Essential Spain
+44 118 971 4700
Search for a Hotel Anywhere
Search This Site
Extremadura
Make the most of your time in Extremadura, use the information provided on this web site by clicking on the links to plan your visit.
Often thought of as a sun-parched and desolate land not worth visiting, Extremadura is one of Spain’s last unspoilt areas and is in fact a delight for many a tourist. It is fairly different to the rest of Spain, particularly the sunny and sandy beaches of the Andalucian and Valencian coasts, and is perhaps more akin to neighbouring Portugal in many ways. Its attractions come more in the form of national parks, mountains and ancient cities and so is popular among the explorers and those with a love for things of a historical nature.
There is no hiding the fact that Extremadura’s summers are particularly hot and there is often drought, and so it is perhaps better to visit during the milder months. The climate as a whole is Mediterranean with some Continental to the north for good measure. There are mountainous areas at various points in the community as well as four major rivers – the Tagus, Guadiana, Guadalquivir and Duero.
The region’s capital is Merida, however the cities of Badajoz and Caceras, which are the capitals of Extremadura’s two provinces with the same names, are more populated. A number of Extremaduran place names, such as Merida, made their way to the Americas during the time of the Conquistadors, many of whom originated from this western part of Spain. Later, having made their money on the other side of the Atlantic, they were able to return and build large houses and other impressive structures.
Earlier, the Romans had built their own array of stunning treasures. The ancient Roman province of Lusitania covered the area now known as Extremadura plus other neighbouring regions. In Merida there are some Roman ruins and art, for example there is a bridge with 64 granite arches, a five mile aqueduct and an amphitheatre which is still used at times today. There are also a number of castles, palaces, monuments and aqueducts that grace the region and serve to offer a certain sense of history and occasion.
The 1932 documentary ‘The Land without Bread’ showed Extremadura to be a land of poverty particularly for those in the north of the region and it is this stereotype that those from the area have been seeking to shake off. Helpfully, European Union funds have been poured in recently and have been used for road construction, schools and hospitals, and so things are looking up economically.
Hunting, watersports, fishing and horse riding are all popular activities among its 1.1 million inhabitants. In terms of food, Iberian pork products, soft sheep’s cheese and paprika are popular ingredients. Other things of note culturally are a liking for the jota dance and for folk music, while there is a famous bike race called the Vuelta a Extremadura that travels through the area. Spanish is the only official language in the region although Portuguese, A Fala and Extremaduran (which is endangered) are also in use.