Monuments to visit Extremadura

Since 2014, Francisco de Zurbarán's home has reopened, on the occasion of the 350 th anniversary of his death, after a great renovation of the places that allowed the spaces to be redistributed (rooms, rooms…) to construct a logical path and to equip him with leading-edge technological tools, transporting the visitor to the rural era and mystic lived by the painter and transmitted by his works. Audiovisual materials, videos and games of light and music, at the entrance, accompany the visit, an extremely didactic circuit on the author and his works even if it contains no original paintings. The first hall, Zurbarán, presents the personality of the painter, as reflected in his works and in the objects of his daily life (cups, plates, bodegones…), with a space devoted to his son Juan, unknown to the greatest number but who worked alongside his father and died very young. The second hall, Estrémadure, traces its monastic work since its return from Seville and the installation of its workshop in Llerena. Beginning with paintings like his famous Christ on the Cross (Cristo in la Cruz) of 1627, this stage will be decisive for its future since this type of painting will bring him numerous requests for work for different religious orders and will be the beginning of a huge notoriety. The third hall, Seville, reports on the great number of works devoted to the theme of the Virgin Mary, a means for Zurbarán, to use painting as a tool for spreading the Seville fervor of his time, in favor of this theme. Finally, the Pasillo de las Santas chamber presents, in small format, the countless saints painted by Zurbarán and the concern of the painter that they are identified in the future as bearers of his brand.

Today known as the castle of Montemolín, this fortress was first the work of the Almohades in the th century before passing to the hands of the order of Santiago. From its Arab era, it maintains a forum, consisting of a double wall, with square crenellated towers, characteristics of this type of architecture, as well as entrances to elbow or inflection, making access to the fortress more difficult. Other characteristics, underground tunnels allowing water and food supply and also flight, in the event of encirclement. Note, its very broad and rectangular seat that took into account the irregularity of the terrain by including the rocky projections in the general construction. After the recapture, the Order of Santiago brought changes such as the creation of a small church and a dungeon. It will then go hand in hand, to the Royal Crown, to the Seville Council, to the Genoese merchants, who have all left their marks. This fortress then deteriorated in the th and early st century, but the Alba Plata project helped to recover and strengthen the defensive towers, to consolidate the wall, to carry out archaeological excavations, to restore the central underground tank (Aljibe) or the well of the colours (pozo de los colores) and to improve its access and signalling, to the great satisfaction of the inhabitants who, for that reason, had the greatest satisfaction. would like to see continued work on the recovery of his memory.

The visit. Take two good hours to get there and turn it around. Reward for this grimpette: very nice on the village and surrounding area at every stop. Inside, a sign and explanatory signs of the main points encountered.

By bus, you don't expect to discover an architectural price: Well, this will be the case in Casar de Cacéres. Created in 2004 by Justo García Rubio, a estrémègne architect, the station earned its author to be a finalist in the Spanish National Award of Architecture and awarded by the Estrémègne prize of creation, with numerous photos in the newspapers. The building is a white concrete ribbon painted on itself to do two loops, similar curves, one small and the other big, wrap over. The largest loop welcomes buses and serves as a shelter for travellers by protecting them from rain or wind. The second is a very chic and stylish bar area. If the ensemble of the ensemble does not reflect Oscar Niemeyer's architecture, aesthetics have not been the only bias of this project since, for the sake of functionality, its curve is also studied so that the exhaust gas of buses is diverted from nearby schools. A board, go to see it and enjoy a drink in the bar: The cellar is good and you will be used, among other things, for tentempiés (small snacks destined literally to keep you on foot).

It is one of the most beautiful palaces of Plasencia, built in the fifteenth century by the marquis of Mirabel who were ducs of Plasencia. On the outside, you will notice its Plateresque balcony, unique in the city. The interior houses a magnificent neoclassical patio of two floors, decorated with Roman archeological remains and azulejos from the Yuste Monastery. There is also an interesting collection of nineteenth-century hunting pieces.

It is the last-born of the Plazas de Toros in Spain and a small gem according to the fans. Inaugurated on 29 March 2015, after ten years of work, through bullfighting festivals attended by toreros - present on the posters of the main plazas of Spain - João Moura Caetano, Leonardo Hernández and Andrés Romero, it is 33 metres in diameter and can accommodate up to 1 300 spectators. But it is not limited to this function since this building was designed as a multi-purpose ensemble which, apart from bullfighting, turns into auditorium to host concerts, screenings and also sporting events.

It is in the old balneario that you will find the remains of the Roman baths, dating from the first century: a circular space 8 metres in diameter, covered by a semi-spherical arch allowing the light of the day to pass, its only lighting. Four niches contain oval-shaped bathtubs, carved in granite. The whole has undergone different reforms. The reception building dates back to the beginning of the th century and the beginning of the th century. Small particularity, this balneario is now the property of the inhabitants of the village via the Probanos (association of owners of the Balneario Balneario). Every four years, among the inhabitants, the management assembly is responsible for managing the thermal activity.

This long Roman calzada was littered with sites of military camps or places to rest (mansio). This is the last role of Baños de Montemayor. From the Roman road itself that has become the site of transhumance, it retains traces of two large sections, located at the northern and southern exits of the village. With a restoration in 1973, the north is a journey of about 2 km, which climbs slightly. You can see two examples of sewers at the time and have an overview of the village. Next to the southern calzada, you will find a small Roman bridge, but reformed since then with a single arc of 3,5 meters.

This great white palace of the th century is one of the few buildings that can be used to make an idea of the specific architecture of the order of Santiago, a religious and military order. This is one of the best preserved in Spain. Its wide façade was originally flanked by two towers, one remaining today, marking its military style. The central door gives access to a beautiful inner patio, surrounded by arcades, in which the Portuguese-style windows and azulejos work. In its centre, surrounded by green and flowers, the statue of La Niña de la Paloma (the girl to the dove) by the sculptor Mauricio Tinoco. This palace is now home to the town hall and can only be accessed on the patio.