WEEKEND EXCURSIONS

A DAY OUT IN TIERRA DE BARROS

Tierra de Barros is one of the most fertile regions of Extremadura. The A-66 runs through it and it is in fact a veritable geographical transition from the Guadiana Lowlands and the mountain ranges which lie to the south of the province of Extremadura.

AN ITINERARY FOR TOURISTS

We begin our itinerary in Almendralejo, the most important town in the Tierra de Barros region. It is a medieval village which prospered on account of development carried out in the zone by the Order of Santiago (Saint James) from the 13th century on. It became a trusteeship in the middle of the 14th century. Almendralejo is the hometown of José de Espronceda and Carolina Coronado. This Extremadura wine centre possesses important cellars and a highly praised wine laboratory. Its bull ring is the most beautiful in the entire Peninsula.

                        Courtyard of Marqués de Monsalud Palace

The 16th century Parish Church of La Purificación has a Baroque style tower and some of its porticos are Renaissance Gothic. Equally worthy of mention are the Churches of San Roque and San José. There are various convents and of particular note are the 16th century “Clarisas” of Nuestra Señora de Amparo (Protection) and the 17th century Franciscan Convent of San Antonio which has been declared a Monument of Historic and Artistic Interest. The Hermitage of Nuestra Señora de Piedad was built in the early 16th century. Of all the stately homes and palaces which have been conserved, particular mention should be made of that of the Marquis of Monsalud, built in the 18th century and home today to the Town Hall. The building of the Sociedad del Obrero Extremeño (Extremadura Workers’ Society) is also very attractive as is the Agricultural Merchants’ Circle Casino (el Casino del Círculo Mercantil Agrícola) which is decorated with paintings by Adelardo Covarsí. The Festivity of “Las Candelas” (the Candles) is famous throughout the region. Celebrated on the night of the 1st to the 2nd of February it has been declared of interest as a Regional Tourist Attraction.

Barely ten kilometres away we come to Aceuchal which in the days of the Reconquest became a fortress of the Order of the Temple. In the 16th century it passed to the Order of Santiago and became the centre of the local Trusteeship. Amongst its interesting monuments mention should be made of the Mudejar style Hermitage of San Andrés, the ancient Grain Store which dates back to the 18th century, the House of the Trusteeship (la Casa de la Encomienda), the 15th century Parish Church of San Pedro and the Town Hall. The village of Aceuchal is known for its excellent garlic production.

Lying on the left bank of the Guadajira River, Solana de los Barros became part of the Order of the Temple after the Reconquest and then in the middle of the 15th century it became part of the Feria dominions. Its 16th century Parish Church is dedicated to Santa María Magdalene. Situated amongst the roads which once led from Solana to Barcarrota and from Badajoz to Villalva we come upon Corte de Peleas which was known for a long time as “Cortecilla”. Here there was once an ancient 14th century temple dedicated to Santa María Egipciaca but this was then demolished and has today been replaced by a modern ecclesiastical building with whitewashed facades.

Entrín Bajo is quite close to the Entrín stream and in the centre of the hamlet mention should be made of its Parish Church of Nuestra Señora del Amparo which was built at the beginning of the 20th century. The village was founded by troops from Leon who were billeted in this region after the Reconquest. As in the case of the previous village, Entrín Alto was founded following the Reconquest of these lands. In its interior it is worth mentioning the Parish Church of Santa Rita which is covered by a cloister vault. Close by we can visit a small museum which contains some items of interest from the nearby “La Pijotilla” archaeological site. Some medieval bridges can be seen between Entrín Alto and Entrín Bajo and in the vicinity of the latter village there are two hamlets, Cortegana and Retamal.

The N-432 crosses through La Albuera, famous for having been the site in 1811 of the Battle of La Albuera during the Napoleonic Wars (known here as the War of Independence). There is an interesting museum which deals with this historical event. Almendral is not far away, situated in the limits of the Southern Mountain Range. The village has two churches in the same square, The Church of San Pedro and the 15th century Gothic style Church of La Magdalena. This church’s Mudejar style Hermitage of Finibus Terrae is magnificent and there are details of Visigoth art in its portico. Torre de Miguel Sesmero contains in its interior the 16th century Parish Church of Nuestra Señora de La Candelaria and the Convent of “las Claras” or the Molino (“Mill”), from the same century. On the very limits of the Southern Mountain Range we can visit Nogales which was once a strategic outpost for the Feria dominions from around the end of the 14th century. It was built beside an imposing castle which was an important mediaeval Extremadura military site and which possesses an outstanding 35 metre high Homage Tower and, just beside it, the Church of San Cristóbal which dates back to the 15th century and has a Gothic façade.

Santa Marta de los Barros is a typical Tierra de Barros locality surrounded by the olives and vines which give the village its reputation as a good producer of oil and wine, as can be seen from the numerous bodegas. In its interior the 16th century Parish Church of Santa Marta is worth mentioning. Built on the site of an earlier Hermitage it has an interesting granite portico built in the Gothic style. Villalba de los Barros was the long time residence of the Dukes of Feria who lived in the local castle until the middle of the 15th century at which time they decided to move to Alcázar de Zafra. Villalba de los Barros is deservedly famous as a wine producing village.

We come now to Fuente del Maestre which has many historic references from the Roman and Arab periods. In the “Plaza del Corro” (the Square of the “Ring”) stands the Mudejar style Palace of the Great Master and the well known Fountain of the “Corro” whilst nearby in another beautiful square we can see the Parish Church and the Town Hall. The 18th century council building possesses a really beautiful porticoed gallery and the Parish Church of La Candelaria was rebuilt in the 16th century on the site of an earlier church which was dedicated to Santa María la Mayor. This parish and indeed the entire village has been declared a Historic and Artistic Monument. The Convent of San Francisco dates back to the 16th century.

