37 Best Sights in Extremadura, Spain

In this orange-tree-lined plaza you'll find the 15th-century church of San Vicente Ferrer with an adjoining convent that's now the Parador de Plasencia.

In the middle of this tiny, irregularly shaped plaza—which is transformed during festivals into a bullring—is the 15th-century fountain where Columbus's two Native American servants were baptized in 1496. Here, as is the case across Extremadura, there's a conspicuous lack of reckoning or awareness regarding the region's role in the horrors of colonizing the Americas.

This long, inclined, arcaded plaza contains several cafés, the tourist office, and—on breezy summer nights—nearly everyone in town. In the middle of the arcade opposite the old quarter is the entrance to the lively Calle General Ezponda, lined with tapas bars, student hangouts, and discotecas that keep the neighborhood electric with activity until dawn. The city's main Christmas market, selling candles, figurines, and sweets, is held here.

East of the Plaza de San Vicente Ferrer, at the other end of the Rúa Zapatería, is this cheerful arcaded square. The mechanical figure clinging to the town-hall clock tower depicts the clockmaker and is called the Mayorga in honor of his Castilian hometown. Also east of the Plaza de San Vicente you can find a large section of the town's medieval wall beside a heavily restored Roman aqueduct.

There's no more striking introduction to Extremadura than the Puerto de Tornavacas—literally, the point "where the cows turn back." Part of the N110 road northeast of Plasencia, the pass marks the border between Extremadura and the stark plateau of Castile. Its elevation of 4,183 feet affords a breathtaking view of the valley formed by the fast-flowing Jerte River. The lower slopes are covered with a dense mantle of ash, chestnut, and cherry trees, whose richness contrasts with the granite cliffs of Castile's Sierra de Gredos, blanketed in garnacha grapevines. But cherries, of course, are the principal crop. Camping is popular in this area (contact the tourist office for more details), and even the most experienced hikers can find some challenging trails.

Overlooking Cáceres's Ciudad Monumental is this 18th-century shrine dedicated to the city's patron saint. It's built on a mountain with stunning views of the old town, especially at sunset. The panorama is worth the 15-minute drive—or even the grueling two-hour climb past chalets and farms—even if the interior of the church is rather mundane (barring the gilded baroque altar).

For spectacular views, climb this large fortress—a Game of Thrones filming location—built by the Moors in the 9th century over older Roman foundations. To the south are silos, warehouses, and residential neighborhoods. To the north are green fields and brilliant flowers, partitioned by a maze of nearly leveled Roman stone walls, and an ancient cistern. The castle's size underscores the historical importance of now-tiny Trujillo.