Destinations
Main cities
The beauty of nature and the splendour of the historical and artistic heritage merge in Cáceres, Badajoz, Mérida, Plasencia, Trujillo and Zafra.
- Come to Extremadura
- Principales ciudades
An impressive historical and cultural legacy
The beauty of nature and the splendour of the historical and artistic heritage merge in Cáceres, Badajoz, Mérida, Plasencia, Trujillo and Zafra.
Extremadura stands out for its great historical-artistic legacy, a heritage carefully preserved by its main cities, and which we invite you to visit.
Badajoz
The first stop on your journey is Badajoz. A border city that guards great treasures from the times of Muslim rule, such as the Alcazaba or the Espantaperros Tower, and stands out for its commercial dynamism. But that is not all, because Badajoz has an extensive variety of leisure activities to offer you, in addition to highly-acclaimed festivals, such as Almossassa or Carnival, which was declared a Fiesta of National Tourist Interest and one of the most exciting and participatory events in Spain.
Mérida
Your next destination can be none other than Mérida, a beautiful city of monumental importance because of its Roman heritage, as you'll see for yourself when visiting its imposing archaeological legacy. Good examples of this are the theatre, the wonderful stage for the International Classical Theatre Festival, and the amphitheatre. The archaeological site has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The glorious past of the capital of Extremadura is shown to have been the starting point of the ancient Vía de la Plata, leading the way to its cosmopolitan present and future, evident in the range of leisure and tourism available, such as the Roman Carnival or Emerita Lvdica.
Cáceres
On any trip to Extremadura, a stop in Cáceres is a must. This city has been occupied since Prehistory and still preserve the tracks of all its inhabitants in its traditions and in the excellent architecture of its medieval and renaissance historic city centre, also declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Enjoy strolling through its streets and squares, where history will surprise you at every corner. A city that also has an active and exciting cultural offer: WOMAD Festival, Medieval Market of the Three Cultures, the Classical Theatre Festival, Holy Week, declared a Fiesta of International Tourist Interest.
Plasencia
Extremadura conceals many more hidden treasures, as is the case of Plasencia. The capital of the Jerte Valley still preserves its rich heritage intact since its foundation in the 12th century, as a result of which it is highly-acclaimed as a cathedral and monumental city. Here you will also be in direct contact with nature in its purest state, due to its proximity to the Jerte Valley, the Ambroz Valley, La Vera and the Monfragüe National Park. Interesting events are Martes Mayor (the first Tuesday in August), the International Folk Festival and the Tapas Festival.
Trujillo
We make our way now to Trujillo, one of the most visited tourist destinations in Extremadura, where the legacy of Romans, Visigoths, Muslims, Jews and Christians is clearly visible. The Plaza Mayor and the historical centre feature magnificent palatial architecture, built with the riches from America. On your stroll through Trujillo, among stately homes and beautiful coats of arms, a visit to the castle and church of Santa María la Mayor are also a must. We are in the hometown of two important figures of the Age of Discovery: Pizarro, the conquistador of Peru, and Orellana, explorer of the Amazon River. The Plaza Mayor, the heart of Trujillo, hosts events all year round, for example the Chíviri and the National Cheese Fair in May.
Zafra
Our journey ends in the south, on the Vía de la Plata. Zafra, with its arcaded squares Plaza Grande and Plaza Chica, for centuries has been a crafts, commercial and livestock centre of great influence, and still is today, as we can see every autumn during the San Miguel traditional livestock fair, held for the first time way back in 1453. Not to be missed in the historic centre are the Palacio de los Duques de Feria, now a Parador hotel, with a spectacular façade and nine crenellated towers, the convent-museum of Santa Clara and the collegiate church of La Candelaria. Land of fine Ibérico ham and wine (it is on the Ribera del Guadiana Wine Route), Zafra invites you to take a trip back in time to the Golden Age and the city’s days of splendour, at the ‘De la luna al fuego’ festival.
Download the cities brochure (ES, EN, FR, PT, DE): BROCHURE
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More suggestions
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Badajoz — leisure and culture at the border
Crossed by the Guadiana River, there's nothing you won't find in Badajoz. The city's building façades and street corners are just oozing with history; not to mention its parks, ideal for a stroll or sports activities, and a wide range of services on offer to enable you to enjoy the city at your leisure.
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Mérida, roman to modern-day city
In addition to being some of the most important Roman remains in Europe, Mérida has many leisure activities and services.
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Cáceres — buzzing with life and history
The stone of its streets and façades reflect the march of history from Palaeolithic times. Presently, it is a hive of cultural activity.
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Plasencia — where culture and nature go hand in hand
The historical heritage of Plasencia holds its own in terms of the cultural interest of the other towns and cities of Extremadura, but with the added attraction of its parks.
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Trujillo, birthplace of discoverers
Already important in the Roman Empire, the Discovery of America brought it universal fame and greatness.
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Zafra — stately and market-like
Situated in the south of Extremadura, Zafra is a charming town, and one buzzing with life thanks to the hospitality of its inhabitants, known in Spanish as "Segedanos".