Posts in category: Our towns

Villar de Plasencia, a small town with a lot of history to the south of Ambroz-Cáparra, next to Cabezabellosa and Oliva de Plasencia.

Here, history comes alive for hiking and cycling enthusiasts on two historic trails: the Vía de la Plata, an ancient Roman road that evokes the Roman Empire’s glory as it traverses Ambroz-Cáparra from north to south, and the Vía Verde de la Plata (Silve Way Greenway), a former railway line that once carried passengers between Astorga and Plasencia, now converted into a scenic greenway.

We highly recommend that you visit its architectural gems, including the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, a 16th-century Renaissance treasure, and two Baroque hermitages dedicated to Saint Bartholomew and Saint Anthony of Padua. And don’t forget to stop at the Cruz del Humilladero, a place of devotion that has borne witness to the prayers of the devout over the centuries.

Take advantage of your visit to Ambroz-Cáparra by exploring the Vespasian Way, a road that begins in Villar de Plasencia and leads to the ancient Roman city of Cáparra.

Nestled in the southernmost part of Trasierra-Tierra de Granadilla, Santibáñez el Bajo is surrounded by two streams and extraordinary dehesas.

The Church of St. James the Apostle (15th century) and the Hermitage of the Most Holy Christ of Peace (18th century) are the most notable religious monuments.

Nature lovers will enjoy hiking through olive groves and vineyards, by abandoned wine presses, and over the Dehesa de Santibáñez, especially during the montanera or free-range season in the heartland of Iberian ham production.

The westernmost town of Ambroz-Cáparra, strategically located in the vicinity of the Sierra de Dios Padre.

Several vestiges make up the religious heritage of Santa Cruz de Paniagua, notably the 16th-century Church of San Salvadore, the Church of St. Mary Magdalene and the hermitages of Christ and the Holy Father, where the hermit St. Peter of Alcántara stayed between 1555 and 1557.

The Mozarabic Road to Las Hurdes runs through the town and there’s a natural pool in the vicinity, La Alisea, nestled in the middle of a lush, green landscape. There are two pools, both fed by water from natural streams, and there are recreational areas and food vendors in the summer.

There are other natural swimming holes such as the Balsa de El Bronco, the Balsa de Suertes Anchas and the Charca Azul to cool off on a hot day.

Because of the sheer number of views it offers, we recommend the trail to Sierra de Dios Padre from Santa Cruz de Paniagua as the perfect way to see one of the most important geodesic points in northern Cáceres. On a clear day you can see more than forty villages in northern Cáceres.

The Los Ángeles River surrounds La Pesga, a hidden gem in the north of Trasierra-Tierras de Granadilla.

A riverside promenade offering postcard-perfect views surrounds the town. This is a water lover’s paradise: from canoeing to serene boat rides, the river has something for everyone.

La Pesga’s history is told by the two bridges joining different periods. The first was built between 1925 and 1930. The second, in 1965. Together they tell the story of the town’s evolution and progress.

Another treasure of La Pesga awaits higher up, at the Pico Blanco overlook, a natural balcony offering breathtaking panoramic views. From here, you can admire the sea of olive trees stretching over the horizon, with the Los Ángeles River and the tranquil Gabriel y Galán Reservoir as a stunning backdrop.

The 18th-century church of San Francisco Javier is a testimonial of faith and architecture. This temple made of sturdy slate masonry served as a worship and burial place until 1846.

Palomero is a town in the northern part of Trasierra-Tierras de Granadilla where the mountainous terrain planted with abundant olive groves makes for a striking landscape. Eighty percent of the manzanilla olives produced in rom Cáceres are used for table olives and the rest for olive oil.

Palomero has an interesting history. According to historian Sebastián Caballero in his book, El Señorío de Palomero en la Baja Edad Media, Palomero was the first lordship in Europe governed by women.

The Order of Santiago turned over the old Palumbeiro castle in Palomero to widows and nuns. As a result, they were the ones who administered the castle, its lands and its vassals. He also notes that the women always opted for diplomacy as a way of settling disputes. Learn more about this fascinating history in the book, Señorío de Palomero en la Baja Edad Media – Turismo Ambroz-Cáparra.

There are several trails you can take to explore the stunning landscape, but the best-preserved one is the SL-CC222 Palomero-El Bronco trail. It is part of the historic Mozarabic Way, a pilgrimage route that once guided this community to the sanctuary of Peña de Francia.

Palomero is known for producing cheese, especially hand-crafted cheese made from raw goat or sheep’s milk, rennet and salt.

Oliva de Plasencia’s historical treasures include the Palace of the Counts of Oliva, a 17th-century building with a quadrangular floor plan and linteled windows.

But the pinnacle of engineering prowess is the Roman city of Cáparra, an archaeological site located on the Vía de la Plata road. It was a very important city in Roman Lusitania, and many of its remains can still be seen today. The most notable of these is the Tetrapylon Arch, a unique structure on the Iberian Peninsula that marked the crossroads at the heart of the city.

At the entrance to the site itself is the Interpretation Centre of the Roman City of Cáparra which provides visitors with information on this historic site.

Classical theatre comes to Cáparra in the month of August as part of the Mérida International Classical Theatre Festival.

Fresnedillas Lagoon is a prime location for birdwatching enthusiasts to observe black storks, egrets, great spotted cuckoos, and a wide variety of other bird species.

Mohedas de Granadilla is located in the north of Trasierra-Tierras de Granadilla and to the south of the La Pesga mountain range.

The Church of San Ildefonso is an interesting Romanesque temple built on a single floor, with buttresses on the sides highlighting a fantastic bell tower attached to the foot of the temple.

Like Guijo de Granadilla, Marchagaz, Palomero, and La Pesga, its economy is based on the production of oil from the Manzanilla Cacereña olives. This town offers activities for the practice of olive oil tourism.

Lovers of nature and physical activity can walk the Camino de Talaván trail, enjoying the spectacular scenery and they will encounter along the way on this tail at the end of the Gabriel y Galán Reservoir.

The lives and customs of the inhabitants of Marchagaz and the surrounding towns revolve around the Manzanilla Cacereña. Visitors can enjoy the neatly terraced olive groves, taste the olives and try the excellent oil, authentic liquid gold. The Olive, Olive Grove and Olive Oil Interpretation Centre is proof of the olive’s importance. Here, visitors can learn about this delicacy in a relaxed setting by taking part in different oleotourism activities.

The remains of the Convent of San Marcos, where the Franciscan monks lived, can still be seen on the Sierra de Santa Barbara hillside. You can get there by taking the Camino de San Marcos trail. For spectacular views of Las Hurdes, the Alagón Valley, and Trasierra-Tierras de Granadilla, continue onward and climb up to the Altamira Peak at 980 metres. You can get there by car or on foot taking the Altamira Peak Trail.

Be sure to try the regional specialties in Marchagaz, such as “caldereta extremeña” (lamb stew), wild boar stew and “chanfaina” (lamb offal stew), among others.

Commune with nature on the Camino del Verdeo trail, an eco-active hiking trail that offers panoramic views of the Gabriel y Galán reservoir.