Extremadura

Extremadura is an autonomous community of Spain that borders Castile and Leon in the north, Castile-La Mancha in the east, Andalusia in the south, and Portugal in the west.
Merida is the capital of the autonomous community.
It is an important area for wildlife, particularly for the large nature reserve of Montfragüe. It has a Mediterranean climate, except for the north, where the climate is continental, with cold winters and hot summers, and for the west, where the climate is influenced and made milder by the Atlantic Ocean.
Extremadura is one of the places with the greatest number of birds. Many species of bird nest here like the vulture, the griffon vulture, golden eagle, the imperial eagle. In the vicinity of the waterways can be seen: gray heron, purple heron, and many species of ducks.

Three cities of Extremadura are considered a World Heritage Site: Caceres, Merida and Guadalupe.

  • Walking for the streets of Cáceres is like taking a trip through time from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.
  • In Mérida there are traces of the ancient Roman Empire, as the Roman Theatre, where we celebrate the Classical Theatre Festival; the Amphitheatre; the Aqueduct of miracles; the Arch of Trajan, the Roman Bridge, the Circus or the Temple of Diana.
  • Guadalupe is a spiritual and artistic centre, in his monastery there is the Virgin of Guadalupe, patroness of Extremadura, and works by Zurbarán and Mudejar art.

Places of historical interest

  • In Jerez de los Caballeros (Badajoz) were born explorer Hernando de Soto that he travelled to the Yucatan and Florida across the Pacific; Vasco Núñez de Balboa, who discover the Mar del Sur (known as the Pacific Ocean) and other lands.
  • In Valencia de Alcántara it took place the marriage of Isabella the Catholic and the king of Portugal.
  • In the monastery of Guadalupe there are the tombs of Enrique IV and María de Portugal. For more information on places related to Isabella the Catholic please visit web: http://www.rutadeisabellacatolica.es/

Cities of Extremadura

Other places to visit

  • Zafra, Medina de las torres or los Santos de Maimona. In Alange there are spas, declared historic-artistic monument.
  • The lands of the Grand Lake Alqueva for sports activities such as boating, canoeing, fishing, trekking.
  • For bird watchers, in Valle del Ambroz you can see different types of birds.
  • In Guijo de Granadilla you can visit the house-museum of the poet Gabriel y Galán.

Silver route (Ruta de la Plata)
It was a very important route in the Roman Empire; They passed through merchandise, troops, traders and travelers. It extends from Mérida to Astorga and offers wonderful natural landscapes along the way.
Along the Silver Route you can learn about: Plasencia, Baños de Montemayor (locality famous for its Roman era spa waters), or the Roman city of Cáparra.

Art and culture

Some annual events of great importance in Extremadura are:

  • International Festival of Classical Theatre of Merida
  • Festival of Classical Theatre of Alcántara
  • Contemporary theater at the López Teatre of Ayala Badajoz.
  • Contemporary art in the Visual Arts Center Foundation Helga de Alvear, Cáceres.
  • Ibero-American art in MEIAC in Badajoz and archaeological museums in Badajoz and Cáceres.
  • National Museum of Roman Art, which houses an important collection of Roman art.

Music
Among the musical events are:

  • The multicultural festival WOMAD in Cáceres.
  • Folk, Celtic and indie music in Plasencia, Alburquerque and Carbajo, where take place the Folk Festival, El Contempopranea and El Magusto.

Natural sites and sports in contact with nature

In Extremadura there are many protected bird species and many ornithological trails scattered throughout the region:

  • The Natural Park of Cornalvo, the International Tajo Natural Park, the Nature Reserve Garganta de los Infiernos in the Valley of the Jerte; the Natural Monument of Los Barruecos in Malpartida of Cáceres; and Monte Valcorchero in Plasencia.
  • The Monfragüe National Park, the Geopark Villuercas-Ibores-Jara, the Cornalvo Nature Park or the International Tajo Natural Park offer a lot for the practice of outdoor sports.
  • In the Jerte Valley there is the Garganta de los infiernos (Gorge of Hell), where you can walk 17 km next to Jerte river, with rock pools. Also in the Jerte Valley there is the Camino de la Otoñada, ideal for family trekking.
  • With the bike in Valencia de Alcántara (Cáceres) there are many paths as well as in the Ambroz Valley there are excellent routes, with woods and waterfalls.

Fresh water and rock pools

  • In Orellana you can spend a day at the beach and also enjoy fishing, windsurfing, sailing or canoeing; or you can soak in the rock pools in the territory of La Vera and Las Hurdes.
  • The territory of Las Hurdes also has several areas to get wet. Las Mestas, Sauceda, Ovejuela, Pinofranqueado, Casar de Palomero, Nuñomoral, Caminomorisco, and Riomalo de Abajo.
  • The rock pools of La Vera area are perfect for wet, with waterfall such as Garganta de Alardos or Garganta de Jaranda, and other natural pools as El Trabuquete or Lago de Jaraíz de la Vera.

Typical products – gastronomy

  • Hams, sausages, “morcillas” (a sausages with rise and pig blood) and pata negra bacon (a pig race).
  • Cheeses from goat and sheep.
  • Wines, produced mainly in Badajoz, being the province with the largest number of vineyards.
  • The caldereta de cordero (lamb stew); the chanfaina (stew with lamb and other ingredients) typical of Fuente de Cantos.
  • The zorongollo, perrunillas, mazapanes, Bollas de chicharrones, Roscas fritas, floretas, pestiños, hornazos, perrillos, sapillos or repápalos with milk, Roscas de muégado, técula Mecula made from egg yolk and almonds. Bombón of dried figs filled with cream and covered by a layer of chocolate.

How to get to Estremadura:
By plane from Madrid or Barcellona to Badajoz:
http://www.aena.es/csee/Satellite/Aeropuerto-Badajoz/es/Page/1056529998386/
By bus: http://www.avanzabus.com/web/default.aspx
By train: http://www.renfe.com/

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