Worth getting out of bed for
Highlights the best Extremadura has to offer, from art and culture to fun-packed activities; we've even found the most inspiring place to enjoy the views from.
- Viewpoint
- The towering Castillo de la Luna in Albuquerque, north of Badajoz, was once the centrepiece of a network of border defences and has wonderful views over the Portuguese frontier.
- Arts and culture
- Over the centuries, Extremadura’s harsh and impoverished environment has produced some of Spain’s toughest and most famous adventurers, such as Pizarro and Cortés. The new MEIAC Museum of Contemporary Art in Badajoz explores the region’s relationship with the Americas. Many local towns and villages have familiar namesakes on the other side of the Atlantic.
- Something for nothing
- The town of Zafra, southeast of Badajoz, is nicknamed Little Seville; its beautiful whitewashed Old Town has a distinctly Andalucian feel. It is an agreeable place for an idle wander.
- Shopping
- You won’t be browsing designer-label boutiques here, but Extremadura is an excellent place to pick up cheeses, smoked ham and good-value wine. Keep an eye out for traditional leather, pottery and linen items, too.
- Daytripper
- Mérida was once the largest Roman city in Iberia and it’s definitely worth exploring the remains of the temples, amphitheatres, aqueducts and hippodromes. There’s also a wealth of local finds in the National Museum of Roman Art.
- Perfect Picnic
- The Cornalvo Nature Reserve, just outside Mérida, is a hilly spot ideal for both a picnic and an amble.
- Activities
- The network of ancient drove roads makes for excellent hiking. Your hotel can also arrange 4x4 and donkey treks, as well as horse riding, wine-tasting and paragliding.
Diary
- Semana Santa aka Easter Week is one of the year’s biggest and most colourful festivals. In Cáceres you can see penitents walking through the streets dragging logs. 24 June The week-long Feria de San Juan is the biggest festival in Badajoz, with fireworks, fairs and celebrations. July–August Mérida hosts a classical theatre festival, with plays staged nightly in the Roman amphitheatre (www.festivaldemerida.es). August Albuquerque’s Mediaeval Folk Festival features costumes, music and drama. First week of September Mérida hosts its own lively festival with funfairs and cultural events.
