Have a great summer in Extremadura, Spain
Temperatures rise, the sun shines at its peak and the plain turns into golden. It is time to travel, know and enjoy Extremadura and its amazing natural surroundings. A perfect time to be delighted with the fresh water of gorges, rivers, natural swimming pools, dams, lakes... Silent and calm afternoons lead to noisy nights where there are lots of things to see and do.
Natural swimming pools in La Vera
Summertime is the perfect season to know new places and choose among a wide variety of cultural activities.
Nevertheless, Extremadura’s natural environment is an unquestionable representative of the region. From south up to north, thousands of little wonderful paradises are waiting for us to become our secret garden.
At the north, green color embellishes the landscape, while streams, gorges and waterfalls invite the traveler to take his time and enjoy such places by having a bath in the natural swimming pools and gorges.
Gorge of Cuartos
In the region of La Vera there are thousands of attractive activities and places, specially Devil’s Waterfall, Cuartos Gorge or the stream in Garganta la Olla.
Close to La Vera, in Jerte Valley stands out Infernos Natural Gorge, one of the most famous places in the region and in Extremadura as a whole, as well as the Caozo waterfall (Cascada del Caozo); it is a paradisiacal place, almost charmed.
Cascada del Caozo (Caozo waterfalls)
Sierra de Gata is another northern area bathed with the pleasant murmur of water. Due to its mountainous situation, water descends from the top of the mountains giving rise to gorges, streams and natural swimming pools like Descargamaría swimming pool, Acebo’s and many more where you may have a great day.
We have to bear in mind that close to Moraleja, Borbollón Dam is the perfect place to practice nautical sports.
As we head south we come across big dams, lakes and rivers.
In the regions of La Serena and La Siberia there is a net of five dams: La Serena, Zújar, García Sola, Orellana and Cíjara’s Natural Park. All of them are suitable to practice nautical sports such as sailing.
Landscapes of La Serena
The water acquires a new magnitude when it is used in spas. The most ancient ones are placed in Alange and Baños de Montemayor; both were built in the Roman age. However, they are not the only ones, El Raposo, Fuentes del Trampal, San Gregorio or Valdefernando.
All of them offer advanced treatments to relax us and make us feel good. From hydrothermal treatments to walks in their gardens, they will benefit us physically and mentally.
Summertime is the best season to enjoy water, but also to have a great time in feasts and celebrations of interest, or to taste the refreshing dishes cooked only during this season.
Nevertheless, at night one of the most pleasant moments takes place: meeting and gathering with the visitors and the inhabitants of the municipalities and towns.
In all the regions there are outstanding feasts and celebrations based on typical customs and the municipalities’ history which have lasted until present day, like La Enramá in Pinofranqueado, or Las Diablas in Valverde de Leganés, or Martes Mayor (big Tuesday) in Plasencia.
Among the many cultural activities, the Mérida Classical Theater Festival stands out, along with the classical theater festivals of Cáceres and Alcántara.
Classical Theater Festival of Mérida
There are many more festivals, such as the Theater Festival of Extremadura in Ribera del Fresno, the Villanueva de la Serena Street Theater Festival, and FICA, the International Festival of Audiovisual Creation, also in Villanueva de la Serena.
Drama is a long-standing tradition in Extremadura. One example is the open-air performance of The Mayor of Zalamea by Calderón de la Barca, set in Zalamea de la Serena.
Other events include the Theater in the Night Youth Festival at the Roman Theater of Regina in Casas de Reina, the Medieval Town Festival of Alburquerque, the Templar Festival of Jerez de los Caballeros, where the legend of the Templar Knights is performed, and the International Festival of La Sierra in Fregenal de la Sierra.
Where to stay…
If you are looking for nature and relax, you can find beautiful places for every season in the north of Cáceres province: Sierra de Gata, La Vera, Valle del Jerte…
If you want to visit everything, or you like to stay in a city, maybe you could choose Plasencia, Cáceres, or Mérida, because all of them are located on the A-66 highway that connects Extremadura from north to south. So you can plan your daily trips from these cities to every other place of Extremadura:
Cáceres also has a wide offer of hotels and apartments
And Plasencia is the perfect place to stay if you want to visit the north of Extremadura