Set between mountain ranges on the road that historically used to connect the city of Merida to Jerez de los Caballeros we come upon La Parra. The neuralgic and indeed the most important artistic centre of this locality is its Plaza Mayor (Main Square) where the Town Hall stands out with its brick arcades and archways in the Mudejar style. Opposite stands the Parish Church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción. The ancient 17th century Convent of the Clarisas still stands and is now an excellent inn. On the outskirts we can see the 16th century Hermitage of San Juan, built by order of the Dukes of Feria. This village is one of the favourite places for paragliding enthusiasts.

Nearby and somewhat hemmed in, La Morera, once known in times gone by as “Carpio de Mérida” is where we can find typical terracotta constructions. We can make out Feria from quite some distance away. In the vicinity we can see the La Casa del Monje dolmen (Monk’s House), although one of the region’s best known monuments is the 15th century castle which was built thanks to Lorenzo Suárez de Figueroa and which was the foundation of the so called Feria dominions. Feria was declared a National Site of Historic and Artistic Interest in 1970. At the beginning of May they celebrate the festivity of the Holy Cross, declared of Interest as an Extremadura Regional Tourist Attraction.

From Feria we drive a little more to the south as far as Los Santos de Maimona, once the property of the Order of Santiago. The 16th century Parish Church of Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles was built in Renaissance Gothic style and has plateresque porticos of great beauty. Near to the church is the ancient La Encomienda (House of the Trusteeship), nowadays the Town Hall and also a building which was once the Hospital and Convent of La Concepción. On the outskirts we find the beautiful sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de La Estrella, built in the 16th century and the home of the village’s patron saint.

                                 Hermitage of the Virgen Coronada

Taking the A-66 we come now to Villafranca de los Barros. Of all of its ecclesiastical buildings the most important are the 16th century Parish Church of Nuestra Señora del Valle and the whitewashed Hermitage of the Virgen Coronada which is a century older. This Tierra de Barros village is famous for its wines, oil and lace. Situated on the banks of the Valdemedel stream, we come to nearby Ribera del Fresno. The remains can still be seen of the 15th century castle which is very close to the Hermitage of Santa Cecilia. Other Hermitages are that of the village’s patron, the Virgin del Valle, built in the 15th century and the 18th century Christ de la Misericordia. The Parish Church is dedicated to Nuestra Señora de Gracia and dates back to the 14th century. It possesses two large identical towers. Close by is Puebla del Prior which was established by the Order of Santiago following the Reconquest. The Parish Church of San Esteban is from the 15th century and beside it there stands a Palace which in the 15th century served as residence for the Priors of the Order of Santiago. The Hermitage of Nuestra Señora de Botós is located beside the stream of the same name.

13th century Hinojosa del Valle was built by the first Commander of Hornachos, Pedro Pérez. It is located on the southern edge of Tierra de Barros and in the hamlet is the notable Parish Church of Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles. Hornachos possesses some interesting schematic cave paintings close to the ruins of its castle. It is an area of undoubted ecological importance, as witnessed by its having been declared a Special Conservation Area. Amongst its monuments we should mention the Parish Church of La Purísima Concepción, one of the most interesting examples of Mudejar architecture in Extremadura, declared a Monument of Historic and Artistic Interest. Thirteen kilometres away is Puebla de la Reina which lies beside the Palomillas stream. In the 13th century the village was repopulated by the Order of Santiago. Palomas is just five kilometres away, situated on the right hand side of the Palomillas stream. The most outstanding building in the hamlet is the 16th century Mudejar style Parish Church of Nuestra Señora de Gracia which has an extraordinary brick tower. Walking along the banks of the Palomillas river we will see that a beautiful Mudejar bridge has been conserved, in all likelihood a reconstruction of the original Roman bridge.

Another 12 kilometre drive brings us to the last village on our itinerary, Alange which has been famous from the days of the Romans on account of its interesting thermal baths, declared an Artistic Historic Monument and the heart of what has become one of the most important spas in all Spain.

GASTRONOMY

“Cojondongo” (a vegetable strew), “zorongollo” (made with courgettes and onions), gazpacho and Extremadura “breadcrumbs” (“migas”) are popular throughout the region. There are magnificent game, cold cuts and hams. Excellent wine and liqueurs can be found in Almendralejo, Villalba de los Barros and Villafranca de los Barros where good oil and olives can also be found, ideal for your dinner table! Feria is good for Tench.

                                        Zorongollo Salad

HANDICRAFTS

Flowers and paper garlands in Feria. Embroidery in Villafranca de los Barros and Ribera del Fresno.

FESTIVITIES

Las Candelas (The Candles) in Almendralejo on the night of the 1st of February, the La Cruz on the 3rd and 4th of May in Feria, the Grape Harvest in Villafranca de los Barros at the beginning of September and the “Battle of Albuera” in Albuera on the 16th of May - all these celebrations have been declared of interest as Regional Tourist Attractions.

NATURE AND COUNTRYSIDE

This region is one of the richest in the west of the peninsula and there is magnificent agricultural land where cereals, olive groves and vineyards flourish. This agricultural landscape is crisscrossed by various low lying mountain ranges such as the Sierra Vieja in Feria or the Santos de Maimona range and also by majestic pastures and forests of oak.

The Hornachos Mountain Range has been declared a Conservation Area. Castles are a distinctive element in this region of Extremadura and indeed they abound throughout this countryside which bears the weight of endless border disputes.