century and there are also certain interesting houses which belonged to the nobility and Baroque style Hermitages such as the one housed within the castle. The village's hams are renowned, as are its dried meats (“chacinas”) and cold cuts, its wines and its carnival celebrations known as the "jurramachos".

We continue on to Albalá where we can enjoy popular style buildings and an interesting ecclesiastical building, the late 16th century ashlar built Parish Church of María Magdalena. Leaving Albalá behind, we travel on to Torre de Saint María which is full of beautiful whitewashed houses with granite facades. The Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción is the most noteworthy building. There is little to show that nearby Valdefuentes was in the 16th century the ancient Palace of the Marquises of Valdefuentes. The village’s 16th century Baroque style Parish Church is dedicated to Nuestra Señora de Bienvenida. Also of interest is the church built on the site of what was in the 16th century the Convent of San Agustín, popularly known as El Pequeño Escorial (Little Escorial).

En route to Torremocha we make a brief detour to see the village of Benquerencia where we can visit the Parish Church of the Apostle San Pedro. The Town Hall and the Hermitage of the Christ del Amparo are also of interest. In Torremocha we can still find some buildings where on the facades we can make out the Maltese Cross. The Parish Church which dates back to the 16th and 18th centuries is dedicated to Nuestra Señora de la Asunción. Some of its Hermitages are in the Baroque style. Botija awaits us in the middle of the Trujillano–Cáceres plateau, famous for the Iron Age and the pre-Roman Tamusia archaeological sites discovered in the vicinity. In the village itself we can visit the 16th century Parish Church of Santa María Magdalena. Just like Botija, the area around Plasenzuela is also rich in pre-Roman archaeological sites. The Parish Church is dedicated to Nuestra Señora de la Asunción. Built in the 15th century in the Gothic style it was later reformed in the 18th century.

Heading northwards we come to Santa Marta de Magasca which possesses an attractive Plaza Mayor (Main Square) and a typical pillory stone (rollo) which dates back to the 16th century. Interesting also is the 16th century Parish Church of Saint Martha and the well known Palace of Pascualete which once belonged to the Counts of Romanones. We now drive southwards to La Cumbre, a village of medieval origins which was once associated with the domains of the Barrantes, a family whose 16th century Palace home is still conserved. We pass by the outskirts of Contreras on our way to Ruanes which possesses a church which was originally built in the 15th century, dedicated to Nuestra Señora de la Asunción. Close to the Tamuja River we find Salvatierra de Santiago with Roman and Arab period sites. In its Plaza Mayor (Main Square) stands the so called Hospital del Peregrino, built in the 16th century.The Parish Church of Santiago is from the 16th century. On the outskirts of the village stands the 17th century Hermitage of Nuestra Señora de la Estrella.

Our next destination is Zarza de Montánchez which contains an important ecclesiastical building, the Parish Church of San Miguel which was begun in the 16th century and in which we can observe many Gothic and Renaissance artistic influences. Leaving Zarza de Montánchez behind, we pass by Valdemorales and its interesting 15th century ecclesiastical building, the Parish Church of San Andrés. Almoharín, famous for its fig industry, is probably Arabian in origin although centuries later it would become the property of the Order of Alcántara. The Parish Church of El Salvador has a magnificent two floored gallery which is part of the reason why the village’s Plaza Mayor (Main Square) is one of the most outstanding in the entire region.

We head north again towards Robledillo de Trujillo and from a distance we can make out the tower of the 16th century masonry built Parish Church of San Pedro. In Ibahernando we can observe interesting discoveries from the Roman and Visigoth periods. The Basilica of Santa María, which dates back to the 7th century, stands just a short distance away from Ibahernando and again on the outskirts of the village we can visit the 16th century Hermitage of Nuestra Señora de Jara. In the protective embrace of the mountain range, the magnificent natural viewpoint which is Santa Cruz de la Sierra can be seen from the motorway. In these lands many vestiges have been found of pre-Roman, Roman and even Visigoth cultures and the remains survive also of an Arab castle. The Church of the Vera Cruz was built in the 16th century whilst the nostalgic ruins of a 17th century Augustinian Convent can still be seen. At the foot of the Santa Cruz Mountain range we come upon the village of Puerto de Santa Cruz where we can see the 16th century masonry built Parish Church of San Bartolomé with its interesting single floor gallery.

On the A-5 to Miajadas we pass by villages such as Villamesías, Abertura and Campolugar. Miajadas is a booming farming village with the remains of a medieval castle which has stood there since the 13th century and also one of the most impressive ecclesiastical buildings in the area, the Parish Church of Santiago, initiated in the 15th and 16th centuries and finalised in the 19th. The renowned architect Pedro de Ybarra was one of the directors of the construction. The baroque style Church of Nuestra Señora de Belén is from the 18th century. Originally conceived as a Hermitage it is now Miajadas' second Parish Church. Close to Miajadas, along the EX-102, we come to Escurial with its beautiful square which is adorned by the Parish Church of la Asunción, built in masonry in the 16th century. En route to Zorita we pass by Alcollarín where we can discover a couple of interesting historic and artistic buildings, the church of Santa Catalina and the ruins of what was once the Palace of the Pizarro-Carvajal family, from the same period as the church.

Just a few kilometres along the EX-102 we come to Zorita, close to Guadalupe and the mountain range of the same name. Its Parish Church is dedicated to Saint Paul and was built in the 16th century whilst the Baroque style Hermitage of la Fuensanta from the same period is also of interest. This is where the patron saint of Zorita is venerated. A few kilometres from Zorita in the direction of Trujillo is Conquista de la Sierra, property of the Pizarro family - the ruins of their Palace survive. A little more to the north we reach Herguijuela, famous for its ancient winepresses and for its production of good wine. Roman and Visigoth remains have appeared in the vicinity. The Parish Church of San Bartolomé dates back to the 16th century and was built with masonry. The village centre also contains the well known Palace of Los Condes which is adorned by the coat of arms of the Casa de Alba. Madroñera, in the middle of the Trujillo Mountain range, is a little further north from here. In its Plaza del Rollo there is a 16th century pillory. We can turn off the A-5 to stop at Aldea de Trujillo, with its Parish Church dedicated to Nuestra Señora del Rosario which was built in the Baroque style in the 16th century. From here we can drive to the Monfragüe National Park.

And we come, finally, to Trujillo. Known in pre-Roman times as “Turgalium”, to the Arabs it was "Torgiela" from which derived Trujillo: El Edrisi said of the city that "it is great and looks like a fortress". Taken by Christian troops in January 1232, it owes its place in history to the Discovery of America and in particular to the Discovery of Peru by Trujillo-born Francisco Pizarro.

                          Plaza Mayor (Main Square) of Trujillo night view

Situated in the highest part of the city, the Castle dates back to time of the Caliphs. It contains the sanctuary of the Patron Saint of Trujillo, the Virgin of La Victoria. Of its walled area and gates, four remain: the gates of San Andrés, Santiago, el Triunfo and the “Coria”. Amongst the most noteworthy churches are Santa María la Mayor, probably built on the plot of land occupied by an Arab mosque up until the 13th century, the church of Santiago which conserves a 13th century image of the Virgin of La Coronada whilst the 16th century statue of Christ of Las Aguas can be seen in the Church of San Martín where Kings Charles V, Philip II and Philip V prayed. Amongst the civic buildings mention should be made of three Alcázars (palace fortresses): “los Bejaranos”, “los Altamiranos” and “los Chaves”. The Catholic Kings lodged in the latter of the three when they visited Trujillo in 1477 and then again in 1479. The Casa de los Orellana dates back to the 16th century. Trujillo’s Plaza Mayor (Main Square) has been for centuries the commercial centre of the city. In the Square we can admire the equestrian statue of Francisco Pizarro by the North American sculptor Carlos Rumsey. Trujillo contains various Palaces amongst which the most important are that of Los Duques de San Carlos, the Marquesado de Piedras Albas, the Marqueses de la Conquista and the Palace of Juan Pizarro de Orellana.

GASTRONOMY

Montánchez produces magnificent hams and there is no lack of good wine, as is also the case in neighbouring Alcuéscar.Figs in Almoharín and Arroyomolinos. Cold cuts and other Iberian pig products, sheep and goat’s cheese, pastries both home and monastery made. There is excellent wine in Trujillo. Extremadura “migas” (breadcrumbs ), “caldereta” (lamb stews) and fried ham dishes.

HANDICRAFTS

Gold and silver, pottery, basket making, stonework, embroidery, leather goods, textiles and typical costumes. Braid blankets in Montánchez, Arroyomolinos and Aldeacentenera. Lace and spinning in Alcuésar and Trujillo. Rugs in Santa Marta de Magasca. Openwork fabrics and bobbin lace in Villamesías. Embroidery in Puerto de Santa Cruz.

FESTIVITIES

Declared of interest as a Regional Tourist Attraction in Extremadura, the “Chíviri” is celebrated in Trujillo every Resurrection Sunday. The National Cheese Fair is held in Trujillo’s Plaza Mayor (Main Square) at the end of April and the beginning of May. Carnival in Montánchez and Alcuéscar. The Bread and Cheese Fair in Zarza de Montánchez.

              Sample of cheese in The National Cheese Fair

NATURE AND COUNTRYSIDE

There is a beautiful contrast between the undulating lowlands of Cáceres and the irrigated lands around the Guadiana river basin which are separated from the basin of the Tagus by the Montánchez mountains and the surrounding land. Forests of corn and holm oak grow in widespread pastures which spread out along the length and breadth of the entire itinerary. Granite is strewn across the countryside and there are lofty mountain ranges, scrubland and patches of rockrose, the habitat of birds of prey and other species such as Egyptian vultures, Montagu’s harriers and black-winged kites. Small game abounds.