WEEKEND EXCURSIONS

A DAY OUT IN GUADALUPE AND LAS VILLUERCAS

“Las Villuercas” lie to the east of Extremadura and border on the province of Toledo. Their considerable height gives the area a unique appearance and there is abundant vegetation and numerous refuges in which hunted species can live and take shelter. This itinerary includes the opportunity to contemplate the Monastery of Guadalupe which has been declared a World Heritage site, as well as a number of villages where the popular architecture stands testimony to Extremadura’s invaluable heritage.

                                        Cabañas del Castillo view

AN ITINERARY FOR TOURISTS

We begin our itinerary through "Las Villuercas” in Puebla de Guadalupe, one of the principal artistic and cultural centres of the region and indeed of all Extremadura on account of the Royal Monastery of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe which has been declared a World Heritage site. The Royal Monastery has also been declared a National Historic and Artistic Monument and it conserves important illustrated books, embroidery, relics, silverwork and paintings by Zurbarán, El Greco etc. The temple itself is in 15th century Gothic style, the choir and its seats were created by Manuel de Larra Churriguera in the mid 16th century; the railing around the presbytery is in Gothic-Renaissance style and the magnificent major altarpiece is in the Classicist style. The image of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe dates back to the 12th or 13th century.

Hanging in the 16th century sacristy are eight magnificent works by the celebrated Extremadura painter, Francisco de Zurbarán. Luca Giordano was responsible for the fantastic paintings in the Chamber of the Virgin and there is a magnificent sculpture by Egas Cueman of Fray Gonzalo de Illescas.

                            Ntra. Sra. de Guadalupe Royal Monastery

In the town itself the highly interesting ancient Mudejar style College of the Infants, also known as the College of Grammar has been turned into a “Parador”. Some of the streets contain examples of traditional popular architecture.

Barely a few kilometres from Guadalupe, in the Altamira Mountains, there is an excellent Mudejar style temple known as the “Humilladero". Also in the vicinity of Guadalupe and well wort a visit are the Palace Farm of Mirabel, the aqueduct and the Villuercas mountain peak.

From Guadalupe we drive to Alía which is close to the Guadarranque River and possesses one of the most beautiful Mudejar style ecclesiastical buildings in all Extremadura, the Parish Church of Santa Catalina. We can also visit the hamlet of La Calera, the nearby Sobacorbas peak which reaches an altitude of 1,321 metres and the 15th century Hospital, built thanks to the munificence of the Royal Monastery of Guadalupe School of Medicine.

From Alía we return to Guadalupe and from there we set off again for Cañamero which is famous in all Extremadura on account of its excellent wines and cellars. In the vicinity, near the Ruecas River, there are caves in which schematic paintings have been discovered. The Parish Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán is made out of stone whilst the Belen Hermitage dates back to the Middle Ages and contains the image of Nuestra Señora de Belén, the patron saint of the village.

Close to Cañamero, set amongst evergreen and cork oak groves is Logrosán, home to a very interesting ecclesiastical building, the 6th century Church of San Mateo which contains a proto-Gothic 13th century sculpture of the Virgin of El Carrascal. In the village itself the Town Council Square “la Plaza del Ayuntamiento” is of note, with its handsome arcades and some bourgeois homes from the 15th and 16th century.

We then come to Berzocana where there are various caves with prehistoric schematic paintings (Morales, los Cabritos, Canchos de las Sabanas, etc.). This village is also known for the discovery of certain Roman and pre-Roman artefacts such as the Bronze Age Treasure of Berzocana. The Parish Church of San Juan Bautista is impressive on account of its magnitude and beauty and also because it contains the relics of San Fulgencio and Santa Florentina, the brother and sister of San Isidoro of Seville.

We now head right into the Las Villuercas mountains to visit Solana and the nearby so-called “Cancho del Reloj” which contains schematic paintings from the Bronze Age. A little further west, set on the slopes of the Villuercas mountains, we come upon Navezuelas where we can visit the 16th century Church of Santiago. In this area we will come upon beautiful countryside and landscapes, dense chestnut and oak groves and beautiful ravines.

Roturas is exceptionally well situated on the slopes of the Las Villuercas mountains. This mountain village, part of the municipality of Cabañas del Castillo, is set in a magnificent area surrounded by nature. Here we can observe birds of prey, so abundant in these latitudes. In the village itself there is a 16th century Parish Church dedicated to San Bernardino.

Cabañas del Castillo is not very far away and is quite remarkable on account of its setting at the foot of an abrupt massif. The 14th century castle and the village itself once belonged to the Álvarez de Toledo family and then to the Dukes of Frías. The local Parish Church of Nuestra Señora de la Peña possesses a Mudejar style portico. Retamosa, situated in the middle of the Villuercas mountains also belongs to the municipality of Cabañas del Castillo. The mountain landscapes here are amongst the most beautiful in the entire region. The village contains the 15th century Church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación which contains an interesting western portico, built in Mudejar style using whitewashed brick.

We now come to Robledollano which used to be known as “Medio Robledo” (Half Oak Grove) and which owes its ancient name to the fact that it used to belong partly to Deleitosa and partly to Cabañas del Castillo. Its 16th century Parish Church possesses an altar made with tiles brought from Talavera. Campillo de Deleitosa, thought to date back to the 16th century, sits at the foot of the 821 metres high Risco del Gordo Peak, amidst fields of rockrose, heather and rosemary. The Parish Church of San Sebastían is from the same century.

Once the property of the Dukes of Frías, whose Palace home can still be seen, the village of Deleitosa brings us to the end of our itinerary. The village conserves what was once the house of Saint Peter of Alcántara.

GASTRONOMY

Magnificent lamb and mountain goat stews and roasts, especially the famous lamb “caldereta” stew. Guadalupe is particularly famous for is typical Extremadura dishes and cabbage and pumpkin “morcillas” (blood sausages) are very popular. There are excellent wild game dishes. Home made pastries, “perrunillas” (made from aniseed), “pestiños” (a honey based fritter) and “roscas de muédago” (a round sweet cake made with honey).

The wine from Cañamero is excellent and nor should we forget the “vino de gloria”, (wine of Glory) from Guadalupe and Berzocana - famous also for its honey and cheese.

HANDICRAFTS

Embroidery in Alía, Cañamero and Guadalupe. Local Guadalupe artisans produce articles of copper and brass as well as straw and ceramic creations. In Alía, Cañamero and Logrosán we can find braid.

FESTIVITIES

The Festivity held on Spain’s National Day, the 12th of October has been declared of interest as a Regional Tourist Attraction. Also of importance are the Virgin of Guadalupe celebration on the 8th of September and Corpus in Guadalupe, the “Romería de la Virgin of Belén” (a religious procession) in Cañamero and “Las Candelas” (the Candles) in Alía.

NATURE AND COUNTRYSIDE

This region boasts one of the most varied landscapes in all Extremadura. There are mountain peaks such as the 1,600 metres high Villuercas Peak and handsome enclosed valleys with majestic alder woods, ash forests and oak groves. The two main rivers flowing through this region are the Berzocana and the Almonte. The climate includes abundant rainfall which impacts on the dense, beautiful vegetation. In hunting reserves there is an abundance of wild boar, deer and roe-deer.