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The centre of the medieval town of Caceres has changed so little since the sixteenth century that when you first arrive here, you can sense and feel the spirit of its conquistadores who went in search of the New World. Of course many came back with great riches and it is largely thanks to them that Cáceres is the attractive town that it is. As you wander through Cáceres you'll find echoes of the age of chivalry in its plazas, cobbled streets and noble houses. Many of the noble houses are still inhabited and the overall atmosphere is one of a romantic and dramatic history.
Like Toledo and Cuenca this historic centre was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986. Visit the honey-coloured Ciudad Monumental and you will see why. Not quite the labyrinth of Toledo, but an almost perfectly preserved set of mansions, palaces and churches.
Nearby is Trujillo, which has to be one of the most beautiful and perfect villages in Spain. This is where Francisco Pizarro dreamt up his conquests of the newly discovered land in the Americas, and it is his equestrian statue that stands erect in the Plaza Mayor. It is around this enchanting main plaza that life revolves in Trujillo and you must sit down here and let your imagination run away with you. |
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Within the province of Cáceres are two distinct types of landscape. To the north, are the green, fertile areas, with long spectacular valleys carving their way down from the mountains of Sierra de Gredos. These areas are a walker's paradise - suitably hilly, sometimes harsh and isolated, characterised by rivers, streams, plateaus and valleys. Small villages, seemingly caught in a time trap, dot the hillsides and farmers here produce some of the country's best agricultural and food products such as cherries and raspberries, tobacco, cork, olives and ham.
Moving south and the area around the capital of Caceres tends to be flatter and more arid, yet provides some of the most powerful images you may encounter in Spain. Arriving at dusk and seeing the silhouette of the castle of Trujillo and the elevated village below, coming sharper and sharper into focus, is an image you'll never forget. |
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