Fascinating Cáceres: its most beautiful villages
Cáceres is a province that not only has one of the most beautiful cities in Spain, but also has a lot of charming villages for its architecture, history and traditions. Although it is very difficult to make this selection, these are possibly the most beautiful villages of Cáceres. All of them are perfect for a visit, either together with getaways to the Cáceres capital, World Heritage Site, or with any of the towns mentioned below.
Robledillo de Gata is a green splendor. | Shutterstock
Robledillo de Gata is located in the Sierra de Gata region, predictably, barely an hour and a half from Cáceres capital. When you say the words ‘charming village‘ you probably imagine something very similar to this town, which has a very marked popular architecture.
Some of its must-see attractions are the Town Hall Square and the church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, which is a 16th century temple that stands out for its large wheel portico. A visit to the Oil Museum is also recommended, where you can learn all about the liquid gold. In general, walking through the streets of Robledillo de Gata is a pleasure.
Trevejo Castle. | Shutterstock
Also in Sierra de Gata, more than a village, Trevejo is a village in the municipality of Villamiel. With only 24 inhabitants, it has one of the most photographed castles in the province of Cáceres. Its origins were a Muslim fortress of the 12th century and was rebuilt in the 15th century. Unfortunately, today only part of it is preserved. Otherwise, this medieval village deserves at least a walk through its streets to travel several centuries into the past. Of course, Trevejo is among the most beautiful villages of Cáceres.
Hervás is pure sierra. | Shutterstock
Located in the Ambroz valley, Hervás is not only one of the most beautiful villages of Cáceres, but of all Spain. Its streets are declared a Historic-Artistic Site and it has one of the largest Jewish quarters in Spain. It is decorated with flowers on all the doors and balconies, which its neighbors take care of.
Other popular spots in this town are the church of Santa María de Aguas Vivas and the bridge of Fuente Chiquita, which is of medieval origin and was part of the Vía de la Plata. Today the pilgrimage of the same name passes very close by, and sometimes hikers take a detour to spend the night in Hervás. As for traditions, Los Conversos, a festival of theater, music and gastronomy in which the coexistence between the Jewish and Christian communities in the town stand out.
The beautiful streets of San Martín de Trevejo. | Shutterstock
Different from Trevejo, although it is quite close. The houses of this Historic-Artistic Site are composed of facades with stone walls at the bottom and above one or two floors. In addition, these facades alternate very well the stone and wood, which makes them have a special charm. However, what is most striking about San Martín de Trevejo is its ancient dialect, whose origin is debated between Asturian and Portuguese.
Stand out as well the small streams that flow down some of its streets, coming from the Jálama. As for monuments, the church of San Martín de Tours, the monastery of San Miguel and the bell tower of the Plaza Mayor stand out.
Real Monasterio de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. | Shutterstock
Guadalupe is a place of great importance for the people of Extremadura, since its monastery is home to its patron saint: the Virgin of Guadalupe. For this reason, the Real Monasterio de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, declared a World Heritage Site, is the place of greatest pilgrimage in Extremadura. In fact, in this town the Day of Extremadura is celebrated in a special way.
In addition, it was the place where the Catholic Monarchs offered the caravels to Columbus before discovering America. As for the building, it was built in 1340 by Alfonso XI of Castile and its altarpiece, the chapel of the Virgin, the Mudejar cloister, the Chapterhouse and the chapel of San Jerónimo, among other rooms, are worth a visit.
Downtown Trujillo. | Shutterstock
Just half an hour from Cáceres, Trujillo is one of the most beautiful towns in Cáceres because of how much it has to show. The castle, the church of Santa María la Mayor and the palaces in the main square are just some of its must-see sights. The famous conquistador Francisco Pizarro, who has a sculpture in the square, was born there. It is also one of the places in Spain where scenes from Game of Thrones were filmed. It also highlights the Trujillo Cheese Fair, where lovers of this food will have a great time. Other important festivals of the town are the Chíviri and its Holy Week.
Old bridge near Madrigal de la Vera. | Shutterstock
Representing the region of La Vera, where the famous paprika of La Vera comes from, this is one of the most beautiful villages of Cáceres. This area stands out for its gorges and pools in which to bathe, making it an ideal destination for the summer. In particular, the Alardos gorge and its bridge is one of the most photogenic places in Extremadura. Speaking of the gastronomy of Madrigal de la Vera, the kid, migas, peppers and slaughter products stand out. Undoubtedly, this is a perfect destination to spend a quiet and refreshing day.
Cathedral of Coria. | Shutterstock
In Coria there is much to see, but above all stands out the cathedral of the Assumption, which is Gothic-Plateresque style and began to be built in 1498. One of the details of its exterior is that you can see the spiral stairs and inside you can find what is said to have been the tablecloth of the Last Supper. However, the rest of the town also deserves attention, as it has a Roman wall, the Puerta de la Guía, the Puerta de San Pedro and the Puerta del Carmen. The Plaza del Rollo and the castle of the Dukes of Alba also stand out.
The ancient walled village of Granadilla, north of Cáceres. | Shutterstock
Granadilla has the particularity of being a ghost town, since its inhabitants abandoned their houses before a possible flooding of the Gabriel y Galán Reservoir in the 50’s. Today it can be visited and, in fact, it has a lot of charm. Its main attraction is its castle, which is an old Arab citadel of the fifteenth century that can be visited inside and offers spectacular views of the reservoir. Other important points are its wall, the church of the Assumption and the houses of its former tenants. All of these have been preserved thanks to a government plan that has been active for decades.
Alcántara Bridge. | Shutterstock
By far the highlight of Alcántara is its spectacular Roman bridge, which dates back to the 1st century and has a length of almost 200 meters and a height of 60 meters over the Tagus River. Such is its majesty that the Assembly of Extremadura is trying to push for it to be declared a World Heritage Site. In addition, other local points of interest are the arch of La Concepción, the church of Santa María de Almocóvar and the church of San Pedro de Alcántara. Finally, the convent of San Benito is especially recommended, especially during the celebration of the Alcántara Classical Theater Festival.
The Monastery of Yuste was the place chosen by Charles to spend the last years of his life. | Shutterstock
To finish this list of the most beautiful villages of Cáceres, Cuacos de Yuste could not be missing for being one of the most important places in the history of Extremadura. Also of Spain. It turns out that this was the village where Emperor Charles V decided to retire to live there the last months of his life. Today the Route of Charles V is celebrated to commemorate this historical fact.
The Monastery of Yuste is one of the most spectacular places in this town, which can also be visited inside. It is also advisable to walk through its Historic-Artistic Site and visit the German cemetery, where soldiers from both world wars are buried.
In conclusion, this is a province full of villages that are worth a visit. The most beautiful villages of Cáceres are waiting impatiently for travelers who want to enjoy its streets, monuments, traditions and gastronomy.